This book seeks to build bridges between neuroscience and social science empirical researchers
and theorists working around the world integrating perspectives from both fields separating
real from spurious divides between them and delineating new challenges for future
investigation. Since its inception in the early 2000s multilevel social neuroscience has
dramatically reshaped our understanding of the affective and cultural dimensions of
neurocognition. Thanks to its explanatory pluralism this field has moved beyond long standing
dichotomies and reductionisms offering a neurobiological perspective on topics classically
monopolized by non-scientific traditions such as consciousness subjectivity and
intersubjectivity. Moreover it has forged new paths for dialogue with disciplines which
directly address societal dynamics such as economics law education public policy making and
sociology. At the same time beyond internal changes in the field of neuroscience new problems
emerge in the dialogue with other disciplines. Neuroscience and Social Science - The Missing
Link puts together contributions by experts interested in the convergences divergences and
controversies across these fields. The volume presents empirical studies on the interplay
between relevant levels of inquiry (neural psychological social) chapters rooted in specific
scholarly traditions (neuroscience sociology philosophy of science public policy making) as
well as proposals of new theoretical foundations to enhance the rapprochement in question. By
putting neuroscientists and social scientists face to face the book promotes new reflections
on this much needed marriage while opening opportunities for social neuroscience to plunge from
the laboratory into the core of social life. This transdisciplinary approach makes Neuroscience
and Social Science - The Missing Link an important resource for students teachers and
researchers interested in the social dimension of human mind working in different fields such
as social neuroscience social sciences cognitive science psychology behavioral science
linguistics and philosophy.
