Article July 25, 2005 Issue

COUNTERACTING negative mental influences

By Rob Gilbert

"And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers."

—John 10:4,5

SHOULD A CONGRESSIONAL committee be appointed to investigate scientific efforts to map the subconscious mind? According to the Los Angeles Times, a consumer group called Commercial Alert is asking the US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation for such an investigation ("Searching for the Why of Buy," February 27, 2005). The article points out that commercial and political groups are already utilizing research that could modify people's behavior subconsciously in the marketplace and voting booth. It's called "neuro-marketing" (a trend in advertising and marketing that looks beyond influencing our choices in conventional ways to directly affecting the brain at a physical level).