Corporations and political candidates are using MRIs, EEGs, and other brain-scan technology to craft irresistible media messages designed to shift buying habits, political beliefs, and voting patterns.

By measuring activity in different parts of the brain in response to an ad or other media message, advertisers and political consultants can create advertising campaigns that tap into the pre-conscious brain.

This form of marketing, known as neuromarketing, undermines our core democratic values of freedom and self-determination.

We call upon Congress to hold hearings to investigate the commercial and political uses of neuromarketing so the public can learn which companies and political candidates are using neuromarketing research to manipulate consumers’ and voters’ choices.

We call upon all companies to take the Ethical Marketing Pledge not to use neuromarketing or other unethical marketing practices, knowing that the World Business Academy will maintain a public list of those companies who volunteer to sign the pledge.

We call upon the Democratic and Republican parties and all 2010 political candidates to pledge to abstain from the insidious practice of neuromarketing.

The public has a right to know what companies and politicians choose to engage in unethical mind manipulation to achieve their covert objectives. Consumers and voters need this information to make informed decisions.