From the first studies of the unconscious mind to consumer neuroscience: A systematic literature review

Abstract

Our brain has nearly 100 billion nerve cells, responsible for sensory perception and serving as a memory for all the information processed by the body. The brain is, therefore, the basis of cognition and emotions. This article aims to present the origins and the development timeline of neuromarketing from the first studies of the unconscious mind to the use of neurosciences techniques in the consumer behavior field. Therefore, the research method used in this paper is a systematic literature review based on a multidisciplinary theoretical exploration of events concerning the development of neuromarketing from 2010 to 2018. The paper theoretically proves that neuromarketing is the only field of research that induces the existence of unconscious, implicit, subliminal, and emotional processes that cannot be approached without the contribution of neurosciences. Still, its ethical nature limits its use and requires researchers to comply with specific regulations to protect consumers from possible risks of illegal exploitation. The results of this systematic literature review have shown that using neurosciences in marketing is crucial since it allows researchers to consider the unconscious and automatic elements in consumer decision-making.