Is Neuroaccounting Taking a Place on the Stage? A Review of the Influence of Neuroscience on Accounting Research

European Accounting Review

76 Pages Posted: 12 Feb 2021

See all articles by Ann Tank

Ann Tank

University of Groningen, Department of Accounting

Anne M. Farrell

Miami University Farmer School of Business - Department of Accountancy

Date Written: December 14, 2020

Abstract

Insights and technologies from neuroscience research can help accounting scholars more deeply understand how decision-makers physically and cognitively process and react to accounting information and controls. We conduct a systematic review of accounting literature to evaluate whether and how accounting scholars are incorporating neuroscience research into their work and building a field of ‘neuroaccounting.’ To do so, we identify literature that relates accounting research questions to neuroscience research, addresses accounting questions or tasks but has implications for neuroscience or neuroaccounting research, or investigates accounting questions using neuroscience technologies. We then classify that literature into two broad topic areas analogous to the decision-facilitating (how individuals process information) and decision-influencing (how individuals respond to controls) roles of accounting, and map relationships within each topic over time. We observe that literature in accounting is coalescing into a new field, neuroaccounting, in ways that mirror the pattern of development of a similar field, neu-roeconomics – indicating that neuroaccounting is indeed taking a place on the stage of behav-ioral accounting research. Our review provides a framework for future research at the nexus of neuroscience and accounting that provides unique insights into the ‘black box’ of cognitive pro-cessing in accounting contexts.

Keywords: Neuroscience, neuroaccounting, neuroeconomics, literature review, reporting, control

JEL Classification: C99, D87, D91, M41

Suggested Citation

Tank, Ann and Farrell, Anne M., Is Neuroaccounting Taking a Place on the Stage? A Review of the Influence of Neuroscience on Accounting Research (December 14, 2020). European Accounting Review, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3748649

Ann Tank

University of Groningen, Department of Accounting ( email )

Nettelbosje 2
Groningen, 9747 AE
Netherlands

Anne M. Farrell (Contact Author)

Miami University Farmer School of Business - Department of Accountancy ( email )

800 East High Street
3094 Department of Accountancy / MSC 1002
Oxford, OH 45056
United States

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