The role of neuro-leadership in the neuro-decision-making process: A bibliometric analysis from a neuro-management perspective

Abstract

This study aims to examine the academic literature that has developed at the intersection of the disciplines of neuro-management, neuro-leadership, and neuro-decision-making from a systematic perspective. Designed using a bibliometric analysis methodology, the research seeks to map the theoretical landscape of the “brain-based” approach, which has gained momentum in management sciences in recent years. Within this scope, bibliographic data obtained from the Web of Science database were subjected to co-authorship, keyword co-occurrence, and citation analyses and visualized using the VOSviewer software. The analysis results reveal that the neuro-management literature has exhibited a marked growth, particularly after 2010, and that interdisciplinary interaction networks have strengthened. Keyword clustering confirms that leadership behaviors are shaped not only by rational choices but also by emotional and social cognitive neural mechanisms. Co-authorship networks indicate that specific academic core groups and strategic collaborations play a decisive role in the development of the field. Citation analyses demonstrate that fundamental theories such as the Somatic Marker Hypothesis and Cognitive Biases constitute the theoretical backbone of the field. In conclusion, while concretizing the neuroscientific transformation in the management literature through bibliometric indicators, the study outlines a theoretical and empirical roadmap for future research through the identified gaps in the literature.