Research Byte: Beyond Brain Mapping: Using Neural Measures to Predict Real-World Outcomes

Title:
Beyond Brain Mapping: Using Neural Measures to Predict Real-World Outcomes

Authors:
Berkman, ET; Falk, EB

Source:
*CURRENT DIRECTIONS IN PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE*, 22 (1):45-50; FEB 2013

Abstract:
One goal of social science in general, and of psychology in particular,
is to understand and predict human behavior. Psychologists have
traditionally used self-report measures and performance on laboratory
tasks to achieve this end. However, these measures are limited in their
ability to predict behavior in certain contexts. We argue that current
neuroscientific knowledge has reached a point where it can complement
other existing psychological measures in predicting behavior and other
important outcomes. This brain-as-predictor approach integrates
traditional neuroimaging methods with measures of behavioral outcomes
that extend beyond the immediate experimental session. Previously, most
neuroimaging experiments focused on understanding basic psychological
processes that could be directly observed in the laboratory. However,
recent experiments have demonstrated that brain measures can predict
outcomes (e.g., purchasing decisions, clinical outcomes) over longer
timescales in ways that go beyond what was previously possible with
self-report data alone. This approach can be used to reveal the
connections between neural activity in laboratory contexts and
longer-term, ecologically valid outcomes. We describe this approach and
discuss its potential theoretical implications. We also review recent
examples of studies that have used this approach, discuss methodological
considerations, and provide specific guidelines for using it in future
research.