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What can functional neuroimaging tell the experimental psychologist?
1Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University College London. rik.henson@mrc-cbu.cam.ac.uk
Summary
Functional neuroimaging, including functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET), can enhance psychological theories by mapping brain activity to cognitive functions. This approach aids in testing psychological models using brain data as a dependent variable.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Neuroimaging
- Psychological Theory
Background:
- Functional neuroimaging techniques like fMRI and PET provide data on brain activity.
- Psychological theorizing often relies on behavioral data, but brain imaging offers complementary insights.
- A key assumption is a systematic mapping between brain structure and cognitive function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate how functional neuroimaging data can inform and test psychological theories.
- To distinguish between function-to-structure deduction and structure-to-function induction inferences.
- To explore the implications of a systematic function-structure mapping for neuroimaging research.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of functional neuroimaging data (fMRI, PET) in the context of psychological tasks.
- Distinction and illustration of two inference types: function-to-structure deduction and structure-to-function induction.
- Examination of imaging studies related to recognition memory, short-term memory, and repetition priming.
Main Results:
- Qualitatively different brain activity patterns under varying conditions imply distinct cognitive functions.
- Consistent brain region activity across conditions suggests shared underlying cognitive functions.
- The concept of a systematic function-structure mapping, potentially involving networks, is crucial for valid inferences.
Conclusions:
- Functional neuroimaging data, when interpreted within a systematic function-structure mapping framework, serve as a valuable dependent variable for testing psychological theories.
- The assumption of systematic mapping is a working hypothesis, best validated by the overall success of the research enterprise.
- Addressing statistical and methodological issues, including the definition of 'qualitative difference' and the integration of imaging with behavioral data, is essential for robust conclusions.