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Neural reference groups: a synchrony-based classification approach for predicting attitudes using fNIRS.

Macrina C Dieffenbach¹, Grace S R Gillespie¹, Shannon M Burns¹

¹Annenberg School of Communication, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.

Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience

|October 7, 2020

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Like-minded individuals exhibit similar brain activity patterns. This study shows that neural synchrony can predict individual political viewpoints using portable brain imaging, extending social neuroscience research.

Keywords:

dmPFC fNIRS intersubject correlation neural reference groups neural synchrony

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Last Updated: Dec 6, 2025

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Area of Science:

Social Neuroscience
Cognitive Neuroscience
Neuroimaging

Background:

Like-minded individuals often display 'like-brained' characteristics, evidenced by greater neural synchrony among those with similar viewpoints.
Previous research primarily demonstrated group-level neural synchrony, with limited success in predicting individual viewpoints using costly, immobile neuroimaging equipment.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop and validate a simple synchrony-based classification method, the 'neural reference groups' approach, for predicting individual attitudes.
To assess the feasibility of using portable neuroimaging in real-world contexts for social neuroscience research.

Main Methods:

Collected functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) data in a mobile 'pop-up neuroscience' lab.
Employed the 'neural reference groups' approach to compare individual neural timecourses against established partisan groups.
Utilized dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) data for classification.

Main Results:

Successfully predicted individuals' partisan stances on a sociopolitical issue at above-chance levels.
Demonstrated that neural synchrony data from dmPFC is sufficient for this prediction.
Validated the 'neural reference groups' approach for individual-level attitude prediction.

Conclusions:

The 'neural reference groups' approach offers a novel and accessible method for predicting individual attitudes based on neural synchrony.
This methodology can be applied in diverse, real-world settings, broadening the scope of social neuroscience research.
Findings highlight the potential for mobile neuroimaging to investigate dispositional differences in naturalistic environments.