Incorporating context and co-occurring internal processes into psychophysiological research

The field of psychophysiology is characterized by its use of rigorous methodological approaches to understand exchanges between the human body and its surrounding environment. However, a majority of the research to date has focused on the use of single psychophysiological measures for processes of interest within lab-based settings. We present a conceptual paper where we draw expertise from two complementary disciplines, psychology and anthropology, to discuss key opportunities and challenges. We argue for the consideration of context and co-occurring internal processes into psychophysiological research. We focus on neural and cardiac assessments of how individuals respond to surrounding environments with an eye toward understanding risk for psychopathology. We offer recommendations for researchers to incorporate multimethod approaches across various settings, as well as note limitations, considerations, and opportunities.