Departmental Papers (Psychology)

Document Type

Journal Article

Date of this Version

2011

Publication Source

Journal of Neuroscience, Psychology, and Economics

Volume

4

Issue

2

Start Page

63

Last Page

84

DOI

10.1037/a0023555

Abstract

This article provides the beginning neuroeconomist with an introductory overview to the different methods used in human neuroscience. It describes basic strengths and weaknesses of each technique, points to examples of how each technique has been used in neuroeconomic studies, and provides key tutorial references that contain more detailed information. In addition to this overview, the article presents a framework that organizes human neuroscience methods functionally, according to whether they provide tests of the association between brain activity and cognition or behavior, or whether they test the necessity or the sufficiency of brain activity for cognition and behavior. This framework demonstrates the utility of a multimethod research approach, because converging evidence from tests of association, necessity, and sufficiency provides the strongest inference regarding brain–behavior relationships. Set against this goal of converging evidence, human neuroscience studies in neuroeconomics currently rely far too heavily on methods that test association, most notably functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Copyright/Permission Statement

© 2016 American Psychological Association. This paper is not the copy of record and may not exactly replicate the authoritative document published in the APA journal. Please do not copy or cite without author's permission. The final article is available, upon publication, at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0023555

Keywords

neuroeconomics, methods, functional MRI, lesion studies, noninvasive brain stimulation

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Date Posted: 06 December 2017

This document has been peer reviewed.