The potentials of neuroimaging technologies are vast. During his lecture on the principles of neuroimaging data, Dr. Lindquist highlighted “emerging applications” of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) as a means to predict not only health status, but also human behavior (Lindquist, 2016). But, does this mean that neuroimaging has the ability to predict or even influence the success of political campaigns? Neuropolitics, an arising field, posits that it can. In “Neuropolitics, Where Campaigns Try to Read Your Mind” (Randall, 2015), reporter Kevin Randall describes both the possibilities and the criticism of neuropolitics.
Neuropolitics can be defined as the use of brain imaging, biofeedback, and facial coding technologies in order to predict individual emotions that are associated with campaign ads or political figures (Randall, 2015).It makes use of neuroimaging, such as fMRI, to assess individual brain activity in the presence of campaign-related stimuli, in order to predict emotions that are associated with given campaign-related stimuli. Ultimately, this information can be used to influence individual voting behaviors during elections, through strategies including targeted ads and speeches that are …show more content…
For one, the ability for fMRI to accurately predict human emotions is debatable. The potential limitations in fMRI’s predictive abilities are discussed in “The Role of fMRI in Cognitive Neuroscience: where do we stand?” (Poldrack, 2008). It is common for social cognitive neuroscience fields, like neuropolitics, to rely on reverse inference, which makes associations between mental processes and a given stimuli that are not necessarily correct. In one instance, inaccurate information, which was generated utilizing reverse inference, was released to the public suggesting an association between anxiety and political party brands among uncommitted voters (Op-Ed Contributers, 2007; Poldrack,
Neuropolitics can be defined as the use of brain imaging, biofeedback, and facial coding technologies in order to predict individual emotions that are associated with campaign ads or political figures (Randall, 2015).It makes use of neuroimaging, such as fMRI, to assess individual brain activity in the presence of campaign-related stimuli, in order to predict emotions that are associated with given campaign-related stimuli. Ultimately, this information can be used to influence individual voting behaviors during elections, through strategies including targeted ads and speeches that are …show more content…
For one, the ability for fMRI to accurately predict human emotions is debatable. The potential limitations in fMRI’s predictive abilities are discussed in “The Role of fMRI in Cognitive Neuroscience: where do we stand?” (Poldrack, 2008). It is common for social cognitive neuroscience fields, like neuropolitics, to rely on reverse inference, which makes associations between mental processes and a given stimuli that are not necessarily correct. In one instance, inaccurate information, which was generated utilizing reverse inference, was released to the public suggesting an association between anxiety and political party brands among uncommitted voters (Op-Ed Contributers, 2007; Poldrack,