Could Brain Imaging Predict Future Behavior?

[Wally]

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/01/150107122904.htm

Noninvasive brain scans have led to basic science discoveries about the human brain, but they've had only limited impacts on people's day-to-day lives. A review article highlights a number of recent studies showing that brain imaging can help predict an individual's future learning, criminality, health-related behaviors, and response to drug or behavioral treatments. The technology may offer opportunities to personalize educational and clinical practices.

Fiction or Future Reality?

 

[barbc56]

The basic idea is to use noninvasive imaging to look at the structure or function of the brain as a way of predicting future behavior, and then using those predictions to help guide treatment and education interventions, and perhaps decisions regarding parole or further treatment of criminal behavior. This concept raises many issues, including the technology being used, the state of the research, the ultimate potential for this line of research, and ethical considerations

One fear that I have (and the authors also point this out) is that the allure of such data will give it a mystique that goes beyond its real world applicability. If people think we can peer into someone’s brain and predict their future, there would be the strong temptation to treat brain scans as if they were destiny, and short circuit more thorough and nuanced methods for evaluating individuals and optimizing interventions.

http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/neuroscience-and-destiny/
Barb