Can cognitive processes be inferred from neuroimaging data?. Poldrack, R. A. Trends Cogn Sci, 10(2):59–63, 2006. doi abstract bibtex There is much interest currently in using functional neuroimaging techniques to understand better the nature of cognition. One particular practice that has become common is 'reverse inference', by which the engagement of a particular cognitive process is inferred from the activation of a particular brain region. Such inferences are not deductively valid, but can still provide some information. Using a Bayesian analysis of the BrainMap neuroimaging database, I characterize the amount of additional evidence in favor of the engagement of a cognitive process that can be offered by a reverse inference. Its usefulness is particularly limited by the selectivity of activation in the region of interest. I argue that cognitive neuroscientists should be circumspect in the use of reverse inference, particularly when selectivity of the region in question cannot be established or is known to be weak.
@Article{Poldrack2006,
author = {Poldrack, Russell A.},
journal = {Trends Cogn Sci},
title = {Can cognitive processes be inferred from neuroimaging data?},
year = {2006},
number = {2},
pages = {59--63},
volume = {10},
abstract = {There is much interest currently in using functional neuroimaging
techniques to understand better the nature of cognition. One particular
practice that has become common is 'reverse inference', by which
the engagement of a particular cognitive process is inferred from
the activation of a particular brain region. Such inferences are
not deductively valid, but can still provide some information. Using
a Bayesian analysis of the BrainMap neuroimaging database, I characterize
the amount of additional evidence in favor of the engagement of a
cognitive process that can be offered by a reverse inference. Its
usefulness is particularly limited by the selectivity of activation
in the region of interest. I argue that cognitive neuroscientists
should be circumspect in the use of reverse inference, particularly
when selectivity of the region in question cannot be established
or is known to be weak.},
doi = {10.1016/j.tics.2005.12.004},
institution = {Department of Psychology and Brain Research Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1563, USA. poldrack@ucla.edu},
keywords = {Brain, metabolism/physiology; Cognition; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Models, Neurological; Positron-Emission Tomography},
language = {eng},
medline-pst = {ppublish},
pmid = {16406760},
timestamp = {2014.06.10},
}
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