Communication Neuroscience: Theory, Methodology and Experimental Approaches

Abstract

The human brain is our primary biological organ of communication. The brain acts as both the sender and receiver of messages and underpins our fundamental ability to communicate and interact with others. Communication scholars can, therefore, study the brain to gain a more complete understanding of communication phenomena. Our goal with the present manuscript is to promote neuroscience research to communication scholars in the following ways: (1) We provide rationale for studying communication from a neural perspective. (2) We delineate the various advantages and challenges that neuroscience methods present. (3) We describe three distinct methodological entry points for communication scholars to approach the field. Specifically, we illustrate how neuroscience measures can be incorporated into communication research as dependent variables, mediators, or predictors. We then close with a forward-looking perspective on future developments in measurement, analysis, and theory, which we expect will have a profound influence on communication science.