Mind the Brain: The Mediating and Moderating Role of Neurophysiology

Abstract

Most studies involving experimental manipulations or interventions tailored to modulate behavior do not account for variability in the critical antecedent of behavior, the brain. Here, we describe elegant approaches to model the role that neurophysiology can play in mediating or moderating relationships in this context. We highlight the capacity for these approaches to improve the inferential power of research, bridge the gap between neural and behavioral levels of analysis, and bolster the prospects for reproducibility.