The powerful pull of brain images

Abstract

Recent advances in neuroimaging, especially those springing from the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging, have produced a large body of knowledge that is beginning to weaken the attitude of rejection upheld by many developmental and social psychologist against biologistic approaches to human development. Findings in the area of neuroscience have contributed to a better understanding of developmental phenomena such as self-regulation, aggression or empathy. But despite the promising, new avenues of research opened up by neuroimaging techniques, some criticisms have recently arisen that should be considered regarding the reliability of these techniques. In the near future the convergence of neuroscience, genetics and classic methods which have proved their usefulness in the study of human behaviour, promises a better understanding of human development.