SSP Forum: Brian Knutson on neuroforecasting

The
Symbolic Systems Forum
(community sessions of SYMSYS 280 - Symbolic Systems Research Seminar)
presents

Neuroforecasting reveals how individual choice can generalize to aggregate choice

Brian Knutson
Psychology Department

Monday, May 12, 2025
12;30-1:20 pm PT
Margaret Jacks Hall (Bldg. 460), Room 126
In-person event, not recorded (see below for entry instructions if you are not an active Stanford affiliate)

Note: Lunch is provided, if pre-ordered, only for members of SYMSYS 280, but others are welcome to bring a lunch and eat during the presentation.

Abstract:

Progress in neuroimaging research has allowed researchers not only to predict diverse individual choices, but also to forecast some of those choices out-of-sample at the aggregate scale (e.g., on the internet). Surprisingly, sampled brain activity sometimes supports better forecasts than sampled behavior. For instance, neuroforecasting research on crowdfunding and video viewing suggests that sampled Nucleus Accumbens (NAcc) responses, but not sampled behavior, forecasts the popularity of choice options on the internet. Further analyses have begun to clarify how brain responses of limited samples reveal generalizable components of choice capable of improving market forecasts.

Notes on entry to the meeting room:

Entry to the building is open to anyone with an active Stanford ID via the card readers next to each door. If you do not have a Stanford ID, you can gain entry between 12:15 and 12:30pm ONLY by knocking on the exterior windows of room 126. These windows are to the left of the west side exterior door on the first floor of Margaret Jacks Hall, which faces the back east side of Building 420. Please do not knock on these windows after 12:30pm when the talk has started. We will not be able to come out and open the door for you at that point.