Neural signals predict information sharing across cultures
Abstract
Information sharing influences which messages spread and shape beliefs, behavior, and culture. In a preregistered neuroimaging study conducted in the United States and the Netherlands, we demonstrate replicability, predictive validity, and generalizability of a brain-based prediction model of information sharing. Replicating findings in Scholz et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 114 , 2881–2886 (2017), self-, social-, and value-related neural signals in a group of individuals tracked the population sharing of US news articles. Preregistered brain-based prediction models trained on Scholz et al. (2017) data proved generalizable to the new data, explaining more variance in population sharing than self-report ratings alone. Neural signals (versus self-reports) more reliably predicted sharing cross-culturally, suggesting that they capture more universal psychological mechanisms underlying sharing behavior. These findings highlight key neurocognitive foundations of sharing, suggest potential target mechanisms for interventions to increase message effectiveness, and advance brain-as-predictor research.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Oct 23, 2023
- Source ID
- 10.1073/pnas.2313175120
Entities
People
- Alexandra M. Paul
- Anthony Resnick
- Christian Benitez
- Christin Scholz
- Danielle Cosme
- Emily B Falk
- Hang‐Yee Chan
- Jose Carreras Tartak
- Nicole Cooper
- Rebecca Martin
Organizations
- Dutch Research Council
- Office of the Director
- University of Amsterdam
- University of Pennsylvania