Characterization of Brain Signatures to Add Precision to Self-Management Health Information Interventions.

The sample was small and convenience-based, so the findings may not apply to other people with chronic conditions. All reported data were from baseline scans, so the study did not test whether brain signatures lead to better self-management. The two samples had different chronic conditions, and disease pathology or medications could have affected brain measures. The video clips may not have felt equally relevant to every participant, which could affect the brain responses. Brain imaging is expensive, time-consuming, and burdensome, so it is not a practical bedside tool now. The cognitive screen may not have been sensitive enough to detect impairment that could affect brain responses. The study used early translational neuroimaging methods, and measurement and interpretation are still evolving.

The authors reported no potential conflicts of interest. The paper is listed as supported by NIH extramural and non-U.S. government research support.

Do not conclude that brain signatures can guide patient education or improve self-management. The study only measured baseline brain responses to video clips, and the analyses of whether these signatures affect self-management were still forthcoming.