Magnetic Resonance Imaging, MRI, is considered one of the most comprehensive diagnostic techniques available, and Functional MRI, fMRI, is one of the leading tools used for studying the brain through response to carefully designed or observed stimuli.
Analogously, we define Social Mechanism-design and Relationship Imaging, or Social MRI, which allows detailed sensing and imaging of social systems through the use of mobile phones and telecommunications for social and behavioral sensing platform.
Social fMRI takes it a step further—allowing for specifically designed stimuli and interventions to the social system, while measuring the individual and collective response. Just as fMRI helps us understand the inner workings of the brain, we hope that the Social fMRI approach could help us understand the inner workings of social systems and the way humans interact and react to one another.
