Bridging Brain and Practice: A Roundtable on Neuroscience Modalities In Social Work

As neuroscience advances expand our understanding of social determinants of health, wellness, and human behavior, social work stands at a critical juncture that calls for thoughtful integration of emerging neurological tools into social work practice, research, policy, and theory. This roundtable provides an introductory overview of five distinct neuroscience methods: functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI/MRI), biomarkers, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), electroencephalography (EEG), and neurofeedback. This roundtable is intentionally accessible, offering social work practitioners, researchers, educators, and students a foundational understanding of each modality, what it measures, and why it matters for the profession.

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI/MRI) has transformed our capacity to visualize structural and functional brain changes associated with adversity. This session will discuss how neuroimaging research can inform trauma-informed practice models and strengthen the empirical foundation for social work interventions. Discussion will critically examine questions of access, the challenges of translating findings from controlled research environments to real-world practice, and how social workers can engage with neuroimaging data as both consumers and collaborators in research.

Biomarkers, such as indicators of allostatic load and inflammation, provide measurable evidence and physiological indicators of how stress and social disadvantage become biologically embedded. Participants will discuss how these data can be integrated into social work practice and policy, and how biomarkers can support advocacy by capturing the impact of population-level stressors on social determinants of health.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique, with both clinical and research applications. The roundtable will explore how TMS offers social work researchers a unique tool for establishing causal links between brain activity and behavior.

Electroencephalography (EEG) offers a real-time window into brain activity, with demonstrated utility in assessing trauma responses, attention regulation, and emotional dysregulation in vulnerable populations. Panelists will consider EEG's potential in both research and community-based practice settings, particularly with children and adolescents.

Neurofeedback uses real-time feedback to help individuals regulate brain activity and is increasingly applied in trauma treatment and with populations including veterans, survivors of abuse, and children with ADHD. The roundtable will review existing empirical evidence, training considerations, and its fit within current intervention frameworks.

Across all modalities, this session will discuss the following themes: equity and access in neuroscience research, the need for interdisciplinary collaboration, and the implications for social work research and practice. Participants will be invited to share their own experiences, questions, and perspectives in structured small-group discussion before reconvening for broader dialogue. This session advances the profession's engagement with an evolving evidence base while affirming social work's commitment to holistic, justice-oriented practice.