Neuroassessment and monitoring of higher cognitive functions in naturalistic contexts: the case of organizational neuroscience

Naturalistic neuroassessment has emerged as a transdisciplinary applied neuroscience approach aimed at evaluating cognitive and socio-affective processes in ecologically valid contexts. By integrating methods from cognitive neuroscience, psychology, and behavioural sciences, this framework enables the monitoring of neural and physiological correlates of complex functions – such as decision-making, problemsolving, and attentional control – during realistic tasks. Within organizational contexts, neuroassessment supports the field of neuromanagement by providing objective insights into cognitive effort, self-regulation, and executive functioning involved in managerial and team-based activities. Multimodal approaches combining electroencephalography (EEG), autonomic markers (e.g., heart rate variability and electrodermal activity), and eye-tracking allow for real-time assessment of cognitive load and emotional arousal. The increasing availability of wearable technologies further enhances ecological validity by enabling continuous monitoring in workplace environments. Beyond diagnostic profiling, neuroassessment can inform training, leadership development, and organizational design. However, its implementation requires careful consideration of methodological rigor, user acceptance, and ethical issues related to privacy and employee autonomy.