Abstract: A method includes generating a trading performance model for a trading activity involving a set of decisions by a set of expert traders. The trading performance model includes a set of input data sets, a set of data processing workflows operating on the input data sets, and a set of trading decision outputs resulting from interaction of the expert traders with a user interface representing the trading performance model. The method includes generating a brain state model representing a sequential set of brain states of the set of expert traders that characterize brain states measured during the interactions of the expert traders with the user interface representing the trading performance model, assessing the quality of the trading decisions, determining a preferred pattern of trader brain state sequences, and modifying a subsequent trading activity.