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Seeing Is Believing: The Effect of Brain Images on Judgments of Scientific Reasoning
Abstract
Brain images are believed to have a particularly persuasive influence on the public perception of research on cognition. Three experiments are reported showing that presenting brain images with articles summarizing cognitive neuroscience research resulted in higher ratings of scientific reasoning for arguments made in those articles, as compared to articles accompanied by bar graphs, a topographical map of brain activation, or no image. These data lend support to the notion that part of the fascination, and the credibility, of brain imaging research lies in the persuasive power of the actual brain images themselves. We argue that brain images are influential because they provide a physical basis for abstract cognitive processes, appealing to people's affinity for reductionistic explanations of cognitive phenomena.
... First, theories underlying the multimedia effect make statements about perceptual processes that have not been verified directly. Second, recent empirical research questions this general beneficial effect of pictures and even suggests that pictures may bias people into being uncritical towards scientific texts (i.e., picture bias effect) (McCabe & Castel, 2008). Thus, in this study, we (1) investigate the multimedia effect and its underlying cognitive and perceptual processes directly with think-aloud protocols and eye tracking and (2) we test the picture bias effect. ...
... Again, this is problematic as it could result in students overlooking logical flaws in a text and thus not being able to build a coherent mental model of the task at hand, again, resulting in poorer task performance. McCabe and Castel (2008) showed that the mere presence of an illustration increased the perceived credibility of a scientific text. The readers were less critical against the arguments of a scientific text, when it was accompanied by a scientific illustration. ...
... Students may recognize parts of the input and the graph, and parts (maybe only keywords) of the problem statement and they then say something like "yes this is [for example] the triangle inequality, so this must be true". These results are in line with McCabe and Castel (2008), who found that including brain images in an article increased the scientific credibility of the results. They argue that this may be because the brain images "provide a physical basis for abstract cognitive processes". ...
Textbooks in applied mathematics often use graphs to explain the meaning of formulae, even though their benefit is still not fully explored. To test processes underlying this assumed multimedia effect we collected performance scores, eye movements, and think-aloud protocols from students solving problems in vector calculus with and without graphs. Results showed no overall multimedia effect, but instead an effect to confirm statements that were accompanied by graphs, irrespective of whether these statements were true or false. Eye movement and verbal data shed light on this surprising finding. Students looked proportionally less at the text and the problem statement when a graph was present. Moreover, they experienced more mental effort with the graph, as indicated by more silent pauses in thinking aloud. Hence, students actively processed the graphs. This, however, was not sufficient. Further analysis revealed that the more students looked at the statement, the better they performed. Thus, in the multimedia condition the graph drew students' attention and cognitive capacities away from focusing on the statement. A good alternative strategy in the multimedia condition was to frequently look between graph and problem statement, and thus to integrate their information. In conclusion, graphs influence where students look and what they process, and may even mislead them into believing accompanying information. Thus, teachers and textbook designers should be very critical on when to use graphs and carefully consider how the graphs are integrated with other parts of the problem.
... Furthermore, numerous research has shown that fNIRS is a reliable method for gauging the extent to which the brain is stimulated in response to different forms of academic and linguistic endeavors (Cutini et al., 2016;Jasinska, 2013;Kuhl et al., 2020;Safi et al., 2012;Soltanlou et al., 2018;Sugiura et al., 2011;Wan et al., 2018). Functional magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography, electroencephalography, and magnetoencephalography are all examples of neurocognitive devices that have been used in the past to examine the structural and functional changes that occur in the developing brain at various stages (Bevilacqua et al., 2019;Keehner et al., 2011;McCabe & Castel, 2008;Munakata et al., 2004) and to evaluate the brain mechanisms underlying cognitive activities like language and reading in infants and adults (Nevat et al., 2014;Soltanlou et al., 2018). Although most neuroimaging methods suffer from motion errors, fNIRS is less rigid, more adaptable, and more cost-effective when compared to the other methods (Herold et al., 2017;Soltanlou et al., 2018). ...
The cortical activation and performance of 3rd grade students were investigated using Functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) during reading Arabic language. The main cortical activation parameter tested was hemoglobin difference (HbDiff), while the performance was evaluated according to the number of committed errors and latency. The recorded HbDiff concentrations for the typically developed (TD) were significantly higher (0.05) than that of students with dyslexia (Dys), confirming higher brain activities for TD students. TD students committed less errors and need less time to finish the task. Moreover, Pearson correlation analysis performed showed that there was a negative correlation between cortical activation parameters and performance. Limited studies explored the use of fNIRS to investigate the cortical activation of Arabic students’ brains or correlated between the cortical activation and performance variables. Therefore, this current research is novel and showed the potential utilization of the fNIRS in the field of educational neuroscience.
... Unfortunately, the bias toward the allure of "seeing an image of the brain" in a scientific paper is documented, and one must exercise caution in the presence of beautiful, captivating images, as they can be accompanied by unfounded conclusions and unconvincing or overinterpreted data. 17 In light of epistemological skepticism, it is important to recognize that while functional imaging provides meaningful information related to brain function, metabolism, and morphology, it involves statistical operations and consequently, the final results are often highly dependent on the chosen method. 18 The construction of new scientific paradigms could benefit from approaches used in the humanities which foster both flexibility and rigor while exploring complex phenomena. ...
Background
The rapid advancement of technology-focused strategies in neurorehabilitation has brought optimism to individuals with neurological disorders, caregivers, and physicians while reshaping medical practice and training.
Objectives
We critically examine the implications of technology in neurorehabilitation, drawing on discussions from the 2021 and 2024 World Congress for NeuroRehabilitation. While acknowledging the value of technology, it highlights inherent limitations and ethical concerns, particularly regarding the potential overshadowing of humanistic approaches. The integration of technologies such as robotics, artificial intelligence, neuromodulation, and brain-computer interfaces enriches neurorehabilitation by offering interdisciplinary solutions. However, ethical considerations arise regarding the balance between compensation for deficits, accessibility of technologies, and their alignment with fundamental principles of care. Additionally, the pitfalls of relying solely on neuroimaging data are discussed, stressing the necessity for a more comprehensive understanding of individual variability and clinical skills in rehabilitation.
Results
From a clinical perspective, the article advocates for realistic solutions that prioritize individual needs, quality of life, and social inclusion over technological allure. It underscores the importance of modesty and honesty in responding to expectations while emphasizing the uniqueness of each individual’s experience. Moreover, it argues for the preservation of human-centric approaches alongside technological advancements, recognizing the invaluable role of clinical observation and human interaction in rehabilitation.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the article calls for a balanced attitude that integrates both scientific and humanistic perspectives in neurorehabilitation. It highlights the symbiotic relationship between the sciences and humanities, advocating for philosophical questioning to guide the ethical implementation of new technologies and foster interdisciplinary dialogue.
... Neurophysiological measurements promise insights into previously unobservable phenomena of the brain, and thus a deeper understanding of human behaviour. Especially for laypersons, this leads to a tendency to perceive information as more trustworthy and explanations as more satisfying if accompanied by a neuroscientific explanation (Weisberg et al., 2008) or brain imagery (McCabe & Castel, 2008). Even if the neuroscience aspect itself has no explanatory value whatsoever, the mere addition of it gives credibility to research, and only experts in this field of research seem immune to this effect (Weisberg et al., 2008). ...
Assessing the pilot’s cognitive state is of increasing importance in aviation, especially for the development of adaptive assistance systems. For this purpose, the assessment of mental workload (MWL) is of special interest as an indication when and how to adapt the automation to fit the pilot’s current needs. Thus, there is a need to assess the pilot continuously, objectively and non-intrusively. Neurophysiological measurements like electroencephalography (EEG) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) are promising candidates for such an assessment. Yet, there is evidence that EEG- and fNIRS-based MWL measures are susceptible to influences from other concepts like mental fatigue (MF), and decrease in accuracy when MWL and MF confound. Still, there are only few studies targeting this problem, and no systematic investigation into this problem has taken place. Thus, the validity of neurophysiological MWL measures is not clear yet. In order to undertake such a systematic investigation, I conducted three studies: one experiment in which I investigated the effects of increasing MWL on cortical activation when MF is controlled for; a second experiment in which I examined the effects of increasing MF on cortical activation when MWL is controlled for; and a further comparative analysis of the gathered data. In order to induce MWL and MF in a controllable and comparable fashion, I conceived and used a simplified simulated flight task with an incorporated adapted n-back and monitoring task. I used a concurrent EEG-fNIRS measurement to gain neurophysiological data, and collected performance data and self-reported MWL and MF. In the first study (N = 35), I induce different four levels of MWL by increasing the difficulty of the n-back task, and controlled for MF by means of randomization and a short task duration (≤ 45 minutes). Higher task difficulty elicited higher subjective MWL ratings, declining performance, increased frontal theta band power and decreased frontal deoxyhaemoglobin (HbR) concentration. Furthermore, fNIRS proved more sensitive to tasks with low difficulty, and EEG to tasks with high difficulty. Only the combination of both methods was able to discriminate all four induced MWL levels. Thus, frontal theta band power and HbR were sensitive to changing MWL. In the second study (N = 31), I. I induced MF by means of time on task. Thus, I prolonged the task duration to approx. 90 minutes, and controlled for MWL by using a low but constant task difficulty derived from the first experiment. Over the course of the experiment, the participants’ subjective MF increased linearly, but their performance remained stable. In the EEG data, there was an early increase and levelling in parietal alpha band power and a slower, but steady increase in frontal theta band power. The fNIRS data did not show a consistent trend in any direction with increasing MF. Thus, only parietal alpha and frontal theta band power were sensitive to changing MF. In the third study, I investigated the validity of two EEG indices commonly used for MWL assessment, the Task Load Index (TLI) and the Engagement Index (EI). I computed the indices from the data of the two experiments, and compared the results between the datasets, and to single band powers. The TLI increased with increasing MWL, but was less sensitive than theta band power alone, and varied slightly with increasing MF. The EI did not vary with MWL, and was not sensitive to gradually increasing MF. Thus, neither index could be considered a valid MWL measure. In sum, neurophysiological measures can be used to assess changes in MWL. Yet, frontal HbR was the only measure sensitive to MWL that did not also vary with MF, and further research is needed to conclude if this finding holds true under different task characteristics. Thus, the tested EEG and fNIRS measures are only valid indications of MWL when confounding effects of MF are explicitly controlled for. I discuss further influences on the tested EEG and fNIRS measures, possible combinations with other data sources, and practical challenges for a neurophysiological MWL assessment. I conclude that neurophysiological measures should be used carefully outside the laboratory, as their validity will likely suffer in realistic settings. When their limitations are understood and respected, they can help to understand the cognitive processes involved in MWL, and can be a valuable addition to an MWL assessment.
... Whether they 'work' or not is often assessed according to user satisfaction, rather than anything specifically rooted in the technology's functioning. What's more, literature suggests consumers are not alone in being apt to believe dubious claims couched in neuroscientific terms (Beyerstein, 1990;McCabe & Castel, 2008;Rhodes et al., 2014). This suggests consumer vulnerability to neurohype, likely compounded by predominantly positive media coverage (Gilbert et al., 2019). ...
This paper provides a justificatory rationale for recommending the inclusion of imagined future use cases in neurotechnology development processes, specifically for legal and policy ends. Including detailed imaginative engagement with future applications of neurotechnology can serve to connect ethical, legal, and policy issues potentially arising from the translation of brain stimulation research to the public consumer domain. Futurist scholars have for some time recommended approaches that merge creative arts with scientific development in order to theorise possible futures toward which current trends in technology development might be steered. Taking a creative, imaginative approach like this in the neurotechnology context can help move development processes beyond considerations of device functioning, safety, and compliance with existing regulation, and into an active engagement with potential future dynamics brought about by the emergence of the neurotechnology itself. Imagined scenarios can engage with potential consumer uses of devices that might come to challenge legal or policy contexts. An anticipatory, creative approach can imagine what such uses might consist in, and what they might imply. Justifying this approach also prompts a co-responsibility perspective for policymaking in technology contexts. Overall, this furnishes a mode of neurotechnology’s emergence that can avoid crises of confidence in terms of ethico-legal issues, and promote policy responses balanced between knowledge, values, protected innovation potential, and regulatory safeguards.
... These 'traveling images' (Dumit, 2004) seem to hold great authority in comparison to other forms of research data in today's society. The inclusion of images generated from fMRI greatly influences the perceived credibility of popular media articles (McCabe and Castel, 2008). One fMRI figure is included in the Tech Talk article (See Appendix 1) with a brief caption restating the findings of the study in relation to the image. ...
... However, it is important to note that brain measures have been and can be misused (e.g. see the concepts of neuromyths) (Torrijos-Muelas et al., 2021) and have further been shown to lead to public misconception (e.g., see (McCabe and Castel, 2008); Weisberg et al., 2008). Nevertheless, we argue that brain imaging in this particular context has its legitimate value as a knowledge basis that can drive policy. ...
Reading proficiency is crucial for academic, vocational, and economic success and has been closely linked to health outcomes. Unfortunately, in the United States, a concerning 63% of fourth-grade children are reading below grade level, with approximately 7%–10% exhibiting a disability in word reading, developmental dyslexia. Research in developmental cognitive neuroscience indicates that individuals with dyslexia show functional and structural brain alterations in regions processing reading and reading-related information, with some of these differences emerging as early as preschool and even infancy. This suggests that some children start schooling with less optimal brain architecture for learning to read, emphasizing the need for preventative education practices. This article reviews educational policies impacting children with dyslexia and highlights a decentralized parent-led grassroots movement, Decoding Dyslexia, which centers the voices of those directly impacted by dyslexia. It utilizes civic engagement practices, advocacy and lobbying on local, federal, and social media platforms, and strong partnerships with scientists to drive systems-level change in educational practices, leading to dyslexia prevention legislation across the U.S. The ongoing partnership continues to address the profound gaps between scientific findings and policymaking to drive systems-level change for contemporary challenges in educational practices within a learning disabilities framework.
... Texts with diagrams, graphs, and tables were perceived as more scientific and persuasive, as they serve as plausibility cues and are associated with science [10][11][12]. However, the impact of brain (fMRI) images in popular science articles is controversial [14,15]. Pictures and illustrations in articles seem to contribute to increased credibility and received positive assessments [13,16]. ...
Science literacy is a crucial part of information literacy, enabling individuals to understand and critically evaluate scientific information and arguments. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for science literacy skills to navigate the vast amount of information available, and to understand and engage with scientific issues that impact society. The perceived scientificness of information is closely related to its credibility, but something that appears scientific may not be accurate or true. Pseudoscience can be used to claim scientificness and credibility for something that is not scientific. This paper reviews the scientific literature on factors that can mislead individuals into thinking information is credible or scientific when it is not. By understanding these factors, individuals can become more discerning consumers of scientific information and better equipped to make informed decisions.
... There are also public concerns about neurobiological evidence disproportionately influencing juries and that such an effect may outweigh its probative value. Fueled partly by sensationalist media representations, such concerns have also drawn upon initial research data suggesting the proposed "seductive allure" of neuroimages on lay people's perception of scientific claims (McCabe & Castel, 2008). ...
Neurobiological evidence has grown increasingly relevant in U.S. criminal proceedings, particularly during sentencing. Neuroimaging, such as functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Positron Emission Tomography scans, may be introduced by defense counsel to demonstrate brain abnormalities to argue for more lenient sentencing. This practice is common for penalty mitigation in cases eligible for capital punishment. This article reviews the history of the use of neuroscience in criminal cases from the early 20th Century to present, noting pertinent legal and ethical considerations for the use of such evidence. The authors review important empirical research conducted in recent years regarding the use of neurobiological evidence in legal proceedings (such as mock‐juror studies) and guidance from the federal sentencing guidelines and the American Bar Association. The discussion also notes relevant case law in which neuroimaging, behavioral genetics, or other neurobiological data were introduced in criminal proceedings, particularly precedent‐setting U.S. Supreme Court cases.
... Neuroscience-related information seems to be particularly appealing to the public (Beck, 2010). McCabe and Castel (2008) assessed participants' credibility on neuroscience research while presenting the information through different formats. They noticed that disseminating research with brain images resulted in higher ratings than either only texts (no images), bar graphs or topographical maps of brain activation. ...
The center of learning is the brain and the disciplinary science that examines its structure and functioning, and the nervous system as a whole, is called neuroscience. The assimilation of essential neuroscience-related content by educational systems has gained global interest, given the relevance of learning to education. Recognizing the significance of frontline workers, several governmental agencies and educational institutions have launched initiatives to foster the inclusion of neuroscience literacy in educators’ training programs. Their success, however, has depended on collaborative efforts among educators, researchers, and other educational stakeholders, and the process has involved considerable debate. Here, we aim to articulate a rationale to promote neuroscience literacy for educators. In doing so, we revisit prior arguments on the importance of training educators and build up on other reasons to advocate for this kind of endeavor considering cutting-edge research. Following this, we discuss critical elements to advance neuroscience literacy for educators and examine the most important challenges to execute successful initiatives. Finally, we appraise the significance for Asia, reviewing the scholarly literature on educators’ prior experiences, and highlight the case of Singapore as an exemplar initiative that catalizes human capital, infrastructure, and strategies to advance neuroscience literacy. We conclude by arguing that governmental agencies and educational institutions should strengthen their efforts to accommodate their programmatic plans and agendas to embrace neuroscience literacy in educators’ training programs. This global trend has arrived to stay.
... Since the invention of functional neuroimaging methods in the early 1990s, this instrumentally and computationally expensive methodology has captured our interests and imaginations about visualization of the working mind [McCabe & Castel, 2008]. In a 2014 qualitative study of individuals with no background in brain sciences, O'Connor and Joffe demonstrated that the discussions of brain science were often overshadowed by common-sense (divorced from the science) and that a sense of anxiety permeated the discussions of brain science, especially more intense in those of older age [O'Connor & Joffe, 2014]. ...
Since the invention of functional brain imaging in the early 1990s, this instrumentally and computationally expensive methodology has captured our interests in visualizing the working mind, especially that of super-ageing brains. Because neuroimaging research is costly, various communication strategies are deployed to increase its visibility and fundraising success. Through a historical perspective on the representation of healthy ageing in the media, we examine the methods of communication (media logic) and the cultural interdependencies between media, research institutions, and health funding politics (mediatization), which magnify the profile of brain imaging in advancing the science of healthy ageing. Examples of hyped messaging about healthy-ageing brains underline the risk of visual ageism — a prejudiced and stereotypical view of what a good or bad older brain looks like. We argue that hyped mediatization can alienate older adults from participating in a line of research that might stigmatize them.
The ‘seductive allure of neuroscience explanations’ effect refers to the observation that superfluous neuroscience information (SNI) added to an explanation can bias judgements of information quality. We report the results of a classroom experiment to sensitize undergraduate students to that issue. In contrast to previous studies, students rated good explanations without SNI the highest. Inspired by these observations, we set out to conceptually replicate the original study using an online experiment that allowed us to directly assess the statistical interactions between explanation quality, the presence of SNI and expertise levels. In this preregistered study, participants (n = 430) with varying levels of expertise rated the quality of good and bad explanations, with or without SNI. Irrespective of the presence of SNI, participants across all expertise levels rated good explanations more favourably than bad ones. Still, the differences were surprisingly small, and the variation in rating was high. We also found a statistically significant interaction between the impact of SNI and expertise, with SNI boosting ratings mostly in participants with less expertise (p < 0.001), corroborating previous findings. Developing a curriculum that trains students to distinguish between actual explanations and ‘crap’ would ultimately also sensitize teachers and experts that produce and review scientific information.
This chapter delves into consumer neuroscience, specifically neuroeconomic insights on consumer behavior toward circular economy activities. The chapter investigates the intersection of neuroscience, economics, and sustainability to see how neuroscientific techniques. Key areas include the function of memory in establishing sustainable consumption patterns, cognitive biases that influence sustainability preferences, and ethical implications when using neuroscientific results to promote circular economy practices. Drawing upon empirical research and theoretical frameworks, this chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the neuroeconomic foundations of consumer behavior in the context of circular economy principles, providing valuable insights for policymakers, marketers, and researchers seeking to promote sustainable consumption patterns.
This indispensable sourcebook covers conceptual and practical issues in research design in the field of social and personality psychology. Key experts address specific methods and areas of research, contributing to a comprehensive overview of contemporary practice. This updated and expanded second edition offers current commentary on social and personality psychology, reflecting the rapid development of this dynamic area of research over the past decade. With the help of this up-to-date text, both seasoned and beginning social psychologists will be able to explore the various tools and methods available to them in their research as they craft experiments and imagine new methodological possibilities.
This indispensable sourcebook covers conceptual and practical issues in research design in the field of social and personality psychology. Key experts address specific methods and areas of research, contributing to a comprehensive overview of contemporary practice. This updated and expanded second edition offers current commentary on social and personality psychology, reflecting the rapid development of this dynamic area of research over the past decade. With the help of this up-to-date text, both seasoned and beginning social psychologists will be able to explore the various tools and methods available to them in their research as they craft experiments and imagine new methodological possibilities.
This indispensable sourcebook covers conceptual and practical issues in research design in the field of social and personality psychology. Key experts address specific methods and areas of research, contributing to a comprehensive overview of contemporary practice. This updated and expanded second edition offers current commentary on social and personality psychology, reflecting the rapid development of this dynamic area of research over the past decade. With the help of this up-to-date text, both seasoned and beginning social psychologists will be able to explore the various tools and methods available to them in their research as they craft experiments and imagine new methodological possibilities.
Traumatic brain injuries, mental illnesses and neurodevelopmental disorders are established risk factors for housing instability. Further, these brain‐associated conditions may result in additional barriers to accessing services. We explored perspectives of front‐line housing support workers concerning the neuroscience of housing instability to co‐create a knowledge translation (KT) activity. Interviews were conducted with front‐line workers (participant‐researchers) about the impacts of brain‐associated conditions in individuals experiencing housing instability. We combined interview results with existing neuroscience research to develop a KT activity. We collaboratively planned improvements to the KT activity via a focus group. The participant‐researchers found statistics about the overrepresentation of brain‐associated conditions among individuals experiencing housing instability compelling. They expressed that the greatest impact may arise if we target politician and policymaker audiences. Improved awareness of the neuroscience of housing instability may provide motivation for addressing systemic factors that perpetuate the violence of living unhoused.
There is often a disconnect between the academic and public spheres in terms of knowledge and understanding of ocean issues, which limits conservation action. Marine science outreach must bridge both a communication and spatial gap between knowledge producers and users. In recent years, art-science collaborations have been found to encourage participatory engagement and emotional connection in the public, which has been theorized to be crucial for establishing trust and engagement. However, scientists hesitate to use art in outreach, in part because it is difficult to evaluate. This study investigated how different image types, including photographs, illustrations, and art pieces may affect responses to marine conservation topics. An online survey was distributed to Dalhousie University students from November 15th 2021 to April 1st 2022. Study participants (n = 51) read three marine conservation articles and responded to statements evaluating attributes contributing to a person’s likelihood to act regarding conservation issues. Each article was randomly accompanied by either an art piece, a scientific illustration, or a photograph. After encountering all articles and image types, participants were asked to choose and justify their preferred image type. Survey respondents found the marine conservation topics were valid in their conclusions, interesting to read, and emotionally evocative. Regardless of image type, 66% of respondents agreed that the images helped communicate the articles’ messages. Friedman and Cochran Q tests found no significant differences between image types in terms of perceived validity, interest, or emotional responses to conservation topics, contradicting our hypothesis that image types would have different impacts on responses. However, while no visual performed better than the rest, none of them performed worse either. Photographs were the least preferred image type and perceived to be significantly less effective at conveying the articles’ messages, which has implications for research dissemination and evaluation methods. Overall, this study suggests that visuals are an effective method of science outreach, but there is no one-size-fits all approach. Marine scientists interested in designing visuals should employ an iterative and collaborative approach that matches their image type to their audience and communication goals.
New magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques that offer faster scanning and potential artificial intelligence-assisted interpretation and diagnosis can significantly impact existing workflows in radiology. In a qualitative study embedded within a responsible research and innovation design, we investigate the development and potential implementation of quantitative MRI. We aim to investigate postdigital MRI futures, covered by scenarios of potential workflows, as well as the resulting implications for professions and related education involved in the MRI process. Furthermore, we examine the related and changing responsibilities, more specifically reflecting on ‘forward-looking responsibilities’. Through expert interviews (n = 20) and a focus group, stakeholder perspectives on the future of quantitative imaging techniques were explored. During a subsequent co-creation workshop and another focus group, stakeholders reflected on future scenarios in quantitative MRI. Our study shows that a proactive and future-oriented investigation of the influence of emerging technologies on potential workflows and subsequent changes in expertise and roles help in gaining or increasing awareness about the wider impact of a technology developed to contribute to faster and quantitative MRI exams. We argue that anticipating postdigital worlds by reflecting on future responsibilities through the co-creation of imaginaries can help making uncertain futures tangible in other ways.
Extraneous neuroscience information improves ratings of scientific explanations, and affects mock juror decisions in many studies, but others have yielded little to no effect. To establish the magnitude of this effect, we conducted a random-effects meta-analysis using 60 experiments from 28 publications. We found a mild but highly significant effect, with substantial heterogeneity. Planned subgroup analyses revealed that within-subjects studies, where people can compare the same material with and without neuroscience, and those using text, have stronger effects than between-subjects designs, and studies using brain image stimuli. We serendipitously found that effect sizes were stronger on outcomes of evaluating satisfaction or metacomprehension, compared with jury verdicts or assessments of convincingness. In conclusion, there is more than one type of neuroscience explanations effect. Irrelevant neuroscience does have a seductive allure, especially on self-appraised satisfaction and understanding, and when presented as text.
The growing controversy over fMRI scans is forcing us to confront whether brain equals mind
Because graphs provide a compact, rhetorically powerful way of representing research findings, recent theories of science have postulated their use as a distinguishing feature of science. Studies have shown that the use of graphs in journal articles correlates highly with the hardness of scientific fields, both across disciplines and across sub-fields of psychology. In contrast, the use of tables and inferential statistics in psychology is inversely related to subfield hardness, suggesting that the relationship between hardness and graph use is not attributable to differences in the use of quantitative data in subfields or their commitment to empiricism. Enhanced "graphicacy" among psychologists could contribute to the progress of psychological science by providing alternatives to significance testing and by facilitating communication across subfields.
The wide dissemination and expanding applications of functional MRI have not escaped the attention of the media or discussion in the wider public arena. From the bench to the bedside, this technology has introduced substantial ethical challenges. Are the boundaries of what it can and cannot achieve being communicated to the public? Are its limitations understood? And given the complexities that are inherent to neuroscience, are current avenues for communication adequate?
As one of the most compelling technologies for imaging the brain, functional MRI (fMRI) produces measurements and persuasive pictures of research subjects making cognitive judgments and even reasoning through difficult moral decisions. Even after centuries of studying the link between brain and behavior, this capability presents a number of novel significant questions. For example, what are the implications of biologizing human experience? How might neuroimaging disrupt the mysteries of human nature, spirituality, and personal identity? Rather than waiting for an ethical agenda to emerge from some unpredictable combination of the concerns of ethicists and researchers, the attention of journalists, or after controversy is sparked by research that cannot be retracted, we queried key figures in bioethics and the humanities, neuroscience, media, industry, and patient advocacy in focus groups and interviews. We identified specific ethical, legal and social issues (ELSI) that highlight researcher obligations and the nonclinical impact of the technology at this new frontier.
Explanations of psychological phenomena seem to generate more public interest when they contain neuroscientific information. Even irrelevant neuroscience information in an explanation of a psychological phenomenon may interfere with people's abilities to critically consider the underlying logic of this explanation. We tested this hypothesis by giving naïve adults, students in a neuroscience course, and neuroscience experts brief descriptions of psychological phenomena followed by one of four types of explanation, according to a 2 (good explanation vs. bad explanation) x 2 (without neuroscience vs. with neuroscience) design. Crucially, the neuroscience information was irrelevant to the logic of the explanation, as confirmed by the expert subjects. Subjects in all three groups judged good explanations as more satisfying than bad ones. But subjects in the two nonexpert groups additionally judged that explanations with logically irrelevant neuroscience information were more satisfying than explanations without. The neuroscience information had a particularly striking effect on nonexperts' judgments of bad explanations, masking otherwise salient problems in these explanations.
Representations of the active brain have served to establish a particular domain of com- petence for brain mappers and to distinguish brain mapping's particular contributions to mind/brain research. At the heart of the claims about the emerging contributions of functional brain mapping is a paradox: functional imagers seem to reject representa- tions while also using them at multiple points in their work. This article therefore consid- ers a love-hate relationship between scientists and their object: the case of the iconoclas- tic imager. This paradoxical stance is the result of the formation of an interdisciplinary approach that brings together a number of scientific traditions and their particular stan- dards of what constitutes scientific evidence. By examining the various ways in which images are deployed and rejected, the origins of these conflicting tendencies can be traced to the technological, methodological, and institutional elements in the work of functional imagers. This approach provides insight into the current demarcation of imaging and reflects on features of visual knowledge. IS THIS THE OPENING PARAGRAPH? Representations of the active brain have served to establish a particular domain of competence for brain mappers, an emerging group at the boundaries of cognitive and neural science, and to distinguish brain mapping's particular contributions to mind/ brain research. At the heart of the claims about the emerging contributions of functional brain mapping is a paradox: functional imagers seem to reject rep- resentations while also using them at multiple points in their work. This arti- cle therefore considers a love-hate relationship between scientists and their object: the case of the iconoclastic imager. This paradoxical stance is the result of the formation of an interdisciplinary approach that brings together a
A growing interest in and concern about the adequacy and fairness of modern peer-review practices in publication and funding are apparent across a wide range of scientific disciplines. Although questions about reliability, accountability, reviewer bias, and competence have been raised, there has been very little direct research on these variables.
The present investigation was an attempt to study the peer-review process directly, in the natural setting of actual journal referee evaluations of submitted manuscripts. As test materials we selected 12 already published research articles by investigators from prestigious and highly productive American psychology departments, one article from each of 12 highly regarded and widely read American psychology journals with high rejection rates (80%) and nonblind refereeing practices.
With fictitious names and institutions substituted for the original ones (e.g., Tri-Valley Center for Human Potential), the altered manuscripts were formally resubmitted to the journals that had originally refereed and published them 18 to 32 months earlier. Of the sample of 38 editors and reviewers, only three (8%) detected the resubmissions. This result allowed nine of the 12 articles to continue through the review process to receive an actual evaluation: eight of the nine were rejected. Sixteen of the 18 referees (89%) recommended against publication and the editors concurred. The grounds for rejection were in many cases described as “serious methodological flaws.” A number of possible interpretations of these data are reviewed and evaluated.
Drug addiction manifests as a compulsive drive to take a drug despite serious adverse consequences. This aberrant behaviour has traditionally been viewed as bad "choices" that are made voluntarily by the addict. However, recent studies have shown that repeated drug use leads to long-lasting changes in the brain that undermine voluntary control. This, combined with new knowledge of how environmental, genetic and developmental factors contribute to addiction, should bring about changes in our approach to the prevention and treatment of addiction.
There is much interest currently in using functional neuroimaging techniques to understand better the nature of cognition. One particular practice that has become common is 'reverse inference', by which the engagement of a particular cognitive process is inferred from the activation of a particular brain region. Such inferences are not deductively valid, but can still provide some information. Using a Bayesian analysis of the BrainMap neuroimaging database, I characterize the amount of additional evidence in favor of the engagement of a cognitive process that can be offered by a reverse inference. Its usefulness is particularly limited by the selectivity of activation in the region of interest. I argue that cognitive neuroscientists should be circumspect in the use of reverse inference, particularly when selectivity of the region in question cannot be established or is known to be weak.
Searching for the person in the brain Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences
- D P Mccabe
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Drawing things together Representation in scientific practice
- B Latour
Latour, B. (1990). Drawing things together. In M. Lynch & S. Woolgar (Eds.), Representation in scientific practice (pp. 19–68). Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Thinking it over: fMRI and psychological science
- Nicholson
Nicholson, C. (2006). Thinking it over: fMRI and psychological science. APS Observer, 19.
Searching for the person in the brain
- Carey
fMRI in the public eye
- Racine