title: Empirical neuroenchantment: from reading minds to thinking critically.
abstract: While most experts agree on the limitations of neuroimaging, the unversed public-and indeed many a scholar-often valorizes brain imaging without heeding its shortcomings. Here we test the boundaries of this phenomenon, which we term neuroenchantment. How much are individuals ready to believe when encountering improbable information through the guise of neuroscience? We introduced participants to a crudely-built mock brain scanner, explaining that the machine would measure neural activity, analyze the data, and then infer the content of complex thoughts. Using a classic magic trick, we crafted an illusion whereby the imaging technology seemed to decipher the internal thoughts of participants. We found that most students-even undergraduates with advanced standing in neuroscience and psychology, who have been taught the shortcomings of neuroimaging-deemed such unlikely technology highly plausible. Our findings highlight the influence neuro-hype wields over critical thinking.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, McGill University Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Sabrina S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lifshitz
authors.affiliation: Departments of Psychology, and Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University Montreal, QC, Canada ; The Lady Davis Institute at the SMDB Jewish General Hospital Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raz
keywords: allure; bias; critical thinking; judgment; neuroimaging; neuroscience; persuasion; vividness effect