Understanding and misunderstanding of neuroimaging: some data from first year undergraduates

• In recent years, neuroimaging research has become a popular and exciting source of news in the press and media but claims are often exaggerated and people’s understanding of the techniques appears poor.
• In this study, 207 first year undergraduates in psychology completed a True/False questionnaire in which 28 statements about neuroimaging were presented
• Respondents showed a very skeptical attitude to some of the claims made for neuroimaging but showed poor understanding of the methods
• 82% correctly judged that neuroimaging could not be used to read minds; 88% correctly thought neuroimaging could detect brain abnormalities; and 77% thought that newspapers and media did not report neuroimaging studies accurately
• However, 76% incorrectly thought that neuroimaging allowed us to see behaviour in the brain as and when it happens; 80% incorrectly thought that babies, children and adults could be studied with all types of imaging; 84% incorrectly thought neuroimaging could identify a person suffering from mental illness