Molly Crockett: Beware neuro-bunk

Summary

Neuroscientist Morton Bast humorously dissects the sensationalism in media coverage of brain science, highlighting how a study on serotonin's role in decision-making was misconstrued to suggest that cheese boosts self-control. He warns against the overblown claims in marketing, such as 'neuro drinks' promising stress reduction without solid evidence, and cautions that while neuroscience is advancing, it's crucial to scrutinize such claims critically. Bast encourages questioning the science behind products and headlines to avoid being misled by 'neuro-flapdoodle.'

Takeaways

• 🧠 The speaker is a neuroscientist who studies decision-making and how brain chemicals like serotonin influence our choices.
• 🧀 A humorous claim that a cheese sandwich can aid in decision-making is actually a media distortion of a study on serotonin and tryptophan.
• 📉 The study involved manipulating serotonin levels with a drink that reduced tryptophan, leading to increased revenge behavior when treated unfairly.
• 📰 Media headlines often oversimplify scientific studies, leading to misleading conclusions about findings like the benefits of cheese and chocolate.
• 🚫 The speaker rejects marketing offers that go beyond the actual science of their research, emphasizing the importance of scientific integrity.
• 🧪 Neuroscience is increasingly used in marketing, with products like 'Neuro drinks' making unproven claims about brain health benefits.
• 🧬 The speaker warns against 'neuro-flapdoodle', unproven claims in neuroscience, such as reading thoughts from brain scans or oversimplifying the effects of hormones like oxytocin.
• 🔬 Brain scans are not yet capable of accurately diagnosing mental illnesses or determining complex emotions or behaviors.
• ❌ SPECT imaging, despite being used by some clinics for a variety of mental health claims, is not supported by the broader neuroscience community for such purposes.
• 🛡 The speaker calls for skepticism and critical evaluation of products and claims in neuroscience, urging consumers to demand evidence and consider the full story.

Q & A

What is the speaker's profession and area of study?

The speaker is a neuroscientist who studies decision-making.

What was the main focus of the experiment mentioned in the script?

The experiment focused on how the brain chemical serotonin influences people's decisions in social situations, particularly how it affects reactions to unfair treatment.

How did the researchers manipulate serotonin levels in their study?

The researchers manipulated serotonin levels by giving participants an artificial lemon-flavored drink that reduces the availability of tryptophan, an amino acid necessary for serotonin production in the brain.

What was the unexpected outcome of the study that led to headlines about cheese sandwiches?

The unexpected outcome was that when tryptophan levels were low, people were more likely to seek revenge when treated unfairly. The connection to cheese sandwiches came from the fact that tryptophan is also found in cheese, and the media sensationalized this aspect of the study.

Why did the media's interpretation of the study bother the speaker?

The media's interpretation bothered the speaker because it oversimplified the study's findings and misrepresented the actual results, leading to misleading headlines that did not accurately reflect the research.

What is the speaker's stance on the use of neuroscience in marketing?

The speaker is critical of the use of neuroscience in marketing, especially when it involves overblown or unproven claims, as it can mislead consumers and detract from the real scientific advancements.

What is the 'Neuro drink' mentioned in the script, and what claims does it make?

The 'Neuro drink' is a product line that includes 'Nuero Bliss,' which claims to reduce stress, enhance mood, provide focused concentration, and promote a positive outlook.

Why does the presence of a brain image in an article make people more likely to agree with its conclusions?

The presence of a brain image in an article makes people more likely to agree with its conclusions because it creates a perception of scientific credibility and authority, even if the image does not directly relate to the content.

What is the speaker's opinion on the use of brain scans to read people's thoughts and emotions?

The speaker believes that using brain scans to read people's thoughts and emotions is an unproven claim. They argue that brain scans can show activation in areas like the insula, but these activations are not specific to a single emotion or thought process.

What is the issue with the claims made by the researcher referred to as 'Dr. Love' about oxytocin?

The issue with 'Dr. Love's' claims is that while oxytocin does increase trust, empathy, and cooperation in some studies, other studies show it can also increase envy, gloating, and bias towards one's own group, and in some cases, decrease cooperation.

What is SPECT imaging, and why is its use in diagnosing mental illness controversial?

SPECT imaging is a brain-scanning technology that uses a radioactive tracer to track blood flow in the brain. Its use in diagnosing mental illness is controversial because the broad consensus in neuroscience is that we cannot yet diagnose mental illness from a single brain scan, despite claims made by some clinics.

What is the speaker's final advice to the audience regarding products that claim to be backed by neuroscience?

The speaker advises the audience to be skeptical of products claiming to be backed by neuroscience and to ask for evidence and the full story behind such claims, as the brain is complex and not all claims are scientifically proven.