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. \n• In this study, 207 first year undergraduates in psychology completed a True/False questionnaire in which 28 statements about neuroimaging were presented \n• Respondents showed a very skeptical attitude to some of the claims made for neuroimaging but showed poor understanding of the methods \n• 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 \n• 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