SocraticGadfly: The latest craptacular MRI hype

February 09, 2011

The latest craptacular MRI hype

No, it's not MRIs as lie detectors. If anything, it's even more "out there" than that.

An MRI can supposedly predict your success at quitting smoking. Hmm, if this extrapolates to alcohol and drug addiction, it opens many cans of worms. Do we target treatment dollars and efforts at the more likely to succeed? Does this become a criminal defense option? And, of course, just how accurate is this? That said, it's a typical small-scale research designed for a big news splash. Just 28 people? I think reputable science mags should refuse to publish such small studies.

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