Images are not the evidence in neuroimaging
British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 61 (2):265-278 (2010)
Abstract
fMRI promises to uncover the functional structure of the brain. I argue, however, that pictures of ‘brain activity' associated with fMRI experiments are poor evidence for functional claims. These neuroimages present the results of null hypothesis significance tests performed on fMRI data. Significance tests alone cannot provide evidence about the functional structure of causally dense systems, including the brain. Instead, neuroimages should be seen as indicating regions where further data analysis is warranted. This additional analysis rarely involves simple significance testing, and so justified skepticism about neuroimages does not provide reason for skepticism about fMRI more generallyDOI
10.1093/bjps/axp035
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Citations of this work
The Dual Track Theory of Moral Decision-Making: a Critique of the Neuroimaging Evidence.Colin Klein - 2010 - Neuroethics 4 (2):143-162.
What I make up when I wake up: anti-experience views and narrative fabrication of dreams.Melanie Rosen - 2013 - Frontiers in Psychology 4.
References found in this work
Seeing is believing: The effect of brain images on judgments of scientific reasoning.David P. McCabe & Alan D. Castel - 2008 - Cognition 107 (1):343-352.
Are neuroimages like photographs of the brain?Adina L. Roskies - 2007 - Philosophy of Science 74 (5):860-872.
Theory-testing in psychology and physics: A methodological paradox.Paul E. Meehl - 1967 - Philosophy of Science 34 (2):103-115.
What do brain data really show?Valerie Gray Hardcastle & C. Matthew Stewart - 2002 - Philosophy of Science 69 (3):572-582.