Seductive Allure of Neuroscience Explanations

Seductive Allure of Neuroscience Explanations

Reviewed by Faisal Zaidi

The finding that irrelevant neuroscience detail makes weak explanations seem more satisfying to nonexperts.

What it is

In experiments by Weisberg and colleagues, nonexperts rated explanations with a logical gap as satisfying when they contained neuroscience; experts did not.

In effect

A short video explains a calming breath by naming a nerve, and the nerve name makes the explanation feel complete.

What it does not say

The finding concerns how satisfying a weak explanation feels to nonexperts. It does not say that neuroscience explanations are unreliable, only that irrelevant detail can make a poor one seem better.

Sources

  1. Weisberg, D. S., Keil, F. C., Goodstein, J., Rawson, E., & Gray, J. R. (2008). The seductive allure of neuroscience explanations. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 20(3), 470-477.