Martin Lindstrom

Martin Lindstrom

Branding consultant and author of Buyology (2008), which reported brain-imaging and brain-wave studies of consumers commissioned for the book, including claims about cigarette warnings and product placement.

Who they are

Buyology argues that self-report cannot explain buying and that brain measurement can. Its own studies carry no citations, and as far as this publication can find they were not published in peer-reviewed journals. Its best-known claim, that cigarette warnings stimulated craving, is contradicted by published imaging studies and a randomised trial.

Key papers

Lindstrom, M. (2008). Buyology: Truth and Lies About Why We Buy. Doubleday.

Key ideas

Cigarette warnings and craving: see Graphic Health Warnings.

Reading craving off a brain region: see Reverse Inference.

Product placement woven into narrative: see Product Placement.

Sources

  1. Lindstrom, M. (2008). Buyology. Read in full by this publication, with a reliability audit.