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Access through your institution Buy or subscribe The Perspectives article by Illes _et al_. (Neurotalk: improving the communication of neuroscience research, _Nature Reviews Neuroscience_
11, 61–69 (2010))1 discussed the thorny but important issue of communicating neuroscience research. The authors identified a number of challenges for neuroscientists seeking to present their
often complex findings in an accessible way. Among their specific recommendations was the need for more empirical research on the communication of neuroscience to the general public. One
emerging issue in this field is the 'dazzle effect' of brain images in scientific reports. It seems that merely including a picture of a brain increases the perceived credibility
of research findings in the eyes of non-experts2. We explored this phenomenon to establish exactly what properties of brain images make them so seductive3. Our findings suggest that the more
concrete and 'brain-like' the image is, the more credibility it has. Specifically, brain images that appeared highly three-dimensional and object-like (as rated by novices in a
separate study) were more likely to convince naive readers that an accompanying written report contained sound scientific reasoning. By contrast, more abstract, schematic neuroscience
formats resulted in lower credibility ratings for accompanying texts. This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution ACCESS OPTIONS Access through your institution
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Contact customer support REFERENCES * Illes, J. et al. Neurotalk: improving the communication of neuroscience research. _Nature Rev. Neurosci._ 11, 61–69 (2010). Article CAS Google Scholar
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(2010). Article Google Scholar Download references AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * Madeleine Keehner is at the School of Psychology, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 4HN,
UK., Madeleine Keehner & Martin H. Fischer Authors * Madeleine Keehner View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Martin H. Fischer View
author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar CORRESPONDING AUTHOR Correspondence to Madeleine Keehner. RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions
ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Keehner, M., Fischer, M. Naive realism in public perceptions of neuroimages. _Nat Rev Neurosci_ 12, 118–164 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn2773-c1
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