User:Ergonomist

2014-11-28T10:00:53Z

Ergonomist: Created page with "Ergonomist, engineer and methodology nerd. 'nuff said. :)"

Ergonomist, engineer and methodology nerd. 'nuff said. :)

Talk:1453: fMRI

2014-11-28T10:00:00Z

Ergonomist:

" ... and the magnetic field could rip off their jewelry if they are wearing ..." No, I think he's referring to the fact that the subjects were told to remove their jewelry before going into the machine, so that is still on their minds. --[[User:RenniePet|RenniePet]] ([[User talk:RenniePet|talk]]) 08:10, 28 November 2014 (UTC)

Which they are told because of the fields, which might rip and tear, or just heat up metallic objects... :) --[[User:Ergonomist|Ergonomist]] ([[User talk:Ergonomist|talk]]) 10:00, 28 November 2014 (UTC)

1453: fMRI

2014-11-28T09:57:40Z

Ergonomist:

{{comic
| number = 1453
| date = November 28, 2014
| title = fMRI
| image = fmri.png
| titletext = They also showed activation in the parts of the brain associated with exposure to dubious study methodology, concern about unremoved piercings, and exasperation with fMRI techs who won't stop talking about Warped Tour.
}}

==Explanation==
The symptoms are direct results of the test itself. During fMRI patients hear loud noises, are confined in a box (thus the claustrophobia) and the magnetic field could rip off their jewelry if they are wearing any. The researcher has mistaken these as effects caused by ''performing simple tasks'' which the patients have been asked to do and not a direct result of the settings of the test.

fMRI (or Functional MRI) is a technique designed to show brain activity while performing tasks. Despite the elaborate name, this is, still, basically, an MRI test, i.e.: the subject is put into a relatively small cylinder inside a big, very loud, machine producing extremely strong magnetic fields.

Thus, the memory areas described by Meg are those associated with taking a functional MRI scan, rather than those associated with the "test" supposedly being carried out.

It appears that Randall makes fun of the overly confident, sweeping statements made by some fMRI researchers, often in the press. In reality the technique is still in its infancy and while large amounts data can be produced, their interpretation usually remains ambiguous. Problems include statistical analyses and the use of proper control groups. See http://bit.ly/1y7nciM for further information as well as an anecdote involving a dead salmon.

The title text continues with this theme, adding "dubious study methodology" and "concern about unremoved piercings" to the list. The "Warped Tour" reference appears to be used as another indication of poor study design with lots of cognitive confounders (which usually go unreported due to publication bias).

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript}}

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics with color]]

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User:Ergonomist

Talk:1453: fMRI

1453: fMRI