Thursday, 4 February 2010

On fMRI

So, supposedly a study using brain scans found that 4 of 27  patients in a vegetative state could actually answer questions. We're invited to feel horror at the thought of being locked in. Indeed, that seems horrible.

But, on the other hand, they found that a dead salmon did a lot of thinking in an fMRI, too.

These people, in the fMRI world, have what we like to call "Problems" with their statistical methods.

3 comments:

gpc said...

Either that, or the state of deadness is very different than we have so far surmised. Also an unsettling thought.

TwoYaks said...

Imagine being improperly diagnosed as a dead salmon by your doctor. It would be terrible, forced to lay there as they ship you around on ice to the states, then sell you in a small corner of the market where everyone can see you. The end comes mercifully fast, when someone makes a lovely Salmon Linguine. ;)

flying fish said...

Great, now I have to write a longer living will...it has to include don't you dare do a fancy MRI on me because I'd rather be fettuccine than linguine. So complex.


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