Scicurious Neuroscience

Even brain images can be biased

Study samples that are too rich and too well-educated may give a biased picture of brain development

MRI images of brains

Brain scan studies of large groups of people can tell us things about what the “average” brain looks like. But when the sample itself isn’t average, are the brains?

sfam_photo/Shutterstock

By Bethany Brookshire

This article is only available to Science News subscribers.

Subscribers, enter your e-mail address to access our archives.

Not a subscriber?

Science News is a nonprofit.

Support us by subscribing now.

More Stories from Science News on Neuroscience

  1. embroidery of pyramidal neurons
    Neuroscience

    Famous brain sketches come to life again as embroideries

    By Laura Sanders
  2. mice cuddling
    Neuroscience

    Mice may ‘catch’ each other’s pain — and pain relief

    By Carolyn Wilke
  3. woman inside wearing mask
    Neuroscience

    Lonely brains crave people like hungry brains crave food

    By Bethany Brookshire
  4. hallucinogenic mushrooms
    Neuroscience

    Psilocybin may help treat depression, a small study finds

    By Laura Sanders
  5. illustration of plasma cells
    Health & Medicine

    Protecting the brain from infection may start with a gut reaction

    By Aayushi Pratap
  6. Biogen headquarters
    Neuroscience

    FDA advisory panel declines to support a controversial Alzheimer’s treatment

    By Laura Sanders
  7. Neogobius melanostomus
    Animals

    A fish’s fins may be as sensitive to touch as fingertips

    By Carolyn Wilke
  8. preserved nerve cells
    Anthropology

    These human nerve cell tendrils turned to glass nearly 2,000 years ago

    By Laura Sanders

From the Nature Index

Paid Content