Placebo effects in cognitive training
Abstract
Placebo effects pose problems for some intervention studies, particularly those with no clearly identified mechanism. Cognitive training falls into that category, and yet the role of placebos in cognitive interventions has not yet been critically evaluated. Here, we show clear evidence of placebo effects after a brief cognitive training routine that led to significant fluid intelligence gains. Our goal is to emphasize the importance of ruling out alternative explanations before attributing the effect to interventions. Based on our findings, we recommend that researchers account for placebo effects before claiming treatment effects.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Jun 20, 2016
- Source ID
- 10.1073/pnas.1601243113
Entities
People
- Cyrus K Foroughi
- Martin Paczynski
- P. M. Greenwood
- Patrick E McKnight
- Samuel S Monfort
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- George Mason University
- Office of Naval Research