Limitations of Neuroscience
2. Neuroscience needs more data analysis.
While this may seem contradictory to the previous point, I am referring to the quantitative analysis of the research itself. Currently,compared to the other biological sciences, neuroscience is facing a ton of issues due to poor statistics. The data in neuroscience (and in all sciences dealing with complex systems) is super noisy, partly due to the psychological influence of the contributing subjects, which is why researchers are using more advanced statistical techniques to make sense of it. But this complexity means that fewer neuroscientists actually grasp the math behind the stats they use. This can lead to all sorts of issues, like drawing incorrect conclusions.
Simply Psychology. (2023, October 24). What is Neuroscience In Psychology?
https://www.simplypsychology.org/neuroscience.html
Introduction
The more I look at neuroscience research articles, the more I feel the frustration of the researchers as they try to convey their findings. This is because of the limitations regarding neuroscience, limitations even I, a high school student, can see.
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Simply Psychology, 2023
1. Neuroscience simplifies human behavior in regards by trying to perceive everything in the lens of the brain and the nervous system.
A lot of neuroscientific findings are shared without a deep understanding of philosophical concepts. This can result in oversimplified and potentially damaging views of the brain, and consequently, of human behavior, psychology, and culture. Ideas related to the mind are some of the trickiest to define, yet some neuroscientists act like there are no complexities that need philosophical consideration. Due to a certain disregard for psychology some scientists present results that feel incomplete or forced.
The idea of simplifying mental processes to just neurochemistry and neural connections damages the science and dishonors the field. While this reductionist approach can be a helpful research method, it shouldn't overshadow studies focused on mental aspects or support theories of mental disorders that prioritize only neurochemistry and neural connections. Even though the mind relies on the brain, mental activities have unique properties that can't be easily explained. That does not mean however, the neuroplastic characteristics of the brain should be knocked down a tier.
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