Nintendo Wii Truth Experiment

University of Memphis psychologist Rick Dale used a Nintendo Wii in an experiment to show that the human brain is wired to believe before it doubts. I don't think this is a new finding. It makes sense that the brain has to assume all incoming info is true, in case a quick reaction is needed. For instance, it wouldn't be wise to stand around debating with yourself whether the tiger leaping out of the jungle is real or fake. Doubt, therefore, takes second place in the brain's hierarchy of information processing. Which is one reason (among others) why people fall for hoaxes.

The particular design of Dale's experiment (via Silicon Republic):

Participants in the experiment used the Wiimote to answer ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ to questions such as ‘Can a kangaroo walk backwards?’ The results showed that it took longer for participants to decide that a statement was false, rather than true.

In many cases, the cursor travelled first toward the yes, and then curved over to no.

For the researchers, this indicated two things. Firstly, the body was in motion before the cognitive processing was completed.

Secondly, the participants really wanted to believe most of the statements were true, even though they decided quickly that some of them were not.

Psychology Science

Posted on Mon Nov 17, 2008



Comments

Also, kangaroos have to hop because they can't walk. Even if it's only a few inches away, a kangaroo has to hop to get there.

And now you know The Rest Of The Story.
Posted by Cranky Media Guy  on  Tue Nov 18, 2008  at  03:12 AM
Yet more evidence that I'm not human; My first reaction is always to doubt and distrust everything.

As Twain said "If it sounds good, it isn't true."
Posted by D F Stuckey  on  Mon Dec 01, 2008  at  08:09 PM
Granted they do a kind of hopping motion, but they can do it backwards, using their forelegs for support.
Posted by Alan  on  Sat Mar 24, 2012  at  07:15 PM
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