Stanford Law School
Science
Brain Scans of Deceased Salmon Highlight Statistical Risks
An unusual brain-scanning experiment involving a lifeless fish demonstrates the critical need for proper statistical corrections in neuroimaging research.
Added 8/14/2026
Researchers conducted an fMRI scan on a deceased Atlantic salmon while displaying images of people in various social scenarios. Despite the obvious lack of brain activity in the subject, the setup served as a humorous and striking illustration of statistical anomalies.
According to Stanford Law School, the demonstration highlights how evaluating numerous data points without adequate correction can lead to misleading results driven entirely by coincidence.
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