Dorothy V. M. Bishop
Research Review: Emanuel Miller Memorial Lecture 2012 – Neuroscientific studies of intervention for language impairment in children: interpretive and methodological problems
University of Oxford
background ability look structure function living brain increased exponentially since early 1970s many studies developmental disorders routinely include brain imaging electrophysiological component amid current enthusiasm applications neuroscience educational interventions need pause consider neuroimaging data tell us images brain activity seductive used give credibility commercial interventions yet limited idea brain bases language disorders let alone alter scope findings review six studies neuroimaging correlates language intervention found recurring methodological problems lack adequate control group inadequate power incomplete reporting data correction multiple comparisons data dredging failure analyse treatment effects appropriately addition tendency regard neuroimaging data meaningful behavioural data even though behaviour interventions aim alter conclusion current state knowledge would better spend research funds welldesigned trials behavioural treatment establish methods effective rather rushing headlong functional imaging studies unproven treatments