get your alien abduction rechecked

From the New Scientist:

A study has revealed characteristic activity in the brain that predicts whether a memory is accurate or false. The difference occurs at the time of recall, suggesting that a test for false memory might one day be possible.

Holy David Jacobs, Batman!

Ah, that reminds me of the time I saw Dr. Jacobs giving a talk downtown:

man in audience (MIA): "Dr. Jacobs, if what you are saying is true, and the government knows that aliens are here and abducting US citizens and making some sort of hybrid slave race, why don't we do something? I mean, seriously we must be able to do something to fight them..."

Dr. Jacobs (Dr. J): "Well, I think that when it comes down to it, the government believes that this is plan A, and that it's pretty bad, and that whatever we do, we don't want the aliens to switch to plan B."

MIA: (looks extremely puzzled): "Plan B? What's plan B?"

Dr. J: (pause): "Well, I'm not sure. But I can assure you, it's a lot worse than plan A."

Ah, science.

Conversation is to the best of my recollection, of course.

Posted by illovich at November 10, 2003 10:49 AM