Allaire-Duquette Geneviève, Brault Foisy Lorie-Marlène, Potvin Patrice, Riopel Martin, Larose Marilyne, Masson Steve
Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada.
NPJ Sci Learn. 2021 May 11;6(1):11. doi: 10.1038/s41539-021-00091-x.
A central challenge in developing conceptual understanding in science is overcoming naive ideas that contradict the content of science curricula. Neuroimaging studies reveal that high school and university students activate frontal brain areas associated with inhibitory control to overcome naive ideas in science, probably because they persist despite scientific training. However, no neuroimaging study has yet explored how persistent naive ideas in science are. Here, we report brain activations of 25 scientists with a Ph.D. in physics assessing the scientific value of naive ideas in science. Results show that scientists are slower and have lower accuracy when judging the scientific value of naive ideas compared to matched control ideas. fMRI data reveals that a network of frontal brain regions is more activated when judging naive ideas. Results suggest that naive ideas are likely to persist, even after completing a Ph.D. Advanced experts may still rely on high order executive functions like inhibitory control to overcome naive ideas when the context requires it.
在科学领域培养概念理解的一个核心挑战是克服与科学课程内容相矛盾的幼稚观念。神经影像学研究表明，高中生和大学生会激活与抑制控制相关的额叶脑区来克服科学中的幼稚观念，这可能是因为尽管经过科学训练，这些观念仍然存在。然而，尚未有神经影像学研究探讨科学中持久的幼稚观念究竟有多顽固。在此，我们报告了25位拥有物理学博士学位的科学家在评估科学中幼稚观念的科学价值时的大脑激活情况。结果显示，与匹配的对照观念相比，科学家在判断幼稚观念的科学价值时速度较慢且准确率较低。功能磁共振成像数据表明，在判断幼稚观念时，额叶脑区网络的激活程度更高。结果表明，即使完成了博士学业，幼稚观念仍可能持续存在。在需要时，高级专家可能仍需依靠抑制控制等高阶执行功能来克服幼稚观念。
