I'll get the plug out of the way first: A new blog is on the 21st floor Magnets,morality and misrepresentation.
Looking at the medias coverage of the Transcranial stimulation experiment on morality and intent. (Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non invasive technique which uses magnetic fields to temporary disrupt neuronal activity in a localized region of the brain.)

Have you ever read a science story in a newspaper and just not understand what the point of the research was?
Well you are not alone, when I read a new item about an area of familiar science that I can understand how journalist may have stumbled blindly into misrepresentation. A recent study featuring in a number of mainstream newspapers has caused more than some small measure of confusion.
The study in question investigated the role of beliefs in forming opinions about moral judgements. This group used transcranial magnetic stimulation to identify the role of the right temporoparietal junction an area of the brain thought to be involved in identifying the intentions of others. The abstract (free), and full article (pay walled) can be found here.

The “Moral compass” The mainstream media was quick to make the link between magnets and a moral compass however the researchers were not trying to find the seat of morality in the brain but rather another area that may influence morality. The researchers looked at an area that is involved in attributing intent.

In short the media misrepresented the science (quelle suprise) and hyped up the story in a sensationalist manner. Something the media can be accussed of on a regular basis unfortunatly.

So what do people make of the story, the science and the like?

Anyone got any other corkers about the misrepresentation of science in the media?