Νευρομύθοι και παράγοντες πρόβλεψής τους

Abstract

Introduction: Although teachers have shown great interest in neuroscience in recent years and wish to apply neuroscientific findings to their teaching, many findings have been misinterpreted leading to false beliefs, neuralgia. Purpose: The purpose of the study was to study the extent of the proliferation of neuralgia among students of Pedagogical Schools in our country and to study the factors that predict belief in neurons. Findings: 568 (514 women, average = 20,77 years old, T.A. = 4,67) took part undergraduate and postgraduate students from the Pedagogical Schools of the Universities of Athens and Thessaly. A questionnaire was used to evaluate their knowledge of neuroscience, their belief in neurosciences, and to record behaviors such as the study of popular science. About 40% of participants gave answers that indicate they believe in neurons. Linear regression analysis showed that the predominant factor in neuroscience belief was general knowledge in neuroscience. A second regression showed that the number of books of any subject studied by the students was a negative predictor of general knowledge. Conclusions: Future teachers tend to believe in neurons. General knowledge of the brain seemed to protect against belief in the neurons. However, those who read more books appear to have less good general knowledge, probably because they are more exposed to neuralgia.