‘A dead salmon perceiving humans can tell their emotional state.’

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Wired Headline: Scanning Dead Salmon in fMRI Machine Highlights Risk of Red Herrings

Neuroscientist Craig Bennett bought a whole salmon to use as a test subject while working out some new methodologies on an fMRI machine.  So far, so good.  A dead fish isn't going to become fatigued, get thirsty, or want to take a break to go to the bathroom.
The results were, uhhh, interesting.

While studying the dead fish in the fMRI machine, they showed it pictures of people and asked the dead fish to determine their emotional states.  One scan result is shown above.  Apparent brain activity in a dead fish!
So, once again we are reminded of the rigor one should use in science and research.  Speaking of rigor, here is Bennett's methodology:

Without adequate rigor in analysis, one comes to the out-of-whack view so aptly described thusly by Bennett:
“By complete, random chance, we found some voxels that were significant that just happened to be in the fish’s brain,” Bennett said. “And if I were a ridiculous researcher, I’d say, ‘A dead salmon perceiving humans can tell their emotional state.’”
There was another, shall I say 'tastefully' humorous aspect in that, in this case, the subject "... can be reused via culinary post-processing."
Be thorough  out there.  And, please, be rigorous.

Hat tip to Alex French via Dave Farber's I.P. list.

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