A Masterclass in Scientific Skepticism

You deserve better brain research by Dr. Ashley Juavinett and Dr. Cat Hicks
Change, Technically, June 30, 2025

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Each episode of the delightful podcast Change, Technically is an intellectual journey, and this episode, titled “You deserve better brain research” is no exception. In this episode from the summer of 2025, hosts Dr. Ashley Juavinett, a neuroscientist, and Dr. Cat Hicks, a psychologist, examine some of the most headline-grabbing research on AI and cognitive offloading, particularly the well-known MIT Media Lab study using EEG to measure cognitive processing. They provide a masterclass in scientific skepticism, dismantling the study’s methodology, from its lack of peer review to its suspicious "brain map" visualizations. However, their critique goes deeper than mere debunking, offering an illuminating model of scientific thinking and erudite enthusiasm for the process of scientific discovery. In doing so, they challenge educators to move beyond the fear-based narrative that technology "melts" the brain. Instead, they advocate for a more nuanced understanding of "desirable difficulty" and student agency, turning our attention to how to use science to measure learning and to understand how technology shapes and structures, for better or worse, our mental processes. For independent school leaders navigating the "neuro-hype" of the AI era, this episode is a thrilling reminder that rigor belongs not just in the lab, but in how we consume the research that shapes our pedagogical choices.