Question

An advertisement touts a new nootropic supplement, or smart pill, promising to turbocharge one's memory and propel academic, career, and relationship success. Which statement is LEAST likely true of any research evaluating the new supplement?

A. It was performed on healthy humans with normal memory function.
B. It found only small effects.
C. It lacks rigorous controls.
D. It has few participants.

Answer 1

The least likely true statement about research on a new nootropic supplement is that it has few participants, as effective research commonly involves more extensive and rigorous studies.

Step-by-step explanation:

In evaluating a new nootropic supplement, the statement that is LEAST likely true of any research is likely D. It has few participants. Often, advertising claims about such supplements are not supported by large-scale, rigorously controlled research studies.

Rigorous controls (C) are necessary to rule out placebo effects or biases in research, and studies on cognitive enhancers like nootropics tend to show only small effects (B) when performed on healthy adults. Additionally, studies carried out on healthy humans (A) with normal memory function are common for evaluating the effectiveness of cognitive enhancers.

It's essential to understand that the long-term consequences of using cognitive-enhancing drugs are mostly unexplored, and the regulations concerning their use are still not clearly defined. While sporadic use may be safe, repeated exposure could have negative effects on the brain, including the reshaping of neuronal circuits.