In today's New York Times, I have an editorial on the brain science of why people form false beliefs, co-written with my co-author, Sandra Aamodt. It's timely because of the many rumors that have sprung up around Barack Obama - for instance, the false idea that he is a Muslim.
Unfortunately, the Times editorial format doesn't allow links. I know many readers of Daily Kos are like me and want to see the supporting literature. So we thought we'd provide the text here, complete with embedded links to key papers. You can read more on the website for our book, Welcome To Your Brain: Why You Lose Your Car Keys but Never Forget How to Drive and Other Puzzles of Everyday Life.