Trends Neurosci Educ. 2026 Mar;42:100278. doi: 10.1016/j.tine.2026.100278. Epub 2026 Jan 29.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: This study is the first to examine the prevalence of neuromyth beliefs among parents of primary school students in Turkey, the sources of these beliefs, their relationship with educational level, and their predictive effect on attitudes toward neuroscience and purchase intentions.
METHOD: A total of 311 Turkish parents with children in primary school participated in the study. The prevalence of parents’ neuromyth beliefs, their sources (e.g., TV news, social media), attitudes toward neuroscience, and purchase intentions for brain development products were measured using scales. Frequency analyses, simple linear regression analysis, and multiple regression analyses were used to analyze the data.
RESULTS: The analyses revealed that neuromyth beliefs are prevalent among Turkish parents and that TV news and social media are the main sources of these beliefs. Statistical analyses showed that neuromyth belief levels decreased significantly as parents’ education level increased. Furthermore, regression analysis revealed that belief in neuromyths significantly predicted attitudes toward neuroscience.
CONCLUSION: This study shows that parents’ belief in neuromyths is widespread in the Turkish context and is disseminated particularly through popular media channels. The fact that belief in neuromyths positively predicts attitudes toward neuroscience indicates that parents are interested in neuroscientific topics, albeit with misconceptions. These results suggest that science-based awareness campaigns targeting parents should consider differences in media use and educational levels.
PMID:41807074 | DOI:10.1016/j.tine.2026.100278
