LAUSR

Pearson et al. (2018) very interesting article “Acetaminophen enhances the reflective learning process.” reports an effect of acetaminophen on reflective processes. By claiming to demonstrate that acetaminophen increases reflective processing, this article brings to mind exciting sci-fiesque musings about “smart pills,” and even more realistic excitement about an applied use of acetaminophen for pilots, surgeons, and students (or perhaps politicians!). This article is promising and investigates important questions about the connection between physical and cognitive processes which entails even more important implications. Unfortunately, I think this article suffers from several flaws and that Pearson et al. have greatly overstated the findings and the implications. I detail five critiques below.