Insane in the mem-brain

There was a public event called Brainfest at the Cambridge Corn Exchange, with interactive exhibits giving people the chance to understand the workings of the brain. This is trying to photograph a magnified rodent brain, but it looks more like a crystallised butterfly wing.

One of the stands tested the speed of reactions to images with varying numbers of horizontal blue lines running across. The images were a combination of innocuous and hard drug taking. If there was a noticeable difference in the response time of counting blue lines over the different images, it resulted in a higher 'latency' score. High latency is supposed to indicate interest, experience or preoccupation with drug taking. I have none of these yet recorded higher latency as the test showed my subconscious was reacting more slowly when the images behind the blue lines were of heroin addicts shooting up compared to children frolicking in a meadow with lambs. Dandylion passed with flying colours as she doesn't have a history of Class A drug use nor would you find her at a trance event loaded up on ecstasy.

When we asked about the practical application of this test in the real world (as it's always most useful when academics find ways their research can be used somehow), apparently this is a useful tool for employers testing their staff for drugs. It can be used alongside urine testing to highlight susceptibility to or active drug use.

This seems like misplaced faith in scientific research that would lead to unfair outcomes. People cannot be punished for having an active subconscious, liking the idea of taking cocaine or being ex-druggies who are managing their problem but would inevitably record a high latency. But if this tool is ever trialled, hello to a world of miscarriages of justice and employer
suspicion.