Emily Rosa

American psychologist known for her research on therapeutic touch

Emily Rosa, the youngest person to have a research paper published in a peer-reviewed medical journal

Emily Rosa (born February 6, 1987) is an American psychologist who is best known for being the youngest person to have a research paper published in a peer-reviewed medical journal. Her study, conducted when she was nine years old, challenged the validity of therapeutic touch, a practice used by some nurses and alternative medicine practitioners.

Early Life and Education

Emily Rosa was born in Loveland, Colorado. Her parents, Linda Rosa and Larry Sarner, were both involved in the skepticism movement, which influenced her interest in scientific inquiry from a young age. Emily was homeschooled, which allowed her the flexibility to pursue her interests in science and research.

The Therapeutic Touch Study

In 1996, at the age of nine, Emily Rosa conducted an experiment to test the claims of therapeutic touch practitioners. Therapeutic touch is a practice where practitioners claim to manipulate a "human energy field" to promote healing. Emily's experiment was designed to test whether practitioners could actually detect this energy field.

The experiment involved 21 practitioners of therapeutic touch. Emily asked each practitioner to place their hands through a screen, and she would hold her hand over one of theirs. The practitioners were then asked to determine which of their hands was being "touched" by Emily's energy field. The results showed that the practitioners were unable to reliably detect Emily's hand, performing no better than chance.

Publication and Impact

Emily's study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in 1998, making her the youngest person to have a paper published in a peer-reviewed medical journal. The publication of her study had a significant impact on the field of alternative medicine, particularly in the scrutiny of therapeutic touch practices.

The study was widely covered in the media and sparked discussions about the scientific basis of alternative medicine practices. It also highlighted the importance of critical thinking and scientific inquiry, regardless of age.

Later Life and Career

After her early success, Emily Rosa continued her education and pursued a career in psychology. She remains an advocate for scientific skepticism and evidence-based practices in medicine.

Legacy

Emily Rosa's work is often cited as an example of how scientific inquiry can be accessible to people of all ages. Her study is used in educational settings to teach students about the scientific method and the importance of testing claims with empirical evidence.

Related Pages

• Therapeutic touch
• Skepticism
• Alternative medicine
• Journal of the American Medical Association