This week’s Expert Logic Puzzle is simple.
How many leaps of faith are necessary to make a sturdy chain of logic that ties together the parts of a single press release? Count the number of logic assumptions in the text of the press release [to see the entire press release, click on the link].
Start point of the chain of logic: The chain of logic begins in the middle of the press release, with this phrase:
“With this study, conducted on genetically modified mice…”
Penultimate link in the chain of logic (presented at the very start of the press release!):
“Might living a structured life with regularly established meal times and early bedtimes lead to a better life and perhaps even prevent the onset of mental illness? That’s what’s suggested in a study led by Kai-Florian Storch, PhD, of the Douglas Mental Health University Institute and McGill University, which has been published in the online journal eLife.
End point of the chain of logic (presented as the headline atop the press release):
“Deconstructing mental illness through ultradian rhythms“.
Possible hints, for logic-puzzle-solving beginners: The press release contains two sub-headlines. One sub-headline says:
A novel hypothesis
The other sub-headline says:
Groundbreaking
BONUS (just for fun, not directly connected to this week’s puzzle): Here’s video of a man trying, in a mere nine minutes, to identify the logical assumptions in a different, shorter chain of text: