In measuring electrical activity in different parts of the brain, researchers found that people who describe themselves as generally

happy have more activity in the left prefrontal lobe of their brains than do other people. Therefore, a medication for stimulating the left prefrontal lobe of the brain would be an effective treatment for clinical depression.

In the above argument, the author concludes that a medication for stimulating the left prefrontal lobe of the brain would be an effective treatment for clinical depression. To strengthen his or her argument the author cites the findings of researchers who found during measuring electrical activity in different parts of the brain that people who describe themselves as generally happy have more activity in the left prefrontal lobe of their brains than do other people. The conclusion is not very convincing as it rests on numerous simplistic assumptions which is not substantiated. First, the author assumes that the people who participated in research sample is representation of general population. However, the author has failed to substantiate this assumption. If the sample is not statistically representing the general population, then any conclusion made could be misleading. Second, the author assumes that the people who describe themselves as generally happy are really happy person. It might be possible that people can misjudge state of happiness about themselves. Also, happiness is very subjective feeling, which varies from person to person. Thirdly, the author assumes that the people who describe themselves as generally happy are free from depression. It might be possible that people are free from depression, however they are not happy. Just assuming that a person who is free from depression means he is happy is very simplistic assumption, which is not statistically tested and proved by the author. Forth, the author assumes that people who are happy have more activity in the left prefrontal lobe of their brains. However, the author has not discarded other possibilities for more activity in the left prefrontal lobe of the brains. There could be other reasons such as drinking habits, smoking habits, interests in art or science etc for more activity in the left prefrontal lobe of brains. In sum, the conclusion of the argument is not very convincing. If the author has showed that the people who participated in research sample is representation of general population, that people have not misjudged about their happiness, that people who describe themselves as generally happy are free from depression, and that happiness and hence lack of depression is the only reason for more activity in the left prefrontal lobe of the brains, the argument would be more convincing. Without this, there is little reason to accept this argument.