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Experts: People think they hear obscene words from toys because our brains work that way

Minions file photo
Minions file photo
OAK BROOK, Ill. (AP) — It’s the latest case in which some parents think they hear obscene words coming from the mouth of a talking toy — in this case, a yellow “Minions” character that comes in McDonald’s Happy Meals.

McDonald’s says the toy is just speaking nonsense words, and not a phrase that is often abbreviated as “WTF.”

Experts say the problem may be in how our brains are primed to find words even when they’re not really there. Dr. Steven Novella at Yale says that’s especially true if people are told ahead of time what words to listen for.

McDonald’s says “a very small number of customers” have been in touch with the company about the toy.

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