The scientists argue that "thinking too much" about preferences caused the students to focus on all sorts of variables that didn't matter, such as the texture of the jam or the presence ofstrawberry seeds.
There was also a disagreement over dessert choices as she vetoed a suggestion of bread, butter and strawberryjam - despite assurances from diplomats that it was considered a great treat in Communist China.
Animal Collective's latest CD, on the Domino label, is the appropriately named StrawberryJam: a sticky-sweet mixture of mashed-up musical elements, from noise pop and fringe folk to ambient drones and psychedelia, with crunchy seeds of noise rock.