The hottest Cognitive Science Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways

P-Zombies Would Report Qualia

Astral Codex Ten • 12457 implied HN points • 10 Jun 25

The concept of philosophical zombies, or p-zombies, refers to beings that appear normal but lack consciousness. This brings up questions about whether they can still report their experiences without actually experiencing them.
There's an argument about whether p-zombies could describe their perceptions as humans do. They might give answers that sound similar to human experiences, but the question remains whether that means they truly have those experiences.
This discussion challenges our understanding of consciousness and qualia, suggesting that one could talk about experiences without having real feelings or awareness. It raises questions about how we perceive and talk about our own consciousness.

How I taught my 3-year-old to read like a 9-year-old

The Intrinsic Perspective • 26836 implied HN points • 28 May 25

🚌 Education Child development Tutoring Reading Cognitive Science Parenting

Teaching a child to read early can lead to them enjoying books and reading for pleasure. This habit can help with their brain development and emotional well-being.
Using methods like reading together, fun activities, and spaced repetition can make learning to read more effective and enjoyable for kids.
The process of teaching reading requires patience and flexibility, as each child learns at their own pace. Making it fun is key to keeping them interested.

Bayes For Everyone

Astral Codex Ten • 14660 implied HN points • 30 May 25

🚌 Education Teaching Methods Philosophy Cognitive Science Student Engagement

Teaching needs to blend old and new learning methods. By mixing traditional storytelling with modern scientific methods, we can help students connect better and fall in love with learning.
Bayes' theorem is best understood visually and emotionally. Using simple images and relatable examples can make this complex idea easier and more engaging for students.
We should teach students why concepts matter in real life. Connecting topics like Bayes' theorem to their interests can make learning more relevant and impactful.

AI still lacks “common” sense, 70 years later

Marcus on AI • 5968 implied HN points • 05 Jan 25

🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Robotics Cognitive Science Data science

AI struggles with common sense. While humans easily understand everyday situations, AI often fails to make the same connections.
Current AI models, like large language models, don't truly grasp the world. They may create text that seems correct but often make basic mistakes about reality.
To improve AI's performance, researchers need to find better ways to teach machines commonsense reasoning, rather than relying on existing data and simulations.

Thanks But I'll Walk, Scotty

Everything Is Amazing • 1031 implied HN points • 03 Feb 25

🔬 Science Animal Behavior Cognitive Science Research Methods

Animals, like wild mice and rats, have been observed using wheels just for fun, without any obvious benefit. This suggests that play and enjoyment are important to all creatures, not just humans.
Our brains can be easily tricked by illusions like pareidolia, where we see faces in random objects. This highlights how our perception can change quickly based on how we look at things.
Having fun should be a priority in how we interact with each other. Embracing joy can improve our lives and connections, just like it does for animals.

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The Willpower to Care About Academic Debates

Living Fossils • 31 implied HN points • 12 Feb 25

🚌 Education Psychology Research Methods Cognitive Science

Ego depletion, the idea that willpower decreases after making tough choices, has been largely debunked. Many studies found that there is no strong evidence to support this theory.
The ego depletion debate shows how important solid theories are in science. Without a strong theory, even widely accepted ideas can lead researchers astray.
Psychology needs to be more disciplined in building ideas that align with what we know about the human mind and evolution. This helps avoid wasting time on false concepts.

Smarter thinking in everyday life

Brain Pizza • 662 implied HN points • 16 Jan 25

🏥 Health & Wellness Cognitive Science Mental health Decision-making Behavioral Science Self-reflection

Understanding how your brain works helps you deal with daily problems better. This means recognizing your own thinking patterns can improve your decision-making.
By knowing common biases and habits, you can improve how you think and behave. This helps you make better choices and reach your goals more effectively.
Small changes in your thinking can lead to big improvements in life. Using these insights helps you shape your actions and make smarter decisions daily.

Cognitive scientist Gary Marcus says AI must be regulated. He has a plan.

Marcus on AI • 3003 implied HN points • 27 Nov 24

🕹 Technology AI Ethics Regulation Cognitive Science Policy AGI

AI needs rules and regulations to keep it safe. It is important to have a plan to guide this process.
There is an ongoing debate about how different regions, like the EU and US, approach AI policy. These discussions are crucial for the future of AI.
Experts like Gary Marcus share insights about the challenges and possibilities of AI technology. Listening to their views helps understand AI better.

What do you think about consciousness?

The Intrinsic Perspective • 12511 implied HN points • 08 Nov 24

📖 Philosophy Consciousness Philosophy of science Metaphysics Cognitive Science

There are many theories about consciousness, and everyone has their own views on it. It's a topic that invites everyone to share their thoughts.
The study of consciousness is still in its early stages, so you don't need to be an expert to join the discussion. It's a personal experience that we all understand.
Finding a scientific explanation for consciousness is a hope for many. It suggests that there might be a simple answer out there just waiting to be discovered.

Macro and Microphenomenology

Superb Owl • 3113 implied HN points • 23 Nov 24

📖 Philosophy Cognitive Science Consciousness Psychology Meditation Phenomenology

Psychology is getting more advanced by creating new ways to study the mind. This includes looking at both everyday mental experiences and the basic building blocks of consciousness.
Microphenomenology focuses on tiny details of experience, like how we feel pain or perceive sensations. It helps us understand consciousness in a very precise way.
Macrophenomenology explores larger states of consciousness, often influenced by extreme experiences, like those caused by psychedelics or intense emotions. It looks at how these experiences shape our overall mental landscape.

25 Useful Ideas for 2025

The Prism • 877 implied HN points • 02 Jan 25

🚌 Education Learning Psychology Critical Thinking Personal Development Cognitive Science

Being too focused on what we hate in politics makes us unhappy. Instead, we should think about what we stand for and what we can support positively.
Markets and services can start off great for users but may turn worse as they become more focused on profits over their customers. We should be aware of this shift in priorities.
To truly learn something well, we should try to teach it. Teaching others helps deepen our understanding and makes information stick better.

Why do I forget jobs I have completed?

Brain Pizza • 728 implied HN points • 31 Dec 24

🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Cognitive Science Memory Psychology Self-care

People often forget what they did at work, even if they were busy. This can make it hard to recall specific tasks later.
Our brains sometimes have trouble accessing completed tasks from memory. It's like they get filed away and are hard to find when we need them.
The Zeigarnik Effect explains that we tend to remember unfinished tasks better than completed ones. This means we might focus more on what’s still left to do rather than what has already been accomplished.

How - and Why - To Read...

The Ruffian • 805 implied HN points • 04 Jan 25

📚 Literature Cognitive Science Cultural impact Media Consumption

Reading is becoming less common, and many adults struggle with literacy today. This decline is linked to the rise of social media and digital content.
Literacy is not just about reading and writing; it's vital for clear thinking and understanding complex ideas. Without it, discussions can become shallow and less informed.
In a world where fewer people read deeply, those who do will stand out and have an advantage. Practicing reading helps build important thinking skills that are valuable in many areas of life.

Why Everywhere We Look, There We Are

Everything Is Amazing • 1547 implied HN points • 05 Dec 24

🎭️ Culture Human behavior Cognitive Science Social Responsibility Environmental Issues Storytelling

People often see faces and familiar patterns in everyday things. This strange trick our brain plays is called pareidolia, and it shows how we connect what we see to ourselves.
Our attachment to objects, like clothing or old gear, can be sentimental. This affection helps us care more about the environment and encourages us to repair instead of throw away.
Understanding our cognitive biases, like pareidolia, can help us be more curious and appreciate the world around us. If we learn to see ourselves in everything, we might treat it all with more care.

Why am I bad at Scrabble?

Trevor Klee’s Newsletter • 373 implied HN points • 15 Jan 25

📚 Literature Language Cognitive Science Writing Games

Being good at Scrabble isn't just about having a large vocabulary or great spelling skills. It's more about understanding the specific rules and structure of the game.
Scrabble requires a different type of thinking that is more linear and bounded, which can be challenging for those who excel in creative and associative thinking.
This kind of thinking challenge is similar for both people and language models. They can be great at connecting ideas but struggle with systematic tasks like Scrabble.

Working memory: one of the most important things to understand about learning

The Bell Ringer • 519 implied HN points • 19 Jul 24

🚌 Education Learning Psychology Teaching Methods Cognitive Science Research

Working memory is crucial for learning because it helps us hold and process information. Understanding how it works can improve teaching methods.
Many teachers in the U.S. aren't trained on working memory, which limits their ability to support students effectively. Better training can help teachers use this knowledge in classrooms.
Memorizing basic facts, like math facts, is important for building a strong foundation in learning. When students know these facts, they can focus on more complex problems.

Conversation between Robert Wright and Google Gemini 2.0 Experimental Advanced

Nonzero Newsletter • 146 implied HN points • 03 Jan 25

🕹 Technology AI Development Cognitive Science Ethics Education

Humans are complex; they can create beautiful things but also harm each other. It's a mix of potential and flaws that makes you interesting.
To improve, people should focus on understanding different perspectives. This helps in communicating and resolving conflicts more effectively.
Overcoming biases like confirmation bias or in-group bias is important for developing empathy. It helps you see the world from others' views and creates a better society.

What Had I Hoped to Teach This Just-Past Semester?

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 130 implied HN points • 16 Dec 24

🚌 Education Teaching Methods Curriculum Development Economic History Cognitive Science Narrative Theory

Understanding history is crucial for making sense of current and future human affairs. It helps us to see patterns and learn from past mistakes.
Students should learn to think critically about economic issues. This includes analyzing how economic instability relates to political decisions and vice versa.
History teaches us to look both backward and forward in time, which is a valuable skill. It allows us to make better decisions by using past examples to inform our understanding of present circumstances.

What aphantasia can teach us about episodic memory

The Memory Palace • 39 implied HN points • 03 Sep 24

🔬 Science Cognitive Science Neuroscience Psychology Memory Philosophy

Aphantasia is a condition where people can't create mental images, making it hard for them to recall personal memories. They might not feel like they're reliving past events like others do.
Research shows that people with aphantasia can still remember facts and details, but they use different strategies. They rely more on their understanding and experiences rather than visualizing things.
Aphantasia challenges our notion of memory. It suggests that memory isn't just about visual details; it includes feelings and experiences too, which can be important for how we recall our past.

Essay Club: The Extended Mind by Andy Clark and David Chalmers

Mind & Mythos • 159 implied HN points • 16 Jul 24

📖 Philosophy Cognition Mind Beliefs Cognitive Science Philosophers

The idea of the 'extended mind' suggests that our thinking isn't just in our brains; it includes tools and objects around us. For example, using a calculator isn't just a help; it's part of how we think.
The authors argue that relying on external objects, like notebooks or smartphones, can be essential for forming beliefs and ideas, similar to how we use our memories. This means our minds can extend into the world around us.
While some people disagree with this view, saying real thinking should only happen in our heads, the authors believe that our connections to our environment and the tools we use are important parts of how we think and behave.

Ontario Schools Get a Feeble Phone Policy

The Analog Family • 399 implied HN points • 01 May 24

🚌 Education School Policy Technology Use Cognitive Science

The new cellphone policy in Ontario schools is seen as weak and not based on effective research. It's not enough to just keep phones out of sight to reduce distractions.
Even with the policy, many students still use their phones during class time. Teachers often allow this, which undermines the effort to minimize distractions.
Parents are part of the problem too. Many want stricter rules at school but still send their kids with smartphones, missing the chance to set limits at home.

Why we should look for the good reasons behind our behaviour

Optimally Irrational • 77 implied HN points • 12 Dec 24

📖 Philosophy Cognitive Science Evolutionary Psychology Decision-making Behavioral Economics Human behavior

Understanding our behavior is important because it's not just random; it comes from a long history of survival and adaptation. We should look for reasons behind our choices instead of labeling them as irrational.
Historically, research has focused a lot on cognitive biases, making it seem like humans are mostly flawed thinkers. Now, there's a shift towards recognizing our mental processes can also be adaptively efficient.
Many behaviors that seem like mistakes may actually be smart solutions given the complex decisions we face. It's better to explore the reasons behind behaviors to find their potential usefulness.

Psychology Findings You Can Bank On

Unsafe Science • 54 implied HN points • 24 Dec 24

🔬 Science Psychology Research Social Sciences Empirical Studies Cognitive Science

Psychological research has produced valuable insights that can enhance our understanding of human behavior. It's important to pay attention to these findings.
Some claims made in the social sciences are questionable and need to be critically evaluated. Not everything that is published is reliable.
There's ongoing debate about the quality of psychological studies, so it's good to be skeptical and look for well-supported evidence.

Bicycles for the Mind and Software-Augmented Mentats

Bzogramming • 30 implied HN points • 06 Jan 25

🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Cognitive Science Software Development Digital Tools

Our minds work like software made up of various pieces that interact with each other. The way we learn, remember, and think can change based on our experiences and the information we take in.
Computers can help enhance our thinking, just like a bike helps us move better. But we still have a long way to go in fully using technology to improve how we think and learn.
As we learn more about how the brain works and how to interact with computers, we may discover new ways to enhance our mental abilities. This could lead to different skills and talents that we haven't seen before.

The aim of maximising happiness is doomed to fail as a public policy

Optimally Irrational • 79 implied HN points • 27 Nov 24

📖 Philosophy Utilitarianism Happiness Public Policy Ethics Cognitive Science

Aiming to make everyone happy through public policy might not work. Happiness is not a simple thing that can just be increased.
People adapt to their situations quickly, which means that any increase in happiness usually fades back to a normal level. This makes it hard to keep happiness growing over time.
Happiness is often more about feeling good in the moment than about long-term goals. People might even choose challenging paths because they bring deeper satisfaction, rather than just chasing fleeting feelings of joy.

The Map is not the Territory

do clouds feel vertigo? • 59 implied HN points • 20 Jul 24

🚌 Education Mental models Cognitive Science Learning Strategies Critical Thinking Decision-making

Understanding the difference between perception and reality is important. Different people have various ways to see the world, and it helps to have multiple perspectives.
Mental models are valuable thinking tools that can help us make sense of complex situations. Organizing these models by subject can guide our decision-making.
Learning about complex adaptive systems can provide a solid foundation for understanding how different parts of a system interact. It's a good starting point for anyone new to the topic.

New Ways of Knowing: Nora Bateson, John Vervaeke, Sophie Strand, Jim Rutt, Trish Blain, Jonathan Rowson and Minna Salami

The Bigger Picture • 778 implied HN points • 21 Sep 23

🚌 Education Cognitive Science Complexity Theory

We are currently facing a 'meta-crisis' with multiple interconnected challenges, presenting both overwhelming circumstances and opportunities for transformation.
To thrive in today's world, we need to develop a new relationship with complexity, encompassing not just external systems but also our inner worlds.
The online course 'New Ways of Knowing' offers live tuition, small group interactions, and personal growth practices to help navigate complexity, gain new perspectives, and respond to the meta-crisis.

How '2+2=4' works for better AGI

John Ball inside AI • 79 implied HN points • 29 Jun 24

🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Cognitive Science Human-computer interaction

Pattern recognition is more effective than traditional computation for understanding and learning. The brain can match signs to meanings without needing complex calculations.
Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) should focus on how humans learn through sensory recognition and pattern matching instead of just algorithms. This could lead to better understanding and development of AI.
Language and math can be learned through the same pattern-matching methods as the brain uses, which means we can improve human-machine interactions and work towards advanced AGI capabilities.

Analyze Brain Regions, not Neurons

John Ball inside AI • 59 implied HN points • 08 Jul 24

🔬 Science Neuroscience AI Cognitive Science Brain function Human behavior

It's better to study brain regions rather than just neurons because brain regions are responsible for specific functions, and damage to these regions leads to predictable problems.
AI development has focused too much on the workings of individual neurons instead of understanding how brain regions connect and work together as a system.
Understanding meaning is crucial for AI to function like human brains, as language and thought come from the brain's ability to store and connect experiences.

Introducing Deep Symbolics

John Ball inside AI • 59 implied HN points • 02 Jul 24

🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Cognitive Science Machine Learning Neuroscience Computer Science

Deep Symbolics (DS) aims to improve upon Deep Learning (DL) by incorporating how brains work, especially in understanding and using symbols rather than just statistics. This is important for developing Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).
Unlike traditional DL systems that learn in a single training run, Deep Symbolics can continuously learn and adapt, similar to how humans pick up new knowledge and skills throughout life.
Deep Symbolics focuses on creating a more brain-like model by using hierarchical and bidirectional patterns, which improves its ability to process language and resolve ambiguities better than current AI systems.

How to make a map of your mind

Austin Kleon • 3577 implied HN points • 02 Nov 21

🚌 Education Learning Techniques Cognitive Science

To get your thoughts flowing when you're stuck, try making a mind map. Start in the middle of the page with a word or image, then branch out from there.
This method helps you get ideas out of your head quickly and allows you to see connections between them that you might miss while writing normally.
You can do this on a small scale in a notebook or go big on a wall or whiteboard. Starting in the middle can jog your creativity and help you dive right into your ideas.

Reflections: my class about LLMs and Cognitive Science

The Counterfactual • 139 implied HN points • 17 Apr 24

🚌 Education Teaching Methods Cognitive Science Artificial Intelligence Course design

A new class on Large Language Models (LLMs) was created to help Cognitive Science students understand the intersection of AI and human cognition, especially after the popularity of technologies like ChatGPT.
The course covered the history and technical foundations of LLMs, with hands-on labs and discussions that helped students think critically about their societal impacts and ethical concerns.
For future classes, there's a desire to expand the content, particularly by adding discussions on topics like tokenization and exploring more philosophical aspects of LLMs.

Turing Coda: From The AI Mailbag

Technohumanism • 19 implied HN points • 06 Aug 24

🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Human factors Cognitive Science

The term 'artificial intelligence' was created as a marketing concept and doesn’t fully capture the complexities of human consciousness. Imitation isn't the same as true intelligence or awareness.
Desire and emotions are central to human thinking, which machines try to replicate but can't truly understand. It's not enough for a machine to just perform tasks; it must have human-like motivations and feelings.
The debate on whether humans are just machines reveals a longing for certainty in our understanding of consciousness. People act with free will, which challenges the idea that we are purely mechanical beings.

Straightlining OCD

Living Fossils • 15 implied HN points • 18 Dec 24

🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Evolutionary biology Psychology Cognitive Science Behavioral Health

Humans have evolved in messy environments, but our modern spaces are often too neat and straight. This neatness can create feelings of dissatisfaction and perfectionism, as humans are always seeking better conditions.
OCD might be more common today because our environments exaggerate feelings of dissatisfaction. We notice minor imperfections more easily in our structured lives than our ancestors did in their chaotic natural settings.
People today are better equipped to try and fix their surroundings, which can lead to a cycle of anxiety and compulsive behavior. Our ability to improve things can sometimes make us feel worse when everything doesn't match our ideals.

LLMs and the "not" problem

The Counterfactual • 119 implied HN points • 19 Mar 24

🕹 Technology AI Language Models Cognitive Science Image Generation Human-computer interaction

LLMs, like ChatGPT, struggle with negation. They often don't understand requests to remove something from an image and can still include it.
Human understanding of negation is complex, as people process negative statements differently than positive ones. We might initially think about what is being negated before understanding the actual meaning.
Giving LLMs more time to think, or breaking down their reasoning, can improve their performance. This shows that they might need support to mimic human understanding more closely.

Essay Club: The Origins of Cognitive Thought by B. F. Skinner

Mind & Mythos • 199 implied HN points • 16 Dec 23

📖 Philosophy Cognitive Science Behaviorism Critical Thinking

Skinner believed that all behaviors, including thoughts and language, are learned through our environment. He claimed that we respond to rewards and punishments, shaping how we act and think.
He thought that understanding our feelings and thoughts is best achieved by looking at the history and meaning of the words we use to describe them. The words we choose reveal a lot about our experiences and behaviors.
Skinner emphasized the importance of focusing on observable behavior in psychology. He felt that many internal mental states are too complicated and not easily measurable, so we should concentrate on what we can see and test.

Tools for thought in your OODA loop

Subconscious • 949 implied HN points • 23 Jun 23

🕹 Technology Tools for Thought Cognitive Science Artificial Intelligence Knowledge Management

The OODA loop consists of observe, orient, decide, and act, crucial for agency in a cybernetic system.
Fast transients and maintaining awareness are key to disorienting adversaries and maintaining agency.
Tools for thought expand awareness, build memory, and increase bandwidth for synthesis, essential for navigating complex environments.

Humans—and GPT-4—are predictably irrational

The Counterfactual • 219 implied HN points • 07 Nov 23

🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Cognitive Science Behavioral Economics Language Models Decision-making

Humans often make decisions based on emotions and biases, rather than pure logic. This means they're not always rational, which is important to understand.
Large language models like GPT-4 can show similar irrational behaviors. They can make mistakes in judgment much like humans do, which gives insight into how we think.
The way people attribute beliefs to others can change based on the situation. When faced with strong pressures, people are less likely to jump to conclusions about someone's beliefs.

Do Large Language Models have a "theory of mind"?

The Counterfactual • 219 implied HN points • 14 Sep 23

🕹 Technology AI Machine Learning Cognitive Science Human-computer interaction Data Analysis

Large language models (LLMs) show some ability to understand the beliefs of other characters in scenarios, indicating a form of Theory of Mind. This means they can predict behaviors based on what a character knows or believes.
However, LLMs don't perform as well as humans on these tasks, suggesting their understanding is not as deep or reliable. They score above chance but below the typical human accuracy.
Research on LLMs and Theory of Mind is ongoing, raising questions about how these models process mental states compared to humans and if traditional tests for mentalizing are sufficient.

What Makes Humans Special?

Meaning || Matter • 3 HN points • 04 Sep 24

📖 Philosophy Ethics Human nature Cognitive Science Evolution Cultural Studies

Humans are unique because we can reason and make moral choices, which sets us apart from animals. Unlike other creatures, we think about what is right and wrong and have the ability to act on those thoughts.
Children develop important social skills like helping and empathy at a very young age. They naturally want to support others and understand emotions, showing they care about feelings even before they can talk.
Humans create complex cultures that build trust and cooperation among large groups. This ability to share knowledge and norms allows us to work together, unlike most animals that mainly rely on small, familiar groups.