Ross Otto
@arossotto.bsky.social
a psychology research and teaching guy at McGill
research interest, mild-mannered personal interests
otto.lab.mcgill.ca
research interest, mild-mannered personal interests
otto.lab.mcgill.ca
People tend to be OK with unfair resource distributions when they stand to gain at another's expense. Can we teach people--via observational learning--to punish advantageous inequity?
Collaboration with Shen Zhang, @orielf.bsky.social, and Seb Hétu, out today:
elifesciences.org/articles/102...
Collaboration with Shen Zhang, @orielf.bsky.social, and Seb Hétu, out today:
elifesciences.org/articles/102...
Advantageous and disadvantageous inequality aversion can be taught through learning of others’ preferences
Like disadvantageous inequity aversion, advantageous inequity aversion can be learned by observing another’s fairness preferences.
elifesciences.org
December 12, 2025 at 3:29 PM
People tend to be OK with unfair resource distributions when they stand to gain at another's expense. Can we teach people--via observational learning--to punish advantageous inequity?
Collaboration with Shen Zhang, @orielf.bsky.social, and Seb Hétu, out today:
elifesciences.org/articles/102...
Collaboration with Shen Zhang, @orielf.bsky.social, and Seb Hétu, out today:
elifesciences.org/articles/102...
if you are starting a sentence expressing disbelief with the interjection 'Bro' in a work email context what is the preferred punctuation?
Bro: ...
Bro, ...
or
Bro;...
Bro: ...
Bro, ...
or
Bro;...
December 11, 2025 at 3:01 PM
if you are starting a sentence expressing disbelief with the interjection 'Bro' in a work email context what is the preferred punctuation?
Bro: ...
Bro, ...
or
Bro;...
Bro: ...
Bro, ...
or
Bro;...
one time our exalted premier walked past me and a colleague speaking loudly in english (as i do) and grinned like a cheshire cat at us
December 3, 2025 at 8:50 PM
one time our exalted premier walked past me and a colleague speaking loudly in english (as i do) and grinned like a cheshire cat at us
That feeling when a pedant says they are being pedantic in that moment
December 1, 2025 at 7:26 PM
That feeling when a pedant says they are being pedantic in that moment
Is “neuroscience” the more rigorous-sounding stand-in term for “doing psychology”
November 25, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Is “neuroscience” the more rigorous-sounding stand-in term for “doing psychology”
New pontification piece with @awestbrook.bsky.social and Jean Daunizeau, just out in TICS:
Why is cognitive effort experienced as costly?
(or why does it hurt to think)
never written a review paper before in my life, that was a new and unusual experience
Why is cognitive effort experienced as costly?
(or why does it hurt to think)
never written a review paper before in my life, that was a new and unusual experience
Why is cognitive effort experienced as costly?
A widespread observation is that people avoid mentally effortful courses of action,
and much recent work examining cognitive effort has explained subjective effort evaluation
– and, consequently, pref...
www.cell.com
November 19, 2025 at 2:48 PM
New pontification piece with @awestbrook.bsky.social and Jean Daunizeau, just out in TICS:
Why is cognitive effort experienced as costly?
(or why does it hurt to think)
never written a review paper before in my life, that was a new and unusual experience
Why is cognitive effort experienced as costly?
(or why does it hurt to think)
never written a review paper before in my life, that was a new and unusual experience
are you a clinical researcher? join our warm and supportive department (open rank!) mcgill.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/mcgill...
Tenure -Track Position (Open Rank), Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychology
Please refer to the How to Apply for a Job (for External Candidates) job aid for instructions on how to apply. If you are an active McGill employee (ie: currently in an active contract or position at ...
mcgill.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com
September 23, 2025 at 9:11 PM
are you a clinical researcher? join our warm and supportive department (open rank!) mcgill.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/mcgill...
do classic decoy effects take place in real-world shopping decisions?
wine purchase records in a massive grocery dataset says: yes
new work with (former) student Sean Devine, @anyaskatova.bsky.social , James Goulding, and John Harvey
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
(sorry for the titular pun)
wine purchase records in a massive grocery dataset says: yes
new work with (former) student Sean Devine, @anyaskatova.bsky.social , James Goulding, and John Harvey
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
(sorry for the titular pun)
How decoy options ferment choice biases in real-world consumer decision-making - npj Science of Learning
npj Science of Learning - How decoy options ferment choice biases in real-world consumer decision-making
www.nature.com
August 22, 2025 at 12:25 PM
do classic decoy effects take place in real-world shopping decisions?
wine purchase records in a massive grocery dataset says: yes
new work with (former) student Sean Devine, @anyaskatova.bsky.social , James Goulding, and John Harvey
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
(sorry for the titular pun)
wine purchase records in a massive grocery dataset says: yes
new work with (former) student Sean Devine, @anyaskatova.bsky.social , James Goulding, and John Harvey
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
(sorry for the titular pun)
ah you must mean a team of smarties
OpenAI releases the newest version of the AI model that powers its popular ChatGPT chatbot, with CEO Sam Altman promoting it as like having a “team of Ph.D. level experts in your pocket.”
OpenAI releases GPT-5, calling it a ‘team of Ph.D. level experts in your pocket’
OpenAI says its latest version of the popular AI model is better at coding, more accurate and less deceptive than previous versions.
nbcnews.to
August 7, 2025 at 7:55 PM
ah you must mean a team of smarties
new work just out by (now Dr!) Anna Jos in collaboration with
@awestbrook.bsky.social
how do pupil diameter changes track the behavioral expression of flexible versus stable control?
find out NOW in the latest issue of Psychophysiology :
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
@awestbrook.bsky.social
how do pupil diameter changes track the behavioral expression of flexible versus stable control?
find out NOW in the latest issue of Psychophysiology :
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
August 4, 2025 at 2:58 PM
new work just out by (now Dr!) Anna Jos in collaboration with
@awestbrook.bsky.social
how do pupil diameter changes track the behavioral expression of flexible versus stable control?
find out NOW in the latest issue of Psychophysiology :
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
@awestbrook.bsky.social
how do pupil diameter changes track the behavioral expression of flexible versus stable control?
find out NOW in the latest issue of Psychophysiology :
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Reposted by Ross Otto
bayesians gotta relax with the taking credit for the concept of infering things about the world
What my kids school assignment (and Bayesian logic) teaches us about Trump's trade deals.
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
August 3, 2025 at 5:13 AM
bayesians gotta relax with the taking credit for the concept of infering things about the world
Self-pubbed book my dept mailbox today (and everyone’s ) . Are we the sorcerers here ? Hmu if you want my copy
July 10, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Self-pubbed book my dept mailbox today (and everyone’s ) . Are we the sorcerers here ? Hmu if you want my copy
Reposted by Ross Otto
At #RLDM2025? Come to our workshop on real-world RL tomorrow! Including:
- amazing line-up: @bjornlindstrom.bsky.social, Aaron Heller, Sugandha Sharma, @arossotto.bsky.social + flash talks
- panel debate (chair: @yaelniv.bsky.social)
- group brainstorming session!
Mailing list: tinyurl.com/rlinwild
- amazing line-up: @bjornlindstrom.bsky.social, Aaron Heller, Sugandha Sharma, @arossotto.bsky.social + flash talks
- panel debate (chair: @yaelniv.bsky.social)
- group brainstorming session!
Mailing list: tinyurl.com/rlinwild
June 11, 2025 at 1:09 PM
At #RLDM2025? Come to our workshop on real-world RL tomorrow! Including:
- amazing line-up: @bjornlindstrom.bsky.social, Aaron Heller, Sugandha Sharma, @arossotto.bsky.social + flash talks
- panel debate (chair: @yaelniv.bsky.social)
- group brainstorming session!
Mailing list: tinyurl.com/rlinwild
- amazing line-up: @bjornlindstrom.bsky.social, Aaron Heller, Sugandha Sharma, @arossotto.bsky.social + flash talks
- panel debate (chair: @yaelniv.bsky.social)
- group brainstorming session!
Mailing list: tinyurl.com/rlinwild
Take that , computational psychiatry
May 21, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Take that , computational psychiatry
ashamedly i've never tried this (from Kahneman's 1973 'Attention and Effort')
May 7, 2025 at 1:47 PM
ashamedly i've never tried this (from Kahneman's 1973 'Attention and Effort')
social psychology in the wild: it's surprising, in may cases, which (canadian) people here take firm stances about (not) visiting the states, similarly as it was hard to predict, during you-know-what, who was going to become lockdown restriction enthusiasts (versus lockdown loosey goosies).
April 24, 2025 at 1:43 AM
social psychology in the wild: it's surprising, in may cases, which (canadian) people here take firm stances about (not) visiting the states, similarly as it was hard to predict, during you-know-what, who was going to become lockdown restriction enthusiasts (versus lockdown loosey goosies).
Reposted by Ross Otto
🧠💡 NEW PAPER ALERT 💡🧠
Together w/ Isabelle Jacques, @katieinsel.bsky.social, @arossotto.bsky.social, & Leah Somerville, the 1st project from my PhD is now out in JEP:G!
How do children, adolescents, & adults decide when to think hard? Our study examines learning the value of cognitive effort.
Together w/ Isabelle Jacques, @katieinsel.bsky.social, @arossotto.bsky.social, & Leah Somerville, the 1st project from my PhD is now out in JEP:G!
How do children, adolescents, & adults decide when to think hard? Our study examines learning the value of cognitive effort.
April 9, 2025 at 3:39 PM
🧠💡 NEW PAPER ALERT 💡🧠
Together w/ Isabelle Jacques, @katieinsel.bsky.social, @arossotto.bsky.social, & Leah Somerville, the 1st project from my PhD is now out in JEP:G!
How do children, adolescents, & adults decide when to think hard? Our study examines learning the value of cognitive effort.
Together w/ Isabelle Jacques, @katieinsel.bsky.social, @arossotto.bsky.social, & Leah Somerville, the 1st project from my PhD is now out in JEP:G!
How do children, adolescents, & adults decide when to think hard? Our study examines learning the value of cognitive effort.
Reposted by Ross Otto
🚨 Workshop alert 🚨
If you're interested in RL and real-world data, come to our workshop @rldmdublin2025.bsky.social!
Including cool talks, a panel debate, and a group brainstorming activity.
sites.google.com/view/rlinthe...
If you're interested in RL and real-world data, come to our workshop @rldmdublin2025.bsky.social!
Including cool talks, a panel debate, and a group brainstorming activity.
sites.google.com/view/rlinthe...
February 18, 2025 at 6:42 PM
🚨 Workshop alert 🚨
If you're interested in RL and real-world data, come to our workshop @rldmdublin2025.bsky.social!
Including cool talks, a panel debate, and a group brainstorming activity.
sites.google.com/view/rlinthe...
If you're interested in RL and real-world data, come to our workshop @rldmdublin2025.bsky.social!
Including cool talks, a panel debate, and a group brainstorming activity.
sites.google.com/view/rlinthe...
Reposted by Ross Otto
I love making a significant scientific discovery and running blindly through the crowded halls of my early twentieth century university with a bundle of loose papers in my outstretched arms
February 18, 2025 at 2:25 PM
I love making a significant scientific discovery and running blindly through the crowded halls of my early twentieth century university with a bundle of loose papers in my outstretched arms
Reposted by Ross Otto
Exciting news - early bird registration is now open for #RLDM2025!
🔗 Register now: forms.gle/QZS1GkZhYGRF...
Register now to save €100 on your ticket. Early bird prices are only available until 1st April.
🔗 Register now: forms.gle/QZS1GkZhYGRF...
Register now to save €100 on your ticket. Early bird prices are only available until 1st April.
February 11, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Exciting news - early bird registration is now open for #RLDM2025!
🔗 Register now: forms.gle/QZS1GkZhYGRF...
Register now to save €100 on your ticket. Early bird prices are only available until 1st April.
🔗 Register now: forms.gle/QZS1GkZhYGRF...
Register now to save €100 on your ticket. Early bird prices are only available until 1st April.
Reposted by Ross Otto
January 24, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Reposted by Ross Otto
🤖 Meet Our Incredible Speakers! 🧠
We’re thrilled to announce the invited speakers for RLDM 2025:
✨ Iain Couzin
✨ Andreas Krause
✨ Alison Adcock
... and many more (see pictures)!
📅 Don’t miss their insights on Reinforcement Learning and Decision Making
🎟️ Register now: rldm.org/call-for-abs...
We’re thrilled to announce the invited speakers for RLDM 2025:
✨ Iain Couzin
✨ Andreas Krause
✨ Alison Adcock
... and many more (see pictures)!
📅 Don’t miss their insights on Reinforcement Learning and Decision Making
🎟️ Register now: rldm.org/call-for-abs...
November 20, 2024 at 10:24 AM
🤖 Meet Our Incredible Speakers! 🧠
We’re thrilled to announce the invited speakers for RLDM 2025:
✨ Iain Couzin
✨ Andreas Krause
✨ Alison Adcock
... and many more (see pictures)!
📅 Don’t miss their insights on Reinforcement Learning and Decision Making
🎟️ Register now: rldm.org/call-for-abs...
We’re thrilled to announce the invited speakers for RLDM 2025:
✨ Iain Couzin
✨ Andreas Krause
✨ Alison Adcock
... and many more (see pictures)!
📅 Don’t miss their insights on Reinforcement Learning and Decision Making
🎟️ Register now: rldm.org/call-for-abs...
Reposted by Ross Otto
Happy 50th anniversary to Blood on the Tracks.
January 20, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Happy 50th anniversary to Blood on the Tracks.
we've seen goal gradient like effects emerge in cognitive effort tasks but how does attention to goal progress ?
a new study from our lab, by Sean Devine and others, uses eyetracking to answer this question
link.springer.com/article/10.3...
a new study from our lab, by Sean Devine and others, uses eyetracking to answer this question
link.springer.com/article/10.3...
Increased attention towards progress information near a goal state - Psychonomic Bulletin & Review
A growing body of evidence across psychology suggests that (cognitive) effort exertion increases in proximity to a goal state. For instance, previous work has shown that participants respond more quic...
link.springer.com
January 13, 2025 at 9:26 PM
we've seen goal gradient like effects emerge in cognitive effort tasks but how does attention to goal progress ?
a new study from our lab, by Sean Devine and others, uses eyetracking to answer this question
link.springer.com/article/10.3...
a new study from our lab, by Sean Devine and others, uses eyetracking to answer this question
link.springer.com/article/10.3...