Bethany Ranes
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bethany.interoceptlabs.com
Bethany Ranes
@bethany.interoceptlabs.com
Cognitive Neuroscientist | Translational Research | Founder of Interocept Labs | Creator of Firing & Wiring | I turn cool neuroscience into even cooler products and real-world applications.
Taking a weekend break away from some busy winter projects. Learned that my Minnesota-born kid is already way tougher in the cold and the snow than her California-raised mother. I’ll stick to taking pictures and organizing post-sledding hot cocoa back in the house.
November 30, 2025 at 3:31 AM
I’m back on that podcast circuit again! (well, I’m not sure if one podcast makes a whole circuit…) Had a great uber-nerdy chat with Ghazenfer Mansoor about the intersection of health tech design and cognitive neuroscience. Check it out! youtu.be/vYzj_F2pZa0
The Science of Engagement: Using Brain Research To Build Apps and Health Tools
YouTube video by Technology Rivers
youtu.be
November 14, 2025 at 4:40 AM
Not sure if Aurora sightings are as exciting in the Twin Cities, where they tend to be more common, but it’s my very first time seeing one, so I’m sharing it! 🤩
November 12, 2025 at 4:47 AM
We have hit the literal “this was a Black Mirror episode” threshold.

ground.news/article/can-...
AI Companies Develop Digital Avatars to Simulate Deceased Loved Ones
'Deathbots' are AI systems designed to simulate voices, speech patterns and personalities of the deceased.
ground.news
November 10, 2025 at 3:06 AM
She’s carefully observed this thing all month. She went from terrified, to curious, to mildly obsessed. Unfortunately, tonight the homeowners turned on the motion sensor. This was about one second before disaster struck. But afterward she laughed at how scary it was. Birth of a thrill seeker.
November 1, 2025 at 3:16 AM
I grew up and lived most of my life in the San Joaquin Valley, and I find it so beautiful in its own unique way. I used to zoom past endless fields just like this in a little red Vespa scooter and feel so happy I could bust ☺️
Foggy morning in California's Great Valley.
October 31, 2025 at 3:26 AM
So excited that my research company has generated enough capital to start development on our own suite of cognition programs and services! It’s been a long time coming, and next year, Interocept Labs will finally get to launch our awesome new tools, forged in the fires of neuroscience! 💡🧠🤓
October 30, 2025 at 3:25 AM
This isn’t actually all that new. Studies like these have helped us recognize that there’s a significant “top down” element to many people’s chronic pain that can be treated with neuropsychological therapies like PRT.
October 20, 2025 at 2:47 PM
A perfect Sunday. Spent the morning with a cup of coffee, reading up on some embodied cognition research; spent the afternoon sharing an inaugural pony ride with my tiny little ride-or-die.
October 20, 2025 at 1:54 AM
Grateful for a perfect fall day that my parents could enjoy with us while they visit from CA!
October 18, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Never are strangers on LinkedIn so intrigued and personally moved by your scientific endeavors than when you’ve posted a job opening on your page for one of your startup clients.
October 9, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Reposted by Bethany Ranes
US #scientist Dr Fred #Ramsdell was "living his best life" offline when the Nobel committee tried to contact him.

He told the BBC his first response when his wife said, "You've won the Nobel prize [for medicine]” was: "I did not."

Read more about his reaction: bbc.in/3KFAtMM
October 8, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Who knew a conversation about someone working at a burger joint would help me finally figure out how to write an article on in-groups/out-groups and how they escalate into polarization?

medium.com/firing-and-w...
The Compounding Crime of Other-ing
Why do we get so furious with people who don’t look and act exactly like us?
medium.com
September 21, 2025 at 4:09 AM
I’ve been on a little hiatus from blogging. But now I’ve got a new article you can check out - get an answer to the mystery of why I left, PLUS bonus explanations of the “extended mind” model AND cognitive dissonance. Lucky you!

medium.com/firing-and-w...
We Think with So Much More Than Our Brains
And the Triumphant Return of Your Friendly Neighborhood Neuroscientist
medium.com
April 16, 2025 at 1:06 AM
Yes! Messy real world conditions all day! 🙌🥳
April 15, 2025 at 1:38 PM
"Sit as little as possible; do not believe any idea that was not born in the open air and of free movement." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Although I feel like Nietzsche may not have been experiencing a Minnesota winter when proclaiming this.

Nonetheless, I really should be taking more science walks…
March 9, 2025 at 1:48 AM
It’s #internationalwomensday and a reminder that a huge percentage of the scientists out there making the world a better place are WOMEN 🚺

Today I give thanks for the trailblazers who came before me and made it possible to find success and respect as a woman, a scientist, and a mom all at once.
March 8, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Happy #internationalwomensday! Do you know a woman who is crushing it with her science? Reach out today and let her know! Are YOU a lady of the sciences? Let us know how you’re changing the world! 👩🏻‍🔬

I’m a translational neuroscientist who turns research into real-world health and performance boosts!
i haven’t done #sturgeonsaturday the past few weeks bc of *everything*

but its #internationalwomensday and we should recognize & celebrate incredible women in science!

tell us about your research!👩🏻‍🔬

im a conservation physiologist researching the impacts of climate stressors on white sturgeon 🧪🌎
March 8, 2025 at 10:42 PM
For anyone else who is interested in ways to lean into task and interface designs that leverage implicit motivation, I highly recommend looking into Yu-kai Chao’s work. He is releasing his newest materials via Kickstarter - check it out! www.kickstarter.com/projects/yud...
10,000 Hours of Play: An Epic Real Life Level Up System
Unlock real-life legendary success through gamification, from the author of "Actionable Gamification," which sold over 100,000 copies.
www.kickstarter.com
March 4, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Reposting to get this out there, but mostly just so I can easily access for myself it in the future 🤓
Had a blast at the Cognitive Science Arena last weekend, a conference tailored to ECRs. Such creative and important studies!

In my keynote, I talked about the 4 Step Robustness Check, where I stressed the importance of verifying results 🧮 before replicating them.

Slides: osf.io/7xqtw #metascience
February 24, 2025 at 3:52 AM
An interesting approach to misinformation called “bypassing”. While I am intrigued at how I can use this in my work, I do think learning and understanding a person’s core beliefs that facilitate their susceptibility to misinformation is important, too.

tinyurl.com/5chw2n8b
Is 'Bypassing' a Better Way to Battle Misinformation? | The Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania
A new paper by APPC researchers identifies the advantages of an innovative approach to countering misinformation called “bypassing."
tinyurl.com
January 26, 2025 at 3:03 PM
What a powerful concept! I’ve always tried to instinctively lean into my friendliness and approachability when sharing about science, but now I’ll make extra sure I’m practicing humility, too! If anyone reading this catches me being pedantic, don’t be afraid to call me out!
January 23, 2025 at 3:37 AM
I’m super excited to see where Minnesota decides to go in expanding research and clinical applications of psychedelic medicine. Hoping this opens up some opportunities to reignite my old research related to the development of novel psychedelic-assisted psychotherapies!
tinyurl.com/5cum27w8
Minnesota task force recommends decriminalizing ‘magic’ mushrooms
The task force report says psilocybin, the psychedelic compound in mushrooms, may offer treatment for depression, anxiety, substance abuse and eating disorders.
www.startribune.com
January 5, 2025 at 5:32 AM
I hesitate to add to the pile of New Year's resolution advice that is currently being thrust upon you. But someone needs to be the voice of habits that are fun, naturally motivating, and just make you feel good.

medium.com/@bethanyrane...
New Year, New Me — But Make It Neuroscience
Crafting Habits That Work with the Brain
medium.com
January 2, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Happy Season 3, y’all! It’s time to get to work. Prepare yourself for 12 weeks of articles that REVOLUTIONIZE WORK CULTURE. I’ll be here with the brain-based tips and tricks you need to blend passion, purpose, and productivity into a work life that allows you to thrive.

medium.com/firing-and-w...
Welcome to Season 3 of Firing & Wiring
How to Use Neuroscience to Thrive at Work
medium.com
January 2, 2025 at 11:37 PM