Brónagh McCoy
@bronaghm.bsky.social
AuDHDer researcher @ IoPPN, King's College London. Cognitive neuroscience, computational psychiatry, data science. Attention, learning, autism research. Scientist by day, luddite by night.
Reposted by Brónagh McCoy
I have a new paper. We look at ~all stats articles in political science post-2010 & show that 94% have abstracts that claim to reject a null. Only 2% present only null results. This is hard to explain unless the research process has a filter that only lets rejections through.
February 11, 2026 at 5:00 PM
I have a new paper. We look at ~all stats articles in political science post-2010 & show that 94% have abstracts that claim to reject a null. Only 2% present only null results. This is hard to explain unless the research process has a filter that only lets rejections through.
Nice blog by a programmer giving his experience of AI in its current form www.jamesdrandall.com/posts/the_th...
I Started Programming When I Was 7. I'm 50 Now, and the Thing I Loved Has Changed | James Randall
I still love developing but the shifts that AI have brought are tectonic and are forcing me to re-evaluate my own relationship to building things
www.jamesdrandall.com
February 12, 2026 at 8:08 AM
Nice blog by a programmer giving his experience of AI in its current form www.jamesdrandall.com/posts/the_th...
Reposted by Brónagh McCoy
A variation: Scientists who claim they’re “not interested in causality” because they assume the term only applies to deterministic, law-like relationships that are unrealistic in their field. Instead, they’re interested in how “X drives Y”, the effects of X, the “extent to which X matters for Y”>
Some people confuse correlation and causation, some people confuse causation and “deterministic direct 1:1 causation” 🥲
February 11, 2026 at 6:54 AM
A variation: Scientists who claim they’re “not interested in causality” because they assume the term only applies to deterministic, law-like relationships that are unrealistic in their field. Instead, they’re interested in how “X drives Y”, the effects of X, the “extent to which X matters for Y”>
Reposted by Brónagh McCoy
📢NEW OP-ED! Together with the brilliant @taniaduarte.bsky.social, @markwong.bsky.social, @suoman.bsky.social & @timdavies.org.uk we wrote for @techpolicypress.bsky.social why the new UK Government AI Skills Hub is undermining our democracy.
Our 🔑 points are->🧵
www.techpolicy.press/the-real-cos...
Our 🔑 points are->🧵
www.techpolicy.press/the-real-cos...
The Real Cost of the UK’s ‘Free AI Training for All’ is Democracy
Researchers argue the UK's 'AI Skills Hub' should be re-thought with input from civil society groups and public interest organizations.
www.techpolicy.press
February 10, 2026 at 5:22 PM
📢NEW OP-ED! Together with the brilliant @taniaduarte.bsky.social, @markwong.bsky.social, @suoman.bsky.social & @timdavies.org.uk we wrote for @techpolicypress.bsky.social why the new UK Government AI Skills Hub is undermining our democracy.
Our 🔑 points are->🧵
www.techpolicy.press/the-real-cos...
Our 🔑 points are->🧵
www.techpolicy.press/the-real-cos...
Reposted by Brónagh McCoy
The lesson for all the students out there is that science is a community project. Most of us make individually small contributions to this project. Success is measured at the collective level. Many of our professional (and personal) dysfunctions could be fixed by more fully embracing this view.
February 7, 2026 at 11:20 AM
The lesson for all the students out there is that science is a community project. Most of us make individually small contributions to this project. Success is measured at the collective level. Many of our professional (and personal) dysfunctions could be fixed by more fully embracing this view.
Reposted by Brónagh McCoy
The publisher estimates the Bayesian Workflow book will ship in June www.routledge.com/Bayesian-Wor...
Bayesian Workflow
Bayesian statistics and statistical practice have evolved over the years, driven by advancements in theory, methods, and computational tools. This book explores the intricate workflows of applied Baye...
www.routledge.com
February 5, 2026 at 9:13 AM
The publisher estimates the Bayesian Workflow book will ship in June www.routledge.com/Bayesian-Wor...
Reposted by Brónagh McCoy
Do goal-directed actions minimize prediction error? Together with @haslagter.bsky.social and @fahrenfort.bsky.social I identified falsifiable predictions of active inference and reviewed the extent to which they are supported by empirical results. Read the preprint here: tinyurl.com/2by8k3h6
OSF
osf.io
January 26, 2026 at 3:36 PM
Do goal-directed actions minimize prediction error? Together with @haslagter.bsky.social and @fahrenfort.bsky.social I identified falsifiable predictions of active inference and reviewed the extent to which they are supported by empirical results. Read the preprint here: tinyurl.com/2by8k3h6
Reposted by Brónagh McCoy
The Iowa Gambling Task is an extreme example of Jingle Fallacy and schmeasurement.
In 100 articles we found 244 different ways of scoring it, 177 were never reused. Correlations between them range -.99 to .99.
At the same time, we show meta-analyses combine these results as if they’re equivalent.
In 100 articles we found 244 different ways of scoring it, 177 were never reused. Correlations between them range -.99 to .99.
At the same time, we show meta-analyses combine these results as if they’re equivalent.
How many versions of the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) exist? And how much does this affect research using the IGT? More than you might think. 🧵
Methodological Flexibility in the Iowa Gambling Task Undermines Interpretability: A Meta-method Review: https://osf.io/4g3vr
January 25, 2026 at 12:01 PM
The Iowa Gambling Task is an extreme example of Jingle Fallacy and schmeasurement.
In 100 articles we found 244 different ways of scoring it, 177 were never reused. Correlations between them range -.99 to .99.
At the same time, we show meta-analyses combine these results as if they’re equivalent.
In 100 articles we found 244 different ways of scoring it, 177 were never reused. Correlations between them range -.99 to .99.
At the same time, we show meta-analyses combine these results as if they’re equivalent.
Reposted by Brónagh McCoy
It's good to hear that the English government is investing in SEND training for teachers, but it matters enormously *what* they're being taught, and *who by*... and have they considered ensuring that kids learn about this stuff, too?
Here's one of my talks about this stuff:
youtu.be/kDVBkGEmvFw?...
Here's one of my talks about this stuff:
youtu.be/kDVBkGEmvFw?...
January 17, 2026 at 9:04 AM
It's good to hear that the English government is investing in SEND training for teachers, but it matters enormously *what* they're being taught, and *who by*... and have they considered ensuring that kids learn about this stuff, too?
Here's one of my talks about this stuff:
youtu.be/kDVBkGEmvFw?...
Here's one of my talks about this stuff:
youtu.be/kDVBkGEmvFw?...
Reposted by Brónagh McCoy
I started reading up on the whole "loneliness pandemic" narrative because this seems like a literature where the age-period-cohort problem may be relevant (or maybe it isn't?).
Here's data from Australia (HILDA), average agreement with the statement "I often feel very lonely" (SD of ca. 1.8).>
Here's data from Australia (HILDA), average agreement with the statement "I often feel very lonely" (SD of ca. 1.8).>
January 15, 2026 at 1:24 PM
I started reading up on the whole "loneliness pandemic" narrative because this seems like a literature where the age-period-cohort problem may be relevant (or maybe it isn't?).
Here's data from Australia (HILDA), average agreement with the statement "I often feel very lonely" (SD of ca. 1.8).>
Here's data from Australia (HILDA), average agreement with the statement "I often feel very lonely" (SD of ca. 1.8).>
Reposted by Brónagh McCoy
"The rewards to 'discovering' a spectacular scientific finding [in psychology] are large; the rewards to debunking frauds or deflating exaggerated claims are small if not non-existent. If these are the rules of the game, we should not be surprised at the way the game is played."
When psychologists mislead us
From Piltdown Man to the Stanford prison experiment, many famous scientific discoveries have been exposed as hoaxes or distortions
www.ft.com
January 15, 2026 at 3:51 PM
"The rewards to 'discovering' a spectacular scientific finding [in psychology] are large; the rewards to debunking frauds or deflating exaggerated claims are small if not non-existent. If these are the rules of the game, we should not be surprised at the way the game is played."
Reposted by Brónagh McCoy
“You cannot change a reality that you cannot name.”
—Kimberlé Crenshaw
Name the systems of power.
stimpunks.org/pathways/sys...
—Kimberlé Crenshaw
Name the systems of power.
stimpunks.org/pathways/sys...
Systems of Power Pathway
Name the systems of power. The lens of power can really help us see what's going on.
stimpunks.org
January 14, 2026 at 7:29 PM
“You cannot change a reality that you cannot name.”
—Kimberlé Crenshaw
Name the systems of power.
stimpunks.org/pathways/sys...
—Kimberlé Crenshaw
Name the systems of power.
stimpunks.org/pathways/sys...
Reposted by Brónagh McCoy
With some trepidation, I'm putting this out into the world:
gershmanlab.com/textbook.html
It's a textbook called Computational Foundations of Cognitive Neuroscience, which I wrote for my class.
My hope is that this will be a living document, continuously improved as I get feedback.
gershmanlab.com/textbook.html
It's a textbook called Computational Foundations of Cognitive Neuroscience, which I wrote for my class.
My hope is that this will be a living document, continuously improved as I get feedback.
January 9, 2026 at 1:27 AM
With some trepidation, I'm putting this out into the world:
gershmanlab.com/textbook.html
It's a textbook called Computational Foundations of Cognitive Neuroscience, which I wrote for my class.
My hope is that this will be a living document, continuously improved as I get feedback.
gershmanlab.com/textbook.html
It's a textbook called Computational Foundations of Cognitive Neuroscience, which I wrote for my class.
My hope is that this will be a living document, continuously improved as I get feedback.
Reposted by Brónagh McCoy
Anthropomorphizing language conceals the limitations of AI, promoting misplaced trust. @emilymbender.bsky.social & @nannainie.bsky.social suggest focusing on a system’s functionalities: instead of saying a model is “good at” something, say what it is “good for." www.techpolicy.press/we-need-to-t...
We Need to Talk About How We Talk About 'AI' | TechPolicy.Press
We share a responsibility to create and use empowering metaphors rather than misleading language, write Emily M. Bender and Nanna Inie.
www.techpolicy.press
January 8, 2026 at 8:14 PM
Anthropomorphizing language conceals the limitations of AI, promoting misplaced trust. @emilymbender.bsky.social & @nannainie.bsky.social suggest focusing on a system’s functionalities: instead of saying a model is “good at” something, say what it is “good for." www.techpolicy.press/we-need-to-t...
Reposted by Brónagh McCoy
Feel like this fresh year needs some serious culture change?
We got you covered! With @clarekelly.bsky.social @eikofried.bsky.social Anna van 't Veer
📝 rdcu.be/eXja4
We got you covered! With @clarekelly.bsky.social @eikofried.bsky.social Anna van 't Veer
📝 rdcu.be/eXja4
January 5, 2026 at 3:46 PM
Feel like this fresh year needs some serious culture change?
We got you covered! With @clarekelly.bsky.social @eikofried.bsky.social Anna van 't Veer
📝 rdcu.be/eXja4
We got you covered! With @clarekelly.bsky.social @eikofried.bsky.social Anna van 't Veer
📝 rdcu.be/eXja4
Reposted by Brónagh McCoy
Gavin Monks, 48, is vaguely aware that before this morning he had hobbies, interests, and possessions, but has no idea what those could be, and even less idea where such possessions could ever be found.
AuDHD man will never see beloved possessions again after “tidying up”
An AuDHD man has reportedly resigned himself to no longer ever seeing many of his most treasured belongings, or even remembering that they still exist, after moving them slightly out of his direct…
thedailytism.com
January 2, 2026 at 6:02 PM
Gavin Monks, 48, is vaguely aware that before this morning he had hobbies, interests, and possessions, but has no idea what those could be, and even less idea where such possessions could ever be found.
Reposted by Brónagh McCoy
Here, have a #painting. "Savage Rowan" came out of a challenge from an artist friend of mine where we both painted the same scene. This was mine and it eventually went to a good home in Galway. #art #SpeirGhorm #ArtYear
December 29, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Here, have a #painting. "Savage Rowan" came out of a challenge from an artist friend of mine where we both painted the same scene. This was mine and it eventually went to a good home in Galway. #art #SpeirGhorm #ArtYear
Where are the engineers, materials scientists, physicists who care about artificial lighting and noise reduction or dampening in different environments? Is anything being explored in terms of friendlier solutions that are sustainable and inexpensive? (1/2)
December 23, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Where are the engineers, materials scientists, physicists who care about artificial lighting and noise reduction or dampening in different environments? Is anything being explored in terms of friendlier solutions that are sustainable and inexpensive? (1/2)
Reposted by Brónagh McCoy
New podcast. An investigation of the emotion of shame as it applies over the festive period open.spotify.com/episode/0rW5...
A Mental Health plan for Christmas
open.spotify.com
December 17, 2025 at 11:01 AM
New podcast. An investigation of the emotion of shame as it applies over the festive period open.spotify.com/episode/0rW5...
Reposted by Brónagh McCoy
Closing out my year with a journal editor shocker 🧵
Checking new manuscripts today I reviewed a paper attributing 2 papers to me I did not write. A daft thing for an author to do of course. But intrigued I web searched up one of the titles and that's when it got real weird...
Checking new manuscripts today I reviewed a paper attributing 2 papers to me I did not write. A daft thing for an author to do of course. But intrigued I web searched up one of the titles and that's when it got real weird...
December 19, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Closing out my year with a journal editor shocker 🧵
Checking new manuscripts today I reviewed a paper attributing 2 papers to me I did not write. A daft thing for an author to do of course. But intrigued I web searched up one of the titles and that's when it got real weird...
Checking new manuscripts today I reviewed a paper attributing 2 papers to me I did not write. A daft thing for an author to do of course. But intrigued I web searched up one of the titles and that's when it got real weird...
Reposted by Brónagh McCoy
Passionate about women's mental health?
Interested in brain stimulation?
Excited by cutting edge neurotech?
Come do a PhD with me!
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
(thread)
Interested in brain stimulation?
Excited by cutting edge neurotech?
Come do a PhD with me!
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
(thread)
a woman says we have to work together in front of a wentworth sign
ALT: a woman says we have to work together in front of a wentworth sign
media.tenor.com
December 4, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Passionate about women's mental health?
Interested in brain stimulation?
Excited by cutting edge neurotech?
Come do a PhD with me!
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
(thread)
Interested in brain stimulation?
Excited by cutting edge neurotech?
Come do a PhD with me!
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
(thread)
Reposted by Brónagh McCoy
Postdoc position available on our team, to work on the OptiCaT project - evaluating the use and impact of a community care intervention on psychiatric hospital admission and other health outcomes in people with learning disability and autistic people (1/2)
www.kcl.ac.uk/jobs/132727-...
www.kcl.ac.uk/jobs/132727-...
Post-Doctoral Research Associate in the Department of Forensic & Neurodevelopmental Sciences | King's College London
www.kcl.ac.uk
December 11, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Postdoc position available on our team, to work on the OptiCaT project - evaluating the use and impact of a community care intervention on psychiatric hospital admission and other health outcomes in people with learning disability and autistic people (1/2)
www.kcl.ac.uk/jobs/132727-...
www.kcl.ac.uk/jobs/132727-...
Postdoc position available on our team, to work on the OptiCaT project - evaluating the use and impact of a community care intervention on psychiatric hospital admission and other health outcomes in people with learning disability and autistic people (1/2)
www.kcl.ac.uk/jobs/132727-...
www.kcl.ac.uk/jobs/132727-...
Post-Doctoral Research Associate in the Department of Forensic & Neurodevelopmental Sciences | King's College London
www.kcl.ac.uk
December 11, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Postdoc position available on our team, to work on the OptiCaT project - evaluating the use and impact of a community care intervention on psychiatric hospital admission and other health outcomes in people with learning disability and autistic people (1/2)
www.kcl.ac.uk/jobs/132727-...
www.kcl.ac.uk/jobs/132727-...
Reposted by Brónagh McCoy
A #painting from a series I did of a bay in the west of Ireland. "Bertraghboy Bay 5" came out of a day cycling in Connemara where I was on a high from the incessant beauty of it all as every bay and mountain came into view. #art #SpeirGhorm #ArtAdventCalendar
December 10, 2025 at 9:06 PM
A #painting from a series I did of a bay in the west of Ireland. "Bertraghboy Bay 5" came out of a day cycling in Connemara where I was on a high from the incessant beauty of it all as every bay and mountain came into view. #art #SpeirGhorm #ArtAdventCalendar
Reposted by Brónagh McCoy
Teach like a Luddite! In which I join @philnichols.bsky.social and @anterobot.bsky.social to argue for a Luddite praxis in education grounded in three elements: embracing strategic playfulness; developing localized tactics; and building networks of resistance. Read the article at Kappan:
Teach like a Luddite - Kappan Online
Embracing new technologies that don’t advance teaching and learning is a mistake. Educators must ask questions — and resist when necessary.
kappanonline.org
December 9, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Teach like a Luddite! In which I join @philnichols.bsky.social and @anterobot.bsky.social to argue for a Luddite praxis in education grounded in three elements: embracing strategic playfulness; developing localized tactics; and building networks of resistance. Read the article at Kappan: