Cam Hostinar, Ph.D.
@camhostinar.bsky.social
Lifelong learner. Studying developmental psychology, Associate Professor of Psychology. Opinions are my own and do not represent my employer.
Reposted by Cam Hostinar, Ph.D.
⚠️ Despite all the hype, chatbots still make terrible doctors. Out today is the largest user study of language models for medical self-diagnosis. We found that chatbots provide inaccurate and inconsistent answers, and that people are better off using online searches or their own judgment.
February 9, 2026 at 5:08 PM
⚠️ Despite all the hype, chatbots still make terrible doctors. Out today is the largest user study of language models for medical self-diagnosis. We found that chatbots provide inaccurate and inconsistent answers, and that people are better off using online searches or their own judgment.
Reposted by Cam Hostinar, Ph.D.
🚨Thrilled to share I am able to hire someone (PhD preferred) with coding expertise to work on our HAPPE software for EEG! Knowledge of Matlab, Python, and EEG signal processing required. Enthusiasm for teaching/mentoring, collaboration, and developmental science preferred!
January 29, 2026 at 2:00 AM
🚨Thrilled to share I am able to hire someone (PhD preferred) with coding expertise to work on our HAPPE software for EEG! Knowledge of Matlab, Python, and EEG signal processing required. Enthusiasm for teaching/mentoring, collaboration, and developmental science preferred!
Reposted by Cam Hostinar, Ph.D.
Reposted by Cam Hostinar, Ph.D.
When a brain researcher solved a logistical problem by going rogue, the idea proved remarkably infectious.
By @lyrebard.bsky.social
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/brain-imagin...
By @lyrebard.bsky.social
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/brain-imagin...
A brief history of precision self-scanning
When a researcher solved a logistical problem by going rogue, the idea proved remarkably infectious.
www.thetransmitter.org
January 21, 2026 at 3:37 PM
When a brain researcher solved a logistical problem by going rogue, the idea proved remarkably infectious.
By @lyrebard.bsky.social
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/brain-imagin...
By @lyrebard.bsky.social
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/brain-imagin...
Will likely become a classic! And welcome to BlueSky @nicolebushphd.bsky.social 🎉
January 21, 2026 at 1:10 AM
Will likely become a classic! And welcome to BlueSky @nicolebushphd.bsky.social 🎉
Reposted by Cam Hostinar, Ph.D.
A bit of a Festivus inspired post about CLPMs and RI-CLPMs: floggingpvalues.blog/2026/01/20/t...
The Inconceivability of the CLPM and RI-CLPM
Written by Brent Roberts and not ChatGTP. Really* The existence of an observational scientist can be a frustrating affair. Relegated to second class citizen status due to interest in phenomena that…
floggingpvalues.blog
January 20, 2026 at 1:16 PM
A bit of a Festivus inspired post about CLPMs and RI-CLPMs: floggingpvalues.blog/2026/01/20/t...
Reposted by Cam Hostinar, Ph.D.
A study shows a cow using a "multi-purpose" tool — a broom, for scratching.
"multi-purpose tool use... is extraordinarily rare. Beyond humans, it has only been shown convincingly in chimpanzees."
Another example of "this animal is smarter than we thought"
🧪
www.theguardian.com/science/2026...
"multi-purpose tool use... is extraordinarily rare. Beyond humans, it has only been shown convincingly in chimpanzees."
Another example of "this animal is smarter than we thought"
🧪
www.theguardian.com/science/2026...
Back-scratching bovine leads scientists to reassess intelligence of cows
Brown Swiss in Austria has been discovered using tools in different ways – something only ever seen in humans and chimpanzees
www.theguardian.com
January 19, 2026 at 9:40 PM
A study shows a cow using a "multi-purpose" tool — a broom, for scratching.
"multi-purpose tool use... is extraordinarily rare. Beyond humans, it has only been shown convincingly in chimpanzees."
Another example of "this animal is smarter than we thought"
🧪
www.theguardian.com/science/2026...
"multi-purpose tool use... is extraordinarily rare. Beyond humans, it has only been shown convincingly in chimpanzees."
Another example of "this animal is smarter than we thought"
🧪
www.theguardian.com/science/2026...
Reposted by Cam Hostinar, Ph.D.
Our recent paper discussing why children might care more about animals. A joy to write with @lmcguire.bsky.social @nadirafaber.bsky.social Jared Piazza and Katja Liebal.
academic.oup.com/cdpers/advan...
academic.oup.com/cdpers/advan...
January 19, 2026 at 11:24 PM
Our recent paper discussing why children might care more about animals. A joy to write with @lmcguire.bsky.social @nadirafaber.bsky.social Jared Piazza and Katja Liebal.
academic.oup.com/cdpers/advan...
academic.oup.com/cdpers/advan...
Reposted by Cam Hostinar, Ph.D.
Writing is thinking
Outsourcing the entire task of writing to LLMs will deprive us of the essential creative task of interpreting our findings and generating a deeper theoretical understanding of the world.
Outsourcing the entire task of writing to LLMs will deprive us of the essential creative task of interpreting our findings and generating a deeper theoretical understanding of the world.
January 18, 2026 at 6:15 PM
Writing is thinking
Outsourcing the entire task of writing to LLMs will deprive us of the essential creative task of interpreting our findings and generating a deeper theoretical understanding of the world.
Outsourcing the entire task of writing to LLMs will deprive us of the essential creative task of interpreting our findings and generating a deeper theoretical understanding of the world.
Reposted by Cam Hostinar, Ph.D.
New paper in @acamh.bsky.social's JCPP! We found that early adversity doesn't affect positive emotions uniformly-- youth follow 4 distinct developmental trajectories. & This heterogeneity matters for understanding depression/anxiety risk.
🧵 1/5
📊 Paper: acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
🧵 1/5
📊 Paper: acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
January 15, 2026 at 2:50 PM
New paper in @acamh.bsky.social's JCPP! We found that early adversity doesn't affect positive emotions uniformly-- youth follow 4 distinct developmental trajectories. & This heterogeneity matters for understanding depression/anxiety risk.
🧵 1/5
📊 Paper: acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
🧵 1/5
📊 Paper: acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Reposted by Cam Hostinar, Ph.D.
A few days left to apply to join my lab as a PhD student! We study how people explore, how new ideas form, and how thinking develops. Learn more at liquinlab.github.io. Application review begins 1/15.
#PsychSciSky #CogPsyc #CogSci #DevPsyc
#PsychSciSky #CogPsyc #CogSci #DevPsyc
ELM Lab @ UNH
liquinlab.github.io
January 12, 2026 at 9:48 PM
A few days left to apply to join my lab as a PhD student! We study how people explore, how new ideas form, and how thinking develops. Learn more at liquinlab.github.io. Application review begins 1/15.
#PsychSciSky #CogPsyc #CogSci #DevPsyc
#PsychSciSky #CogPsyc #CogSci #DevPsyc
Reposted by Cam Hostinar, Ph.D.
New paper alert! Led by Dr. LillyBelle Deer (@lillybelledeer.bsky.social), we found that an acute stressor task did not significantly impact EF performance in middle childhood. Children with greater parasympathetic reactivity (RSA) performed better under stress.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
The effect of acute stress on executive function in children: Moderation by parasympathetic nervous system activity
Executive functions (EF) are crucial for children’s self-regulation and academic performance. Thus, understanding factors that can undermine or promot…
www.sciencedirect.com
January 12, 2026 at 11:42 PM
New paper alert! Led by Dr. LillyBelle Deer (@lillybelledeer.bsky.social), we found that an acute stressor task did not significantly impact EF performance in middle childhood. Children with greater parasympathetic reactivity (RSA) performed better under stress.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Cam Hostinar, Ph.D.
🧠 Hiring a Research Assistant/Lab Manager! Share widely! 📍 St. Louis | ⏰ Full-time
We're launching the How We Learn Lab @WashU, studying attention, learning & memory interactions. Perfect for anyone interested in dev cog neuro who wants hands-on experience before grad school.
deckerlab.com
We're launching the How We Learn Lab @WashU, studying attention, learning & memory interactions. Perfect for anyone interested in dev cog neuro who wants hands-on experience before grad school.
deckerlab.com
How We Learn Lab
deckerlab.com
January 12, 2026 at 3:23 PM
🧠 Hiring a Research Assistant/Lab Manager! Share widely! 📍 St. Louis | ⏰ Full-time
We're launching the How We Learn Lab @WashU, studying attention, learning & memory interactions. Perfect for anyone interested in dev cog neuro who wants hands-on experience before grad school.
deckerlab.com
We're launching the How We Learn Lab @WashU, studying attention, learning & memory interactions. Perfect for anyone interested in dev cog neuro who wants hands-on experience before grad school.
deckerlab.com
Reposted by Cam Hostinar, Ph.D.
I've been shouting about this since Google first floated the idea of LLMs as a replacement for search in 2021. Synthetic text is not a suitable tool for information access!
buttondown.com/maiht3k/arch...
/fin (for now)
buttondown.com/maiht3k/arch...
/fin (for now)
Information literacy and chatbots as search
By Emily This post started off as a thread I wrote and posted across social media on Sunday evening. I'm reproducing the thread (lightly edited) first and...
buttondown.com
January 11, 2026 at 2:33 PM
I've been shouting about this since Google first floated the idea of LLMs as a replacement for search in 2021. Synthetic text is not a suitable tool for information access!
buttondown.com/maiht3k/arch...
/fin (for now)
buttondown.com/maiht3k/arch...
/fin (for now)
Reposted by Cam Hostinar, Ph.D.
If you are submitting an NIH grant in February, you will be required to use SciENcv to prepare you biosketch.
IT IS MUCH WORSE THAN YOU CAN POSSIBLY IMAGINE.
Set aside *at least* 4 hours just to transfer an existing an biosketch into SciENcv.
IT IS MUCH WORSE THAN YOU CAN POSSIBLY IMAGINE.
Set aside *at least* 4 hours just to transfer an existing an biosketch into SciENcv.
January 6, 2026 at 11:29 PM
If you are submitting an NIH grant in February, you will be required to use SciENcv to prepare you biosketch.
IT IS MUCH WORSE THAN YOU CAN POSSIBLY IMAGINE.
Set aside *at least* 4 hours just to transfer an existing an biosketch into SciENcv.
IT IS MUCH WORSE THAN YOU CAN POSSIBLY IMAGINE.
Set aside *at least* 4 hours just to transfer an existing an biosketch into SciENcv.
Reposted by Cam Hostinar, Ph.D.
I don't think you non-science people realize what it takes to get a grant funded by NIH. Started experiments in Sept 2021 to generate 3 new mouse mutants to model human disease. Prelim dara shows they have relevant disease phenotypes worthy of study. Need a small grant first to characterize /1
January 2, 2026 at 3:19 AM
I don't think you non-science people realize what it takes to get a grant funded by NIH. Started experiments in Sept 2021 to generate 3 new mouse mutants to model human disease. Prelim dara shows they have relevant disease phenotypes worthy of study. Need a small grant first to characterize /1
Reposted by Cam Hostinar, Ph.D.
A List of Predictions Made in 1926 About 2026
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🧵
January 1, 2026 at 5:13 PM
A List of Predictions Made in 1926 About 2026
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Reposted by Cam Hostinar, Ph.D.
Regulating DTC #microbiome tests academic.oup.com/jlb/article/...
"...often misleading to consumers..."
"...the tests lack analytical and clinical validity."
"...may have many 'false positive' or 'false negatives' and can harm consumers."
Needed: more stringent regulation!
"...often misleading to consumers..."
"...the tests lack analytical and clinical validity."
"...may have many 'false positive' or 'false negatives' and can harm consumers."
Needed: more stringent regulation!
Is the current regulatory framework for direct-to-consumer microbiome-based tests sufficient to protect consumers from medical, economic, and dignitary harms?
Abstract. This article offers a thorough analysis of an important public health issue–the lack of regulation of companies selling direct-to-consumer (DTC)
academic.oup.com
December 28, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Regulating DTC #microbiome tests academic.oup.com/jlb/article/...
"...often misleading to consumers..."
"...the tests lack analytical and clinical validity."
"...may have many 'false positive' or 'false negatives' and can harm consumers."
Needed: more stringent regulation!
"...often misleading to consumers..."
"...the tests lack analytical and clinical validity."
"...may have many 'false positive' or 'false negatives' and can harm consumers."
Needed: more stringent regulation!
Reposted by Cam Hostinar, Ph.D.
Participants in sixteen Dry January studies reported better mood, improved sleep and weight loss, and had healthier blood pressure, blood sugar and liver function.
Here’s what Dry January does to your body
It’s not just better sleep — cutting back on alcohol may improve your blood sugar levels, blood pressure, insulin resistance and more.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 28, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Participants in sixteen Dry January studies reported better mood, improved sleep and weight loss, and had healthier blood pressure, blood sugar and liver function.
Reposted by Cam Hostinar, Ph.D.
A recent survey from RAND found more than 1/2 of US students are using AI for school, an increase of 15% this yr compared to just 2 yrs ago.
At the same time, 61% of parents believe AI will harm students' critical thinking compared to just 22% of school district leaders.”🧪
At the same time, 61% of parents believe AI will harm students' critical thinking compared to just 22% of school district leaders.”🧪
December 27, 2025 at 3:19 AM
A recent survey from RAND found more than 1/2 of US students are using AI for school, an increase of 15% this yr compared to just 2 yrs ago.
At the same time, 61% of parents believe AI will harm students' critical thinking compared to just 22% of school district leaders.”🧪
At the same time, 61% of parents believe AI will harm students' critical thinking compared to just 22% of school district leaders.”🧪
Reposted by Cam Hostinar, Ph.D.
Reposted by Cam Hostinar, Ph.D.
Such an important article about loneliness in young adults
www-bbc-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.bbc....
www-bbc-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.bbc....
The surprising truth about who the loneliest generations are - BBC News
Conversations around it often focus on the elderly. But by some measures, people in their 20s are the loneliest group in Britain
www-bbc-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org
December 24, 2025 at 4:05 AM
Such an important article about loneliness in young adults
www-bbc-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.bbc....
www-bbc-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.bbc....
Reposted by Cam Hostinar, Ph.D.
Cool study in JAMA Psychiatry confirms what many have suspected for a while: PHQ (depression questionnaire) instructions are widely misinterpreted by patients. It is unfortunate that a questionnaire as shitty as PHQ-9 has become so ingrained & ubiquitous
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Interpretation Issues With the Patient Health Questionnaire Instructions
This survey study assesses whether responses to the Patient Health Questionnaire reflect symptom frequency and severity.
jamanetwork.com
December 23, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Cool study in JAMA Psychiatry confirms what many have suspected for a while: PHQ (depression questionnaire) instructions are widely misinterpreted by patients. It is unfortunate that a questionnaire as shitty as PHQ-9 has become so ingrained & ubiquitous
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...