Mara Breen
@mbreen.bsky.social
Professor of psychology at Mount Holyoke College; Cognitive scientist studying speech and music
Reposted by Mara Breen
My annual list of blog posts, articles and other internet things that I enjoyed or found especially interesting this year:
thesphinxblog.com/2025/12/29/b...
thesphinxblog.com/2025/12/29/b...
Blogs of the Year 2025
As ever, one of the fun aspects of end-of-year reflection is revisiting the blog posts, articles and other internet things that I noted down in the course of the year as worth revisiting – so…
thesphinxblog.com
December 29, 2025 at 11:41 AM
My annual list of blog posts, articles and other internet things that I enjoyed or found especially interesting this year:
thesphinxblog.com/2025/12/29/b...
thesphinxblog.com/2025/12/29/b...
Reposted by Mara Breen
📣 I am searching for a postdoc!! 📣
📌 Université Bourgogne Europe, CNRS, Dijon, France 🌍
⌛ 2 years
📚 Music rhythm, language, developmental language disorders
Preliminary details below - please get in touch if you're interested!
www.linkedin.com/posts/anna-f...
📌 Université Bourgogne Europe, CNRS, Dijon, France 🌍
⌛ 2 years
📚 Music rhythm, language, developmental language disorders
Preliminary details below - please get in touch if you're interested!
www.linkedin.com/posts/anna-f...
📣 I am searching for a postdoc!! 📣
📌 Université Bourgogne Europe, CNRS, Dijon, France 🌍
⌛ 2 years
📚 Music rhythm, language, developmental language disorders
The full announcement will come… | Anna...
📣 I am searching for a postdoc!! 📣
📌 Université Bourgogne Europe, CNRS, Dijon, France 🌍
⌛ 2 years
📚 Music rhythm, language, developmental language disorders
The full announcement will come out in ...
www.linkedin.com
December 28, 2025 at 11:53 AM
📣 I am searching for a postdoc!! 📣
📌 Université Bourgogne Europe, CNRS, Dijon, France 🌍
⌛ 2 years
📚 Music rhythm, language, developmental language disorders
Preliminary details below - please get in touch if you're interested!
www.linkedin.com/posts/anna-f...
📌 Université Bourgogne Europe, CNRS, Dijon, France 🌍
⌛ 2 years
📚 Music rhythm, language, developmental language disorders
Preliminary details below - please get in touch if you're interested!
www.linkedin.com/posts/anna-f...
Reposted by Mara Breen
What can 40 years of song lyrics tell us about society?
I analysed the lyrics of 1,600 pop songs going back to 1985.
Our music appears to be getting gloomier, less future-looking and more self-obsessed
1/6
I analysed the lyrics of 1,600 pop songs going back to 1985.
Our music appears to be getting gloomier, less future-looking and more self-obsessed
1/6
December 28, 2025 at 11:55 AM
What can 40 years of song lyrics tell us about society?
I analysed the lyrics of 1,600 pop songs going back to 1985.
Our music appears to be getting gloomier, less future-looking and more self-obsessed
1/6
I analysed the lyrics of 1,600 pop songs going back to 1985.
Our music appears to be getting gloomier, less future-looking and more self-obsessed
1/6
Reposted by Mara Breen
1/ If you read this NY Times piece but ACTUALLY want to do something to reduce screen time, there's really only one way to do this w/ an iPhone (and it's not switching to greyscale). www.nytimes.com/2025/12/25/o...
Opinion | I Killed Color on My Phone. The Result Shocked Me.
www.nytimes.com
December 27, 2025 at 1:52 AM
1/ If you read this NY Times piece but ACTUALLY want to do something to reduce screen time, there's really only one way to do this w/ an iPhone (and it's not switching to greyscale). www.nytimes.com/2025/12/25/o...
Reposted by Mara Breen
Mark Blokpoel & I have maintain a living open interactive textbook “Theoretical Modeling for Cognitive Science and Psychology.”
Recently, Mark updated Ch 9 & 10 so they have embedded, running and editable, code again.
Check it out! ✨
computationalcognitivescience.github.io/lovelace/
Recently, Mark updated Ch 9 & 10 so they have embedded, running and editable, code again.
Check it out! ✨
computationalcognitivescience.github.io/lovelace/
December 27, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Mark Blokpoel & I have maintain a living open interactive textbook “Theoretical Modeling for Cognitive Science and Psychology.”
Recently, Mark updated Ch 9 & 10 so they have embedded, running and editable, code again.
Check it out! ✨
computationalcognitivescience.github.io/lovelace/
Recently, Mark updated Ch 9 & 10 so they have embedded, running and editable, code again.
Check it out! ✨
computationalcognitivescience.github.io/lovelace/
Reposted by Mara Breen
somebody is doing a public service here github.com/zoicware/Rem...
GitHub - zoicware/RemoveWindowsAI: Force Remove Copilot, Recall and More in Windows 11
Force Remove Copilot, Recall and More in Windows 11 - zoicware/RemoveWindowsAI
github.com
December 27, 2025 at 5:08 AM
somebody is doing a public service here github.com/zoicware/Rem...
Reposted by Mara Breen
New book! I have written a book, called Syntax: A cognitive approach, published by MIT Press.
This is open access; MIT Press will post a link soon, but until then, the book is available on my website:
tedlab.mit.edu/tedlab_websi...
This is open access; MIT Press will post a link soon, but until then, the book is available on my website:
tedlab.mit.edu/tedlab_websi...
tedlab.mit.edu
December 24, 2025 at 7:55 PM
New book! I have written a book, called Syntax: A cognitive approach, published by MIT Press.
This is open access; MIT Press will post a link soon, but until then, the book is available on my website:
tedlab.mit.edu/tedlab_websi...
This is open access; MIT Press will post a link soon, but until then, the book is available on my website:
tedlab.mit.edu/tedlab_websi...
Reposted by Mara Breen
Wildly different things, tasks, techniques, subspecialties being lumped into "AI" and then being conflated with each other, doesn't help. Different types of models vs the techniques to train them vs the tasks they are supposed to accomplish, all under "AI".
December 22, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Wildly different things, tasks, techniques, subspecialties being lumped into "AI" and then being conflated with each other, doesn't help. Different types of models vs the techniques to train them vs the tasks they are supposed to accomplish, all under "AI".
Reposted by Mara Breen
Currently on the lookout for postdoc opportunities in psychological measurement or misophonia research. I focus on improving assessment through psychometrics + machine learning, with special interest in fairness. Excited about interdisciplinary teams! #Postdoc #Psychometrics #Misophonia
December 14, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Currently on the lookout for postdoc opportunities in psychological measurement or misophonia research. I focus on improving assessment through psychometrics + machine learning, with special interest in fairness. Excited about interdisciplinary teams! #Postdoc #Psychometrics #Misophonia
Reposted by Mara Breen
I've got a fully-funded PhD studentship open at @birkbeckpsychology.bsky.social, investigating social learning about metacognition & awareness, w/ behavioural studies & neuroimaging (fMRI) - thanks to @leverhulme.ac.uk
More details here: www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPV831/p...
#cogsci #neuroskyence
More details here: www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPV831/p...
#cogsci #neuroskyence
PhD Studentship: Social Learning of Metacognition and Awareness at Birkbeck, University of London
jobs.ac.uk now advertising a PhD Studentship: Social Learning of Metacognition and Awareness Visit jobs.ac.uk to apply and to browse more PhD opportunities.
www.jobs.ac.uk
December 16, 2025 at 7:08 PM
I've got a fully-funded PhD studentship open at @birkbeckpsychology.bsky.social, investigating social learning about metacognition & awareness, w/ behavioural studies & neuroimaging (fMRI) - thanks to @leverhulme.ac.uk
More details here: www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPV831/p...
#cogsci #neuroskyence
More details here: www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPV831/p...
#cogsci #neuroskyence
Reposted by Mara Breen
In honour of Rob Reiner, have David Moore's thread on the best sword fight in movie history and exactly how nerdy it is.
As you may know, I have stopped using Twitter, and have decided to reproduce some of my more memorable threads here for posterity. Here’s one I hold wrote after a particularly engaging swordfighting lesson.
Buckle up, swordfighting fans, because I *have* studied my Agrippa!
[BIG ASS THREAD]
Buckle up, swordfighting fans, because I *have* studied my Agrippa!
[BIG ASS THREAD]
a man reading a book to a young boy
Alt: a man reading a book to a young boy
media.tenor.com
December 15, 2025 at 8:46 AM
In honour of Rob Reiner, have David Moore's thread on the best sword fight in movie history and exactly how nerdy it is.
Reposted by Mara Breen
SKULL OF THOMAS AQUINAS: TAKE A LEFT NOW
PRIEST: No, the GPS says we have to keep going—
SKULL: I KNOW A SHORTCUT
PRIEST: Do you remember the last ti—
SKULL: FOR THOSE WITH FAITH, NO EVIDENCE IS NECESSARY; FOR THOSE WITHOUT IT, NO EVIDENCE WILL SUFFICE
PRIEST: No, the GPS says we have to keep going—
SKULL: I KNOW A SHORTCUT
PRIEST: Do you remember the last ti—
SKULL: FOR THOSE WITH FAITH, NO EVIDENCE IS NECESSARY; FOR THOSE WITHOUT IT, NO EVIDENCE WILL SUFFICE
'Skull of St. Thomas Aquinas being transported to Fossanova Abbey.'
Photograph by Daniel Ibanez
Photograph by Daniel Ibanez
December 10, 2025 at 5:10 PM
SKULL OF THOMAS AQUINAS: TAKE A LEFT NOW
PRIEST: No, the GPS says we have to keep going—
SKULL: I KNOW A SHORTCUT
PRIEST: Do you remember the last ti—
SKULL: FOR THOSE WITH FAITH, NO EVIDENCE IS NECESSARY; FOR THOSE WITHOUT IT, NO EVIDENCE WILL SUFFICE
PRIEST: No, the GPS says we have to keep going—
SKULL: I KNOW A SHORTCUT
PRIEST: Do you remember the last ti—
SKULL: FOR THOSE WITH FAITH, NO EVIDENCE IS NECESSARY; FOR THOSE WITHOUT IT, NO EVIDENCE WILL SUFFICE
Reposted by Mara Breen
Academic publishing is broken due to for-profit actors. Time to explore alternatives as researchers → A Diamond Open Access conference, Feb 5-6, 2026 in Nijmegen NL.
Free registration (limited seats): horizondiamond.nl
Let's build a sustainable publishing infrastructure together.
Free registration (limited seats): horizondiamond.nl
Let's build a sustainable publishing infrastructure together.
November 21, 2025 at 9:22 AM
Academic publishing is broken due to for-profit actors. Time to explore alternatives as researchers → A Diamond Open Access conference, Feb 5-6, 2026 in Nijmegen NL.
Free registration (limited seats): horizondiamond.nl
Let's build a sustainable publishing infrastructure together.
Free registration (limited seats): horizondiamond.nl
Let's build a sustainable publishing infrastructure together.
Reposted by Mara Breen
Code red.... Does anyone know a not-by-hand hack to grade 493 scantrons without a scantron machine?
⚰️
⚰️
December 10, 2025 at 1:41 AM
Code red.... Does anyone know a not-by-hand hack to grade 493 scantrons without a scantron machine?
⚰️
⚰️
Reposted by Mara Breen
"there's a new serif in town"
Marco Rubio ordered diplomats to return to using Times New Roman font in official communications, calling his predecessor's decision to adopt Calibri a “wasteful” diversity move
Rubio Stages Font Coup: Times New Roman Ousts Calibri
The secretary of state called it a "wasteful" diversity move, according to an internal department cable seen by Reuters.
www.huffpost.com
December 10, 2025 at 1:06 AM
"there's a new serif in town"
Reposted by Mara Breen
Spread the word: I'm looking to hire a postdoc to explore the concept of attention (as studied in psych/neuro, not the transformer mechanism) in large Vision-Language Models. More details here: lindsay-lab.github.io/2025/12/08/p...
#MLSky #neurojobs #compneuro
#MLSky #neurojobs #compneuro
Lindsay Lab - Postdoc Position
Artificial neural networks applied to psychology, neuroscience, and climate change
lindsay-lab.github.io
December 8, 2025 at 11:53 PM
Spread the word: I'm looking to hire a postdoc to explore the concept of attention (as studied in psych/neuro, not the transformer mechanism) in large Vision-Language Models. More details here: lindsay-lab.github.io/2025/12/08/p...
#MLSky #neurojobs #compneuro
#MLSky #neurojobs #compneuro
Reposted by Mara Breen
Participants needed! One of my Phonetics students is looking for participants in her study - just requires listening to some voices in a short survey york.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
🧪💬🎧
🧪💬🎧
Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management
The most powerful, simple and trusted way to gather experience data. Start your journey to experience management and try a free account today.
york.qualtrics.com
December 9, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Participants needed! One of my Phonetics students is looking for participants in her study - just requires listening to some voices in a short survey york.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
🧪💬🎧
🧪💬🎧
Reposted by Mara Breen
sorry I'm late! I have at last broken my silence on Pantone's Color of the Year johnpaulbrammer.substack.com/p/cloud-danc...
'Cloud Dancer': A Measured Response
Regarding Pantone's decision, and so on, and so forth
johnpaulbrammer.substack.com
December 6, 2025 at 7:55 PM
sorry I'm late! I have at last broken my silence on Pantone's Color of the Year johnpaulbrammer.substack.com/p/cloud-danc...
Reposted by Mara Breen
We are hiring an assistant professor in cognitive neural systems in the department of psychology at the university of arizona. please use this link to check out the requirements and apply!
arizona.csod.com/ux/ats/caree...
arizona.csod.com/ux/ats/caree...
Assistant Professor, Psychology (T/TE)
Duties & Responsibilities:Publishing peer-reviewed scholarly works.Maintaining an active research program.Obtaining extramural funding.Teaching un...
arizona.csod.com
December 4, 2025 at 7:24 PM
We are hiring an assistant professor in cognitive neural systems in the department of psychology at the university of arizona. please use this link to check out the requirements and apply!
arizona.csod.com/ux/ats/caree...
arizona.csod.com/ux/ats/caree...
Reposted by Mara Breen
Do I know any LGBTQ+ folks who work (or have worked) in higher education who would be willing to offer some Indiana youth (who also identify as LGBTQ+) tips and resources for returning to non-affirming homes over holiday breaks? DM me! Or email me at Ashley dot Ford at Free Press Indiana dot org :)
December 4, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Do I know any LGBTQ+ folks who work (or have worked) in higher education who would be willing to offer some Indiana youth (who also identify as LGBTQ+) tips and resources for returning to non-affirming homes over holiday breaks? DM me! Or email me at Ashley dot Ford at Free Press Indiana dot org :)
Reposted by Mara Breen
Ethics’ AI Policy: "attributing some example or objection to ChatGPT could be just as problematic as attributing an objection to your colleague when all they did was tell you about some objection that Rawls raised"
@olivia.science @irisvanrooij.bsky.social
www.journals.uchicago.edu/journals/et/...
@olivia.science @irisvanrooij.bsky.social
www.journals.uchicago.edu/journals/et/...
Ethics: AI policy
www.journals.uchicago.edu
December 4, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Ethics’ AI Policy: "attributing some example or objection to ChatGPT could be just as problematic as attributing an objection to your colleague when all they did was tell you about some objection that Rawls raised"
@olivia.science @irisvanrooij.bsky.social
www.journals.uchicago.edu/journals/et/...
@olivia.science @irisvanrooij.bsky.social
www.journals.uchicago.edu/journals/et/...
Reposted by Mara Breen
Diederik Stapel was a massive watershed moment in psychology.
However, he was -- and let's be slightly glib here -- some guy from The Netherlands who wrote social psychology papers.
The full accounting of the Eysenck case is approx, at minimum, TWO STAPELS.
retractionwatch.com/2025/12/03/n...
However, he was -- and let's be slightly glib here -- some guy from The Netherlands who wrote social psychology papers.
The full accounting of the Eysenck case is approx, at minimum, TWO STAPELS.
retractionwatch.com/2025/12/03/n...
Number of ‘unsafe’ publications by psychologist Hans Eysenck could be ‘high and far reaching’
Hans Eysenck A “high and far reaching” number of papers and books by Hans Eysenck could be “unsafe,” according to an updated statement from King’s College London, where the psychologist was a profe…
retractionwatch.com
December 3, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Diederik Stapel was a massive watershed moment in psychology.
However, he was -- and let's be slightly glib here -- some guy from The Netherlands who wrote social psychology papers.
The full accounting of the Eysenck case is approx, at minimum, TWO STAPELS.
retractionwatch.com/2025/12/03/n...
However, he was -- and let's be slightly glib here -- some guy from The Netherlands who wrote social psychology papers.
The full accounting of the Eysenck case is approx, at minimum, TWO STAPELS.
retractionwatch.com/2025/12/03/n...
Reposted by Mara Breen
Deadline 4 Jan: Postdoc, variability and vowel harmony, metaphony (phonetic and psycholinguistic approaches), Potsdam (w/ A. Gafos) docs.google.com/document/d/1...
December 3, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Deadline 4 Jan: Postdoc, variability and vowel harmony, metaphony (phonetic and psycholinguistic approaches), Potsdam (w/ A. Gafos) docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Reposted by Mara Breen
🚨Job Alert plz RT!
Johns Hopkins Psych & Brain Sciences is looking for a new colleague using behavioral or computational approaches to study cognition!
We are excited about many areas of (esp higher) cognition in human adults, children, or nonhuman animals
Open-rank
apply.interfolio.com/178146
Johns Hopkins Psych & Brain Sciences is looking for a new colleague using behavioral or computational approaches to study cognition!
We are excited about many areas of (esp higher) cognition in human adults, children, or nonhuman animals
Open-rank
apply.interfolio.com/178146
December 2, 2025 at 2:54 AM
🚨Job Alert plz RT!
Johns Hopkins Psych & Brain Sciences is looking for a new colleague using behavioral or computational approaches to study cognition!
We are excited about many areas of (esp higher) cognition in human adults, children, or nonhuman animals
Open-rank
apply.interfolio.com/178146
Johns Hopkins Psych & Brain Sciences is looking for a new colleague using behavioral or computational approaches to study cognition!
We are excited about many areas of (esp higher) cognition in human adults, children, or nonhuman animals
Open-rank
apply.interfolio.com/178146
Reposted by Mara Breen
🚨I am looking for a POSTDOC, LAB MANAGER/TECH and GRAD STUDENTS to join my new lab in beautiful Madison, WI.
We study how our brains perceive and represent the physical world around us using behavioral, computational, and neuroimaging methods.
paulunlab.psych.wisc.edu
#VisionScience #NeuroSkyence
We study how our brains perceive and represent the physical world around us using behavioral, computational, and neuroimaging methods.
paulunlab.psych.wisc.edu
#VisionScience #NeuroSkyence
November 17, 2025 at 9:43 PM
🚨I am looking for a POSTDOC, LAB MANAGER/TECH and GRAD STUDENTS to join my new lab in beautiful Madison, WI.
We study how our brains perceive and represent the physical world around us using behavioral, computational, and neuroimaging methods.
paulunlab.psych.wisc.edu
#VisionScience #NeuroSkyence
We study how our brains perceive and represent the physical world around us using behavioral, computational, and neuroimaging methods.
paulunlab.psych.wisc.edu
#VisionScience #NeuroSkyence