Tommy Blanchard
@tommyblanchard.bsky.social
PhD in neuroscience, MA in philosophy. Writing about science and philosophy of mind: https://cognitivewonderland.substack.com/
Reposted by Tommy Blanchard
Are podcasts—as some argue—“inefficient”?
That depends on whether you are interested in explicit or tacit knowledge, writes @tommyblanchard.bsky.social.
Sometimes the former alone is really not enough, and podcasts can contain lots of the latter:
buff.ly/M6NgPOd
That depends on whether you are interested in explicit or tacit knowledge, writes @tommyblanchard.bsky.social.
Sometimes the former alone is really not enough, and podcasts can contain lots of the latter:
buff.ly/M6NgPOd
October 26, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Are podcasts—as some argue—“inefficient”?
That depends on whether you are interested in explicit or tacit knowledge, writes @tommyblanchard.bsky.social.
Sometimes the former alone is really not enough, and podcasts can contain lots of the latter:
buff.ly/M6NgPOd
That depends on whether you are interested in explicit or tacit knowledge, writes @tommyblanchard.bsky.social.
Sometimes the former alone is really not enough, and podcasts can contain lots of the latter:
buff.ly/M6NgPOd
On tacit knowledge, the nature of expertise, and the value in informal dialogue
In Defense of Podcasts and Expertise
Tacit learning and why you should be skeptical of people on the internet, even if they provide sources
cognitivewonderland.substack.com
October 23, 2025 at 2:37 PM
On tacit knowledge, the nature of expertise, and the value in informal dialogue
A silly little "choose-your-own-adventure" story I wrote about the classic transporter/mind upload questions about personal identity:
open.substack.com/pub/cognitiv...
open.substack.com/pub/cognitiv...
Transporters and Personal Identity
A weird little choose-your-own-adventure
open.substack.com
October 19, 2025 at 1:15 PM
A silly little "choose-your-own-adventure" story I wrote about the classic transporter/mind upload questions about personal identity:
open.substack.com/pub/cognitiv...
open.substack.com/pub/cognitiv...
Reposted by Tommy Blanchard
Do LLMs like ChatGPT, consummate as they are in having, er, meaningful conversations, have a conception of ‘meaning’?
It is widely believed they don’t (because of how they are built and work), but it’s not that clear cut, argues @tommyblanchard.bsky.social:
buff.ly/Smaypaw
It is widely believed they don’t (because of how they are built and work), but it’s not that clear cut, argues @tommyblanchard.bsky.social:
buff.ly/Smaypaw
October 8, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Do LLMs like ChatGPT, consummate as they are in having, er, meaningful conversations, have a conception of ‘meaning’?
It is widely believed they don’t (because of how they are built and work), but it’s not that clear cut, argues @tommyblanchard.bsky.social:
buff.ly/Smaypaw
It is widely believed they don’t (because of how they are built and work), but it’s not that clear cut, argues @tommyblanchard.bsky.social:
buff.ly/Smaypaw
My latest post: cognitivewonderland....
About how the things we're immersed in are often invisible to us. "There's nothing we're more immersed in than the workings of our own brains."
About how the things we're immersed in are often invisible to us. "There's nothing we're more immersed in than the workings of our own brains."
May 19, 2025 at 5:26 PM
My latest post: cognitivewonderland....
About how the things we're immersed in are often invisible to us. "There's nothing we're more immersed in than the workings of our own brains."
About how the things we're immersed in are often invisible to us. "There's nothing we're more immersed in than the workings of our own brains."
A guest post by self-control researcher Michael Inzlicht on how the field has mischaracterized self-control and willpower: cognitivewonderland....
May 6, 2025 at 3:12 PM
A guest post by self-control researcher Michael Inzlicht on how the field has mischaracterized self-control and willpower: cognitivewonderland....
New post: cognitivewonderland....
"In a very real sense, we are stuck in our skulls, figuring out what's going on in the world from the measurements of various instruments."
"In a very real sense, we are stuck in our skulls, figuring out what's going on in the world from the measurements of various instruments."
April 28, 2025 at 5:07 PM
New post: cognitivewonderland....
"In a very real sense, we are stuck in our skulls, figuring out what's going on in the world from the measurements of various instruments."
"In a very real sense, we are stuck in our skulls, figuring out what's going on in the world from the measurements of various instruments."
What did dopamine do to deserve this? New guest post by @garwboy.bsky.social on the unfair demonization of a neurotransmitter
"Saying you’re addicted to dopamine is like saying you’re looking at your own retina: you can’t do that, it’s too fundamental to the process."
"Saying you’re addicted to dopamine is like saying you’re looking at your own retina: you can’t do that, it’s too fundamental to the process."
What did dopamine do to deserve this?
It’s become alarmingly common to invoke dopamine as the root cause of so many problems. But this demonisation of a vital and versatile neurotransmitter risks causing serious consequences for us all.
open.substack.com
April 10, 2025 at 2:37 PM
What did dopamine do to deserve this? New guest post by @garwboy.bsky.social on the unfair demonization of a neurotransmitter
"Saying you’re addicted to dopamine is like saying you’re looking at your own retina: you can’t do that, it’s too fundamental to the process."
"Saying you’re addicted to dopamine is like saying you’re looking at your own retina: you can’t do that, it’s too fundamental to the process."
New post: cognitivewonderland....
All about scanning fish brains, fMRI statistics, and overzealous skepticism
"A little over 15 years ago, some researchers put a salmon into an fMRI scanner."
All about scanning fish brains, fMRI statistics, and overzealous skepticism
"A little over 15 years ago, some researchers put a salmon into an fMRI scanner."
The Salmon of Neuroimaging Doubt
We shouldn't throw the baby out with the bathwater (or the brain scanning out with the multiple corrections)
cognitivewonderland.substack.com
April 7, 2025 at 1:57 PM
New post: cognitivewonderland....
All about scanning fish brains, fMRI statistics, and overzealous skepticism
"A little over 15 years ago, some researchers put a salmon into an fMRI scanner."
All about scanning fish brains, fMRI statistics, and overzealous skepticism
"A little over 15 years ago, some researchers put a salmon into an fMRI scanner."
This week: Some book recommendations of sci fi stories that use my favorite sci fi trope: mind uploading!
cognitivewonderland....
cognitivewonderland....
March 31, 2025 at 7:15 PM
This week: Some book recommendations of sci fi stories that use my favorite sci fi trope: mind uploading!
cognitivewonderland....
cognitivewonderland....
New post. cognitivewonderland....
Disagreement doesn't mean irrationality: people interpret the same evidence differently due to prior beliefs and trusted sources. Being charitable, rather than dismissive, helps us understand—and maybe even persuade—those who disagree.
Disagreement doesn't mean irrationality: people interpret the same evidence differently due to prior beliefs and trusted sources. Being charitable, rather than dismissive, helps us understand—and maybe even persuade—those who disagree.
March 24, 2025 at 1:23 PM
New post. cognitivewonderland....
Disagreement doesn't mean irrationality: people interpret the same evidence differently due to prior beliefs and trusted sources. Being charitable, rather than dismissive, helps us understand—and maybe even persuade—those who disagree.
Disagreement doesn't mean irrationality: people interpret the same evidence differently due to prior beliefs and trusted sources. Being charitable, rather than dismissive, helps us understand—and maybe even persuade—those who disagree.
New post is up! cognitivewonderland....
Talking about why you shouldn't sweat decisions so much. More generally on power laws, touching on linguistics, Sturgeon's law, data science, and decision theory.
Talking about why you shouldn't sweat decisions so much. More generally on power laws, touching on linguistics, Sturgeon's law, data science, and decision theory.
March 13, 2025 at 5:29 PM
New post is up! cognitivewonderland....
Talking about why you shouldn't sweat decisions so much. More generally on power laws, touching on linguistics, Sturgeon's law, data science, and decision theory.
Talking about why you shouldn't sweat decisions so much. More generally on power laws, touching on linguistics, Sturgeon's law, data science, and decision theory.
In last week's post, I answered some reader questions about the Dunning-Kruger effect, procrastination, and my vibes on the current political situation in the US.
cognitivewonderland....
cognitivewonderland....
March 10, 2025 at 2:03 PM
In last week's post, I answered some reader questions about the Dunning-Kruger effect, procrastination, and my vibes on the current political situation in the US.
cognitivewonderland....
cognitivewonderland....
"There appears to be a disconnect between research findings and opinions of certain leaders. As a form of work organization, WFH, and especially hybrid work, has been shown to have significant benefits."
Time to Embrace Hybrid Work Arrangements
Research keeps showing hybrid work is a superior form of work organization.
open.substack.com
March 2, 2025 at 6:46 PM
"There appears to be a disconnect between research findings and opinions of certain leaders. As a form of work organization, WFH, and especially hybrid work, has been shown to have significant benefits."
Why The Algorithm Hates You: cognitivewonderland....
The Friendship Paradox and other adventures in sampling bias
The Friendship Paradox and other adventures in sampling bias
February 18, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Why The Algorithm Hates You: cognitivewonderland....
The Friendship Paradox and other adventures in sampling bias
The Friendship Paradox and other adventures in sampling bias
I've seen a lot of articles talking about how dads roughhousing with their kids has benefits for the kids’ emotional and motor development, but I've never seen one that mentions the primary benefit: satisfying the dad's deep-seated need to just pick someone up and chuck them across the room
February 17, 2025 at 1:54 PM
I've seen a lot of articles talking about how dads roughhousing with their kids has benefits for the kids’ emotional and motor development, but I've never seen one that mentions the primary benefit: satisfying the dad's deep-seated need to just pick someone up and chuck them across the room
This thread about the NIH cuts...
Thanks to all of the NIHers and their friends who reached out to me. I am still here (DM me or Signal jeremymberg.78)
I still have a very incomplete picture but based on what I have been told, the damage to NIH and to many wonderful people who work(ed) there is/was impossible for me to imagine
1/n
I still have a very incomplete picture but based on what I have been told, the damage to NIH and to many wonderful people who work(ed) there is/was impossible for me to imagine
1/n
February 16, 2025 at 1:22 PM
This thread about the NIH cuts...
New post: cognitivewonderland....
"We don't just have a "smart mode" (System 2) and "dumb mode" (System 1). Instead, we have a collection of tools for thinking and deciding."
"We don't just have a "smart mode" (System 2) and "dumb mode" (System 1). Instead, we have a collection of tools for thinking and deciding."
Smart Mode, Dumb Mode, and Tools for Thinking
The 2 System Model of thinking, and some other thoughts on irrationality
cognitivewonderland.substack.com
February 3, 2025 at 6:16 PM
New post: cognitivewonderland....
"We don't just have a "smart mode" (System 2) and "dumb mode" (System 1). Instead, we have a collection of tools for thinking and deciding."
"We don't just have a "smart mode" (System 2) and "dumb mode" (System 1). Instead, we have a collection of tools for thinking and deciding."
Post from last week: What is interesting? cognitivewonderland....
Exploring the psychology of what makes things interesting, and the relationship between our curiosity and complexity. Also has my wife's drawing of a cow.
Exploring the psychology of what makes things interesting, and the relationship between our curiosity and complexity. Also has my wife's drawing of a cow.
January 29, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Post from last week: What is interesting? cognitivewonderland....
Exploring the psychology of what makes things interesting, and the relationship between our curiosity and complexity. Also has my wife's drawing of a cow.
Exploring the psychology of what makes things interesting, and the relationship between our curiosity and complexity. Also has my wife's drawing of a cow.
Reposted by Tommy Blanchard
Please share this with all your parent friends, drawing special attention to number 3. Let them eat cake, damn it!
@tommyblanchard.bsky.social cognitivewonderland.substack.com/p/3-neuromyt...
@tommyblanchard.bsky.social cognitivewonderland.substack.com/p/3-neuromyt...
3 Neuromyths About Learning and Behavior
Or: false things people say that annoy me as a parent
cognitivewonderland.substack.com
January 16, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Please share this with all your parent friends, drawing special attention to number 3. Let them eat cake, damn it!
@tommyblanchard.bsky.social cognitivewonderland.substack.com/p/3-neuromyt...
@tommyblanchard.bsky.social cognitivewonderland.substack.com/p/3-neuromyt...
People are unreasonable in how unreasonable they judge people to be
January 8, 2025 at 1:40 PM
People are unreasonable in how unreasonable they judge people to be