William Ngiam | 严祥全
@williamngiam.github.io
Computational cognitive neuroscientist at Adelaide University | Perception, Attention, Learning and Memory Lab (https://palm-lab.github.io) | Open Practices Editor at Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics | ReproducibiliTea | http://williamngiam.github.io
Reposted by William Ngiam | 严祥全
The Australasian Experimental Psychology Conference (EPC) and Asia Pacific Conference on Vision (APCV) are holding a joint meeting in 2026, to be held at the University of Auckland from July 1-4. Abstract submissions now open!
visualneuroscience.auckland.ac.nz/epc-apcv-2026/
visualneuroscience.auckland.ac.nz/epc-apcv-2026/
February 10, 2026 at 8:55 PM
The Australasian Experimental Psychology Conference (EPC) and Asia Pacific Conference on Vision (APCV) are holding a joint meeting in 2026, to be held at the University of Auckland from July 1-4. Abstract submissions now open!
visualneuroscience.auckland.ac.nz/epc-apcv-2026/
visualneuroscience.auckland.ac.nz/epc-apcv-2026/
Reposted by William Ngiam | 严祥全
Anyone want to do a PhD with me at the Sunny Coast? I'm recruiting, and I wanna do some fun psychophysics (but the possibilities for the PhD are very broad). Domestic students only, sadly.
In case y'all happen to know someone:
@nataliepeluso.com
@reubenrideaux.bsky.social
@visnerd.bsky.social
In case y'all happen to know someone:
@nataliepeluso.com
@reubenrideaux.bsky.social
@visnerd.bsky.social
February 10, 2026 at 9:12 PM
Anyone want to do a PhD with me at the Sunny Coast? I'm recruiting, and I wanna do some fun psychophysics (but the possibilities for the PhD are very broad). Domestic students only, sadly.
In case y'all happen to know someone:
@nataliepeluso.com
@reubenrideaux.bsky.social
@visnerd.bsky.social
In case y'all happen to know someone:
@nataliepeluso.com
@reubenrideaux.bsky.social
@visnerd.bsky.social
Reposted by William Ngiam | 严祥全
New preprint with @SamJung @timbrady.bsky.social and @violastoermer.bsky.social: osf.io/preprints/ps.... Here we uncover what might be driving the “meaningfulness benefit” in visual working memory. Studies show that real objects are remembered better in VWM tasks than abstract stimuli. But why? 1/
OSF
osf.io
February 9, 2026 at 9:06 PM
New preprint with @SamJung @timbrady.bsky.social and @violastoermer.bsky.social: osf.io/preprints/ps.... Here we uncover what might be driving the “meaningfulness benefit” in visual working memory. Studies show that real objects are remembered better in VWM tasks than abstract stimuli. But why? 1/
Reposted by William Ngiam | 严祥全
Our latest paper, “Visual language models show widespread visual deficits on neuropsychological tests”, is now out in Nature Machine Intelligence: www.nature.com/articles/s42...
Non-paywalled version:
arxiv.org/abs/2504.10786
Tweet thread below from first author @genetang.bsky.social...
Non-paywalled version:
arxiv.org/abs/2504.10786
Tweet thread below from first author @genetang.bsky.social...
Visual language models show widespread visual deficits on neuropsychological tests - Nature Machine Intelligence
Tangtartharakul and Storrs use standardized neuropsychological tests to compare human visual abilities with those of visual language models (VLMs). They report that while VLMs excel in high-level obje...
www.nature.com
February 9, 2026 at 2:40 AM
Our latest paper, “Visual language models show widespread visual deficits on neuropsychological tests”, is now out in Nature Machine Intelligence: www.nature.com/articles/s42...
Non-paywalled version:
arxiv.org/abs/2504.10786
Tweet thread below from first author @genetang.bsky.social...
Non-paywalled version:
arxiv.org/abs/2504.10786
Tweet thread below from first author @genetang.bsky.social...
Any researchers claiming that we have extensive evidence that social media causes harm, and thus, a social media ban is evidence-based policy, is deeply unserious and can peddle their future wares (any school programs/interventions, any books or media deals, any edutech) in a sinkhole on Mars.
February 6, 2026 at 12:10 AM
Any researchers claiming that we have extensive evidence that social media causes harm, and thus, a social media ban is evidence-based policy, is deeply unserious and can peddle their future wares (any school programs/interventions, any books or media deals, any edutech) in a sinkhole on Mars.
Hey everyone, I have a Special Issue – that I think academic structures don't provide enough time or resources to do careful, methodical, and incremental work to address all the research questions that I have.
(This is equal parts truthful about my feelings on academic reform, equal parts pun).
(This is equal parts truthful about my feelings on academic reform, equal parts pun).
February 5, 2026 at 11:35 PM
Hey everyone, I have a Special Issue – that I think academic structures don't provide enough time or resources to do careful, methodical, and incremental work to address all the research questions that I have.
(This is equal parts truthful about my feelings on academic reform, equal parts pun).
(This is equal parts truthful about my feelings on academic reform, equal parts pun).
I have been admiring Solid Air – an independent show about all things music. It brings together musicians to openly discuss their art, share stories, and also bring others' art that has influenced them. It is quite worldly and thoughtful, and has an underlying tone of respect and appreciation.
Fred again.. and I play music for each other...at my house!
YouTube video by Derrick Gee
youtu.be
January 31, 2026 at 2:51 AM
I have been admiring Solid Air – an independent show about all things music. It brings together musicians to openly discuss their art, share stories, and also bring others' art that has influenced them. It is quite worldly and thoughtful, and has an underlying tone of respect and appreciation.
Reposted by William Ngiam | 严祥全
I am even warier than the authors about the broad-brush applications of the QRP label. However, I stand firmly against classifying data dredging/fishing expeditions as responsible research practice and as exploratory research. Science reform has distorted our understanding of scientific exploration.
P-hacking vs Exploratory Analyses
"Reanalyzing data through multiple methods in search of statistically significant results (i.e., p-hacking) is questionable only if concealed; when justified and transparently reported (e.g., exploratory studies), it reflects responsible practice."
"Reanalyzing data through multiple methods in search of statistically significant results (i.e., p-hacking) is questionable only if concealed; when justified and transparently reported (e.g., exploratory studies), it reflects responsible practice."
January 30, 2026 at 4:35 PM
I am even warier than the authors about the broad-brush applications of the QRP label. However, I stand firmly against classifying data dredging/fishing expeditions as responsible research practice and as exploratory research. Science reform has distorted our understanding of scientific exploration.
I revisited "The seductions of clarity" by @add-hawk.bsky.social, which points out mental clarity can prematurely stop us from deliberating. I reflect on how we might inflict this upon ourselves by accepting simplifications, and whether society is trending away from nuance and complexity.
To sit with complexity and nuance
A rejection of the mental clarity that comes with accepting simplicity.
indefenseofthinking.substack.com
January 29, 2026 at 12:03 PM
I revisited "The seductions of clarity" by @add-hawk.bsky.social, which points out mental clarity can prematurely stop us from deliberating. I reflect on how we might inflict this upon ourselves by accepting simplifications, and whether society is trending away from nuance and complexity.
Ways AI could accelerate my research:
* Raise the amount of science funding as a percentage of GDP in all nations.
* Creating time to dedicate to life – admin-wise, health-wise, and living-wise (e.g. speeding up boring household chores)
* Stabilising geopolitics so I am not in angst all the time.
* Raise the amount of science funding as a percentage of GDP in all nations.
* Creating time to dedicate to life – admin-wise, health-wise, and living-wise (e.g. speeding up boring household chores)
* Stabilising geopolitics so I am not in angst all the time.
January 27, 2026 at 6:16 AM
Ways AI could accelerate my research:
* Raise the amount of science funding as a percentage of GDP in all nations.
* Creating time to dedicate to life – admin-wise, health-wise, and living-wise (e.g. speeding up boring household chores)
* Stabilising geopolitics so I am not in angst all the time.
* Raise the amount of science funding as a percentage of GDP in all nations.
* Creating time to dedicate to life – admin-wise, health-wise, and living-wise (e.g. speeding up boring household chores)
* Stabilising geopolitics so I am not in angst all the time.
Reposted by William Ngiam | 严祥全
Have you ever wanted to study individual differences in attention only to be frustrated by prohibitive low reliability?
If so, what a coincidence!
Let me introduce you to the first study from the newly formed Sheffield PandA lab:
Using RSVPs to measure the speed of attention: rdcu.be/e0t0A
1/
If so, what a coincidence!
Let me introduce you to the first study from the newly formed Sheffield PandA lab:
Using RSVPs to measure the speed of attention: rdcu.be/e0t0A
1/
January 26, 2026 at 12:08 PM
Have you ever wanted to study individual differences in attention only to be frustrated by prohibitive low reliability?
If so, what a coincidence!
Let me introduce you to the first study from the newly formed Sheffield PandA lab:
Using RSVPs to measure the speed of attention: rdcu.be/e0t0A
1/
If so, what a coincidence!
Let me introduce you to the first study from the newly formed Sheffield PandA lab:
Using RSVPs to measure the speed of attention: rdcu.be/e0t0A
1/
Reposted by William Ngiam | 严祥全
I just created a series of seven deep-dive videos about AI, which I've posted to youtube and now here. 😊
Targeted to laypeople, they explore how LLMs work, what they can do, and what impacts they have on learning, well-being, disinformation, the workplace, the economy, and the environment.
Targeted to laypeople, they explore how LLMs work, what they can do, and what impacts they have on learning, well-being, disinformation, the workplace, the economy, and the environment.
Part 1: How do LLMs work?
YouTube video by Andrew Perfors
www.youtube.com
January 22, 2026 at 12:45 AM
I just created a series of seven deep-dive videos about AI, which I've posted to youtube and now here. 😊
Targeted to laypeople, they explore how LLMs work, what they can do, and what impacts they have on learning, well-being, disinformation, the workplace, the economy, and the environment.
Targeted to laypeople, they explore how LLMs work, what they can do, and what impacts they have on learning, well-being, disinformation, the workplace, the economy, and the environment.
Reposted by William Ngiam | 严祥全
Excited to share Jongmin Lee’s discovery of abstract codes guiding prospective working memory!
Thread below.
doi.org/10.1523/JNEU...
Thread below.
doi.org/10.1523/JNEU...
doi.org
January 23, 2026 at 6:26 PM
Excited to share Jongmin Lee’s discovery of abstract codes guiding prospective working memory!
Thread below.
doi.org/10.1523/JNEU...
Thread below.
doi.org/10.1523/JNEU...
Reposted by William Ngiam | 严祥全
At @elife.bsky.social you can now include explainer videos with every figure. Like going to a seminar while you engage with the paper. First example here elifesciences.org/articles/106...
Click the arrows next to each figure to get a video of @mathiassablemeyer.bsky.social explaining it for you!
Click the arrows next to each figure to get a video of @mathiassablemeyer.bsky.social explaining it for you!
January 22, 2026 at 6:16 PM
At @elife.bsky.social you can now include explainer videos with every figure. Like going to a seminar while you engage with the paper. First example here elifesciences.org/articles/106...
Click the arrows next to each figure to get a video of @mathiassablemeyer.bsky.social explaining it for you!
Click the arrows next to each figure to get a video of @mathiassablemeyer.bsky.social explaining it for you!
Reposted by William Ngiam | 严祥全
Here’s a thought that might make you tilt your head in curiosity: With every movement of your eyes, head, or body, the visual input to your eyes shifts! Nevertheless, it doesn't feel like the world does suddenly tilts sideways whenever you tilt your head. How can this be? TWEEPRINT ALERT! 🚨🧵 1/n
a husky puppy is laying on the floor with its tongue out and wearing a blue collar .
ALT: a husky puppy is laying on the floor with its tongue out and wearing a blue collar .
media.tenor.com
January 21, 2026 at 12:28 PM
Here’s a thought that might make you tilt your head in curiosity: With every movement of your eyes, head, or body, the visual input to your eyes shifts! Nevertheless, it doesn't feel like the world does suddenly tilts sideways whenever you tilt your head. How can this be? TWEEPRINT ALERT! 🚨🧵 1/n
Our publishing system does not prioritise or value the careful curation of research data to be FAIR nearly enough. I have been data editing for AP&P for a year now, and it is sad to see no reward for the clearly careful organisation of data and materials vs that which is thrown on OSF with no care!
a cartoon of donald duck says " and a bah humbug " to you
ALT: a cartoon of donald duck says " and a bah humbug " to you
media.tenor.com
January 18, 2026 at 2:33 AM
Our publishing system does not prioritise or value the careful curation of research data to be FAIR nearly enough. I have been data editing for AP&P for a year now, and it is sad to see no reward for the clearly careful organisation of data and materials vs that which is thrown on OSF with no care!
Had a chuckle at this line from C. Thi Nguyen @add-hawk.bsky.social:
"After all, step counts are not the same as
health, and citation rates are not the same as wisdom".
How much freer would we be if we resisted quantification across all aspects of our life?
"After all, step counts are not the same as
health, and citation rates are not the same as wisdom".
How much freer would we be if we resisted quantification across all aspects of our life?
January 15, 2026 at 10:56 AM
Had a chuckle at this line from C. Thi Nguyen @add-hawk.bsky.social:
"After all, step counts are not the same as
health, and citation rates are not the same as wisdom".
How much freer would we be if we resisted quantification across all aspects of our life?
"After all, step counts are not the same as
health, and citation rates are not the same as wisdom".
How much freer would we be if we resisted quantification across all aspects of our life?
I've decided research is not for me...it's for everyone!
January 14, 2026 at 4:29 AM
I've decided research is not for me...it's for everyone!
This is going to take my thinking in circles to the next level.
Are we still using the #workingmemory tag? Relevant for anyone there – bring back the delayed reproduction task and the computational model wars! #teamnotpureslots #teamnotpureresourceseither
Are we still using the #workingmemory tag? Relevant for anyone there – bring back the delayed reproduction task and the computational model wars! #teamnotpureslots #teamnotpureresourceseither
I am happy to share that our preprint “𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗶𝗿𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮: 𝗔 𝗧𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵” is now out.
Huge thanks to @bayslab.org, Julie de Falco, Zahara, @cjungerius.bsky.social, @ivntmc.bsky.social, Adam, and Xiaolu for the lovely collaboration.
doi.org/10.31234/osf...
Huge thanks to @bayslab.org, Julie de Falco, Zahara, @cjungerius.bsky.social, @ivntmc.bsky.social, Adam, and Xiaolu for the lovely collaboration.
doi.org/10.31234/osf...
OSF
doi.org
January 13, 2026 at 3:28 AM
This is going to take my thinking in circles to the next level.
Are we still using the #workingmemory tag? Relevant for anyone there – bring back the delayed reproduction task and the computational model wars! #teamnotpureslots #teamnotpureresourceseither
Are we still using the #workingmemory tag? Relevant for anyone there – bring back the delayed reproduction task and the computational model wars! #teamnotpureslots #teamnotpureresourceseither
Reposted by William Ngiam | 严祥全
I am happy to share that our preprint “𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗶𝗿𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮: 𝗔 𝗧𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵” is now out.
Huge thanks to @bayslab.org, Julie de Falco, Zahara, @cjungerius.bsky.social, @ivntmc.bsky.social, Adam, and Xiaolu for the lovely collaboration.
doi.org/10.31234/osf...
Huge thanks to @bayslab.org, Julie de Falco, Zahara, @cjungerius.bsky.social, @ivntmc.bsky.social, Adam, and Xiaolu for the lovely collaboration.
doi.org/10.31234/osf...
OSF
doi.org
January 12, 2026 at 2:43 PM
I am happy to share that our preprint “𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗶𝗿𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮: 𝗔 𝗧𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵” is now out.
Huge thanks to @bayslab.org, Julie de Falco, Zahara, @cjungerius.bsky.social, @ivntmc.bsky.social, Adam, and Xiaolu for the lovely collaboration.
doi.org/10.31234/osf...
Huge thanks to @bayslab.org, Julie de Falco, Zahara, @cjungerius.bsky.social, @ivntmc.bsky.social, Adam, and Xiaolu for the lovely collaboration.
doi.org/10.31234/osf...
I am running a self-organised @carpentries.carpentries.org introduction to R workshop later this month, but suddenly getting errors with the Github Actions to build the site. Looks like the same issue in recent datacarpentry repos as well. Anyone else facing the same issue/know the fix?
January 13, 2026 at 1:46 AM
I am running a self-organised @carpentries.carpentries.org introduction to R workshop later this month, but suddenly getting errors with the Github Actions to build the site. Looks like the same issue in recent datacarpentry repos as well. Anyone else facing the same issue/know the fix?
I do my most considered thinking when I am writing. In an effort to think more, I've started a blog to write on whatever has my attention. It's a reminder to myself to keep thinking and discovering; maybe it will serve the same purpose for others to preserve their desire and time to think.
In defense of thinking
Writing to retain the practice of thought
indefenseofthinking.substack.com
January 10, 2026 at 5:39 AM
I do my most considered thinking when I am writing. In an effort to think more, I've started a blog to write on whatever has my attention. It's a reminder to myself to keep thinking and discovering; maybe it will serve the same purpose for others to preserve their desire and time to think.
Reposted by William Ngiam | 严祥全
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 William Ngiam | 严祥全
After 5 years of data collection, our WARN-D machine learning competition to forecast depression onset is now LIVE! We hope many of you will participate—we have incredibly rich data.
If you share a single thing of my lab this year, please make it this competition.
eiko-fried.com/warn-d-machi...
If you share a single thing of my lab this year, please make it this competition.
eiko-fried.com/warn-d-machi...
WARN-D machine learning competition is live » Eiko Fried
If you share one single thing of our team in 2026—on social media or per email with your colleagues—please let it be this machine learning competition. It was half a decade of work to get here, especi...
eiko-fried.com
January 7, 2026 at 7:39 PM
After 5 years of data collection, our WARN-D machine learning competition to forecast depression onset is now LIVE! We hope many of you will participate—we have incredibly rich data.
If you share a single thing of my lab this year, please make it this competition.
eiko-fried.com/warn-d-machi...
If you share a single thing of my lab this year, please make it this competition.
eiko-fried.com/warn-d-machi...
One of the best ways for early-career researchers to create community within their department and effect change towards doing open and thoughtful research is to start a ReproducibiliTea journal club. We've distilled our network's experience into a set of simple rules to follow and get started!
📢 New preprint! Ten Simple Rules for Running a ReproducibiliTea Journal Club
🔗 doi.org/10.31222/osf...
Our aim is to equip you as early career researchers with the tools needed to lead grassroots change in research culture.
#reproducibility #openresearch #openscience #metasci #academicsky
🔗 doi.org/10.31222/osf...
Our aim is to equip you as early career researchers with the tools needed to lead grassroots change in research culture.
#reproducibility #openresearch #openscience #metasci #academicsky
January 7, 2026 at 11:31 AM
One of the best ways for early-career researchers to create community within their department and effect change towards doing open and thoughtful research is to start a ReproducibiliTea journal club. We've distilled our network's experience into a set of simple rules to follow and get started!