#neural behavior science

[wayti-blog]

"I've certainly become more persuaded that there is more than just the physical reality. I do think it's quite likely that if we do survive, that there's not just one experience that everyone has; that the afterlife may be as varied as life in this world."

Jim Tucker, psychiatrist at the University of Virginia, and author of "Return to Life: Extraordinary Cases of Children who Remember Past Lives."

[jcmarchi]

For healthy hearing, timing matters

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/for-healthy-hearing-timing-matters/

For healthy hearing, timing matters

When sound waves reach the inner ear, neurons there pick up the vibrations and alert the brain. Encoded in their signals is a wealth of information that enables us to follow conversations, recognize familiar voices, appreciate music, and quickly locate a ringing phone or crying baby.

Neurons send signals by emitting spikes — brief changes in voltage that propagate along nerve fibers, also known as action potentials. Remarkably, auditory neurons can fire hundreds of spikes per second, and time their spikes with exquisite precision to match the oscillations of incoming sound waves.

With powerful new models of human hearing, scientists at MIT’s McGovern Institute for Brain Research have determined that this precise timing is vital for some of the most important ways we make sense of auditory information, including recognizing voices and localizing sounds.

The open-access findings, reported Dec. 4 in the journal Nature Communications, show how machine learning can help neuroscientists understand how the brain uses auditory information in the real world. MIT professor and McGovern investigator Josh McDermott, who led the research, explains that his team’s models better-equip researchers to study the consequences of different types of hearing impairment and devise more effective interventions.

Science of sound

The nervous system’s auditory signals are timed so precisely, researchers have long suspected that timing is important to our perception of sound. Sound waves oscillate at rates that determine their pitch: Low-pitched sounds travel in slow waves, whereas high-pitched sound waves oscillate more frequently. The auditory nerve that relays information from sound-detecting hair cells in the ear to the brain generates electrical spikes that correspond to the frequency of these oscillations. “The action potentials in an auditory nerve get fired at very particular points in time relative to the peaks in the stimulus waveform,” explains McDermott, who is also associate head of the MIT Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences.

This relationship, known as phase-locking, requires neurons to time their spikes with sub-millisecond precision. But scientists haven’t really known how informative these temporal patterns are to the brain. Beyond being scientifically intriguing, McDermott says, the question has important clinical implications: “If you want to design a prosthesis that provides electrical signals to the brain to reproduce the function of the ear, it’s arguably pretty important to know what kinds of information in the normal ear actually matter,” he says.

This has been difficult to study experimentally; animal models can’t offer much insight into how the human brain extracts structure in language or music, and the auditory nerve is inaccessible for study in humans. So McDermott and graduate student Mark Saddler PhD ’24 turned to artificial neural networks.

Artificial hearing

Neuroscientists have long used computational models to explore how sensory information might be decoded by the brain, but until recent advances in computing power and machine learning methods, these models were limited to simulating simple tasks. “One of the problems with these prior models is that they’re often way too good,” says Saddler, who is now at the Technical University of Denmark. For example, a computational model tasked with identifying the higher pitch in a pair of simple tones is likely to perform better than people who are asked to do the same thing. “This is not the kind of task that we do every day in hearing,” Saddler points out. “The brain is not optimized to solve this very artificial task.” This mismatch limited the insights that could be drawn from this prior generation of models.

To better understand the brain, Saddler and McDermott wanted to challenge a hearing model to do things that people use their hearing for in the real world, like recognizing words and voices. That meant developing an artificial neural network to simulate the parts of the brain that receive input from the ear. The network was given input from some 32,000 simulated sound-detecting sensory neurons and then optimized for various real-world tasks.

The researchers showed that their model replicated human hearing well — better than any previous model of auditory behavior, McDermott says. In one test, the artificial neural network was asked to recognize words and voices within dozens of types of background noise, from the hum of an airplane cabin to enthusiastic applause. Under every condition, the model performed very similarly to humans.

When the team degraded the timing of the spikes in the simulated ear, however, their model could no longer match humans’ ability to recognize voices or identify the locations of sounds. For example, while McDermott’s team had previously shown that people use pitch to help them identify people’s voices, the model revealed that that this ability is lost without precisely timed signals. “You need quite precise spike timing in order to both account for human behavior and to perform well on the task,” Saddler says. That suggests that the brain uses precisely timed auditory signals because they aid these practical aspects of hearing.

The team’s findings demonstrate how artificial neural networks can help neuroscientists understand how the information extracted by the ear influences our perception of the world, both when hearing is intact and when it is impaired. “The ability to link patterns of firing in the auditory nerve with behavior opens a lot of doors,” McDermott says.

“Now that we have these models that link neural responses in the ear to auditory behavior, we can ask, ‘If we simulate different types of hearing loss, what effect is that going to have on our auditory abilities?’” McDermott says. “That will help us better diagnose hearing loss, and we think there are also extensions of that to help us design better hearing aids or cochlear implants.” For example, he says, “The cochlear implant is limited in various ways — it can do some things and not others. What’s the best way to set up that cochlear implant to enable you to mediate behaviors? You can, in principle, use the models to tell you that.”

[mehmetyildizmelbourne-blog]

Brainoware: The Hybrid Neuromorphic System for a Brighter Tomorrow

A glimpse into the double-edged nature of Brain Organoid Reservoir Computing, with the pros/cons of this biological computing approach From a young age, I was captivated by the mysteries of science and the promise of technology, wondering how they could shape our understanding of the world. I was fortunate to receive STEM education early on in a specialized school, where my creativity and…

[sokolygrandaananeva]

Exploring Mind Control: Ethics and Implications

The mind is a complex and multifaceted aspect of human consciousness and cognition. It encompasses various mental processes such as thoughts, perceptions, emotions, memories, and reasoning abilities.

[theambitiouswoman]

The Neuroscience of being delusional

The human brain is not just a logic machine, it’s a belief engine. And when you choose to believe in a reality that doesn’t exist yet, you’re activating one of the most powerful forces in your biology: which is neuroplasticity

We know that your brain is constantly changing, reshaping itself based on your thoughts, feelings, experiences. This is called neuroplasticity. Every time you repeat a thought whether it’s “I’m a failure” or “I’m going to build a billion dollar company”.. your brain carves a deeper groove in that mental path

The more you believe something, the more your brain makes it true...structurally, chemically, and behaviorally

They’ll call you delusional… until it works

So when you actually believe in your big “unrealistic” dreams, you’re not just daydreaming. You’re rehearsing your future self. This is why you can't believe what you think, if is negative and vice versa being important as well

Because your brain doesn’t distinguish much between what’s real and what’s vividly imagined. This is why elite athletes use mental rehearsal, visualizing themselves winning long before they ever step on the field

When you actually imagine yourself successful, confident, loved, your nervous system reacts as if it’s already happening. These imagined scenarios begin to shape your identity and you start to believe it

This is the science behind manifestation. It is not magic. Not fantasy. It is biology

We’re wired for survival at our core. That means your brain is less concerned with whether something is logical and more concerned with whether it feels safe

That’s why big dreams feel scary. They push you out of your current comfort zone. But when you normalize those dreams, when you talk about them, think about them, surround yourself with environments where they are normal, your nervous system stops seeing them as a threat

It stops resisting and starts building

Delusional belief triggers hope, motivation and drive.. all fueled by dopamine, the neurotransmitter of desire and action. When you believe something big is possible, your dopamine rises, making you more likely to take action toward it

Love science facts!

On the flip side, when you talk yourself out of your dreams, you train your brain to stay stuck in survival mode

So start ignoring negative projections

You’re not too much. You’re just finally thinking big enough Your vision isn’t crazy, it’s brave actually and very healing And "delusional" is just what they call people who see the future before anyone else does

The internet can call it manifestation, but really its your life. if you really believe in something bigger, your brain will build it

So how long does this take?

Your brain starts changing immediately when you begin consistently focusing on a new belief or vision. Keyword here is actually believing guys and rejecting intrusive thoughts the moment you start having them. Intrusive thoughts are normal. Do not think it wont work or give up when they happen. It is about handling them on the spot

0–21 Days: Your brain starts rewiring as you introduce the new belief, but your old patterns still run strong. This is the hardest phase... like I said, resistance, doubt and "this feels fake" moments are normal

21–66 Days: Repetition begins to override old neural pathways. Your nervous system gets used to the new idea. It starts to feel less foreign and more natural

66–90 Days plus: You begin living from the new belief. Your decisions, energy and even identity start aligning with it. This is when you often see results. Not because they appeared all of a sudden, but because you’ve become the version of you who expects and creates them

[fight-nights-at-freddys]

MASTER POST OF PROSHIP RESOURCES!!! <3<3

this is just for links (bc i just have No Way of formatting this properly), so for more in-depth stuffs and credits, head to the google doc, or the carrd !! :3c

Fiction ≠ Reality

Violent media -

Does Media Violence Predict Societal Violence? It Depends on What You Look at and When

Video Game Violence Use Among “Vulnerable” Populations: The Impact of Violent Games on Delinquency and Bullying Among Children with Clinically Elevated Depression or Attention Deficit Symptoms

Extreme metal music and anger processing

On the Morality of Immoral Fiction: Reading Newgate Novels, 1830–1848

How gamers manage aggression: Situating skills in collaborative computer games

Examining desensitization using facial electromyography:Violent videogames, gender, and affective responding

'Bad' video game behavior increases players' moral sensitivity

Fiction and Morality: Investigating the Associations Between Reading Exposure, Empathy, Morality, and Moral Judgment

Comfortably Numb or Just Yet Another Movie? Media Violence Exposure Does Not Reduce Viewer Empathy for Victims of Real Violence Among Primarily Hispanic Viewers

Fantasy Crime: The Criminalisation of Fantasy Material Under Australia's Child Abuse Material Legislation

Being able to distinguish fiction from reality -

Effects of context on judgments concerning the reality status of novel entities

Children’s Causal Learning from Fiction: Assessing the Proximity Between Real and Fictional Worlds

Reality/Fiction Distinction and Fiction/Fiction Distinction during Sentence Comprehension

Reality = Relevance? Insights from Spontaneous Modulations of the Brain’s Default Network when Telling Apart Reality from Fiction

How does the brain tell the real from imagined?

Meeting George Bush versus Meeting Cinderella: The Neural Response When Telling Apart What is Real from What is Fictional in the Context of Our Reality

loli/shota/kodocon -

If I like lolicon, does it mean I’m a pedophile? A therapist’s view

Virtual Child Pornography, Human Trafficking and Japanese Law: Pop Culture, Harm and Legal Restrains

Lolicon: The Reality of ‘Virtual Child Pornography’ in Japan

Report: cartoon paedophilia harmless

‘The Lolicon Guy:’ Some Observations on Researching Unpopular Topics in Japan

Robot Ghosts And Wired Dreams Japanese Science Fiction From Origins To Anime [pg 227-228]

Australia's "child abuse material' legislation, internet regulation and the juridification of the imaginationjuridification of the imagination [pg 14-15]

Multiple Orientations as Animating Misdelivery: Theoretical Considerations on Sexuality Attracted to Nijigen (Two-Dimensional) Objects

Positive Impact on Mental Health

Art therapy -

The effectiveness of art therapy for anxiety in adults: A systematic review of randomised and non-randomised controlled trials

Efficacy of Art Therapy in Individuals With Personality Disorders Cluster B/C: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Effectiveness of Art Therapy With Adult Clients in 2018 - What Progress Has Been Made?

Benefits of Art Therapy in People Diagnosed With Personality Disorders: A Quantitative Survey

The Effectiveness of Art Therapy in the Treatment of Traumatized Adults: A Systematic Review on Art Therapy and Trauma

The clinical effectiveness and current practice of art therapy for trauma

Writing therapy -

Optimizing the perceived benefits and health outcomes of writing about traumatic life events

Expressive writing and post-traumatic stress disorder: Effects on trauma symptoms, mood states, and cortisol reactivity

Focused expressive writing as self-help for stress and trauma

Putting Stress into Words: The Impact of Writing on Physiological, Absentee, and Self-Reported Emotional Well-Being Measures

The writing cure: How expressive writing promotes health and emotional well-being

Effects of Writing About Traumatic Experiences: The Necessity for Narrative Structuring

Scriptotherapy: The effects of writing about traumatic events

Emotional and physical benefits of expressive writing

Emotional and Cognitive Processing in Sexual Assault Survivors' Narratives

Finding happiness in negative emotions: An experimental test of a novel expressive writing paradigm

An everyday activity as treatment for depression: The benefits of expressive writing for people diagnosed with major depressive disorder

Writing about emotional experiences as a therapeutic process

Effects of expressive writing on sexual dysfunction, depression, and PTSD in women with a history of childhood sexual abuse: Results from a randomized clinical trial

Written Emotional Disclosure: Testing Whether Social Disclosure Matters

Written emotional disclosure: A controlled study of the benefits of expressive writing homework in outpatient psychotherapy

Misc -

Emotional disclosure about traumas and its relation to health: Effects of previous disclosure and trauma severity

Treating complex trauma in adolescents: A phase-based integrative approach for play therapists

Emotional expression and physical health: Revising traumatic memories or fostering self-regulation?

Disclosure of Sexual Victimization: The Effects of Pennebaker's Emotional Disclosure Paradigm on Physical and Psychological Distress

Kink/Porn/Fantasies

Sexual fantasies -

A Critical Microethnographic Examination of Power Exchange, Role Idenity and Agency with Black BDSM Practitioners

Women's Rape Fantasies: An Empirical Evaluation of the Major Explanations

History, culture and practice of puppy play

What Exactly Is an Unusual Sexual Fantasy?

The Psychology of Kink: a Survey Study into the Relationships of Trauma and Attachment Style with BDSM Interests

Punishing Sexual Fantasy

Women's Erotic Rape Fantasies

Sexual Fantasy and Adult Attunement: Differentiating Preying from Playing

What Is So Appealing About Being Spanked, Flogged, Dominated, or Restrained? Answers from Practitioners of Sexual Masochism/Submission

Dark Fantasies, Part 1 - With Dr. Ian Kerner

Why Do Women Have Rape Fantasies

The 7 Most Common Sexual Fantasies and What to Do About Them

Sexual Fantasies

Pornography -

The Effects of Exposure to Virtual Child Pornography on Viewer Cognitions and Attitudes Toward Deviant Sexual Behavior

American Identities and Consumption of Japanese Homoerotica

The differentiation between consumers of hentai pornography and human pornography

Pornography Use and Holistic Sexual Functioning: A Systematic Review of Recent Research

Claiming Public Health Crisis to Regulate Sexual Outlets: A Critique of the State of Utah's Declaration on Pornography

Pornography and Sexual Dysfunction: Is There Any Relationship?

Reading and Living Yaoi: Male-Male Fantasy Narratives as Women's Sexual Subculture in Japan

Women's Consumption of Pornograpy: Pleasure, Contestation, and Empowerment

Pornography and Sexual Violence

The Sunny Side of Smut

Other -

Fantasy Sexual Material Use by People with Attractions to Children

Fictosexuality, Fictoromance, and Fictophilia: A Qualitative Study of Love and Desire for Fictional Characters

Exploring the Ownership of Child-Like Sex Dolls

Are Sex and Pornograpy Addiction Valid Disorders? Adding a Leisure Science Perspecive to the Sexological Critique

Littles: Affects and Aesthetics in Sexual Age-Play

An Exploratory Study of a New Kink Activity: "Pup Play"

Jaws Effect

The Jaws Effect: How movie narratives are used to influence policy responses to shark bites in Western Australia

The Shark Attacks That Were the Inspiration for Jaws

The Great White Hope (written by Peter Benchley, writer of Jaws)

The Jaws Myth [not a study BUT is an interesting read and provides some links to articles and studies]

Slenderman Stabbings

Out Came the Girls: Adolescent Girlhood, the Occult, and the Slender Man Phenomenon

Jury in Slender Man case finds Anissa Weier was mentally ill, will not go to prison

2nd teen in 'Slender Man' stabbing case to remain in institutional care for 40 years

Negative effects of online harassment

How stressful is online victimization? Effects of victim's personality and properties of the incident

Prevalence, Psychological Impact, and Coping of Cyberbully Victims Among College Students

Offline Consequences of Online Victimization

The Relative Importance of Online Victimization in Understanding Depression, Delinquency, and Substance Use

Internet trolling and everyday sadism: Parallel effects on pain perception and moral judgement

The MAD Model of Moral Contagion: The Role of Motivation, Attention, and Design in the Spread of Moralized Content Online

Morally Motivated Networked Harassment as Normative Reinforcement

When Online Harassment is Perceived as Justified

Violence on Reddit Support Forums Unique to r/NoFap

"It Makes Me, A Minor, Uncomfortable" Media and Morality in Anti-Shippers' Policing of Online Fandom

[princessaffirms]

HOW REAL IS reality? is reality ALWAYS SUBJECTIVE? 🫧✨

the NEUROSCIENCE of reality shifting/law of assumption

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in reality shifting/law of assumption, we often say that the 3D CIRCUMSTANCES don’t matter because reality is subjective and everyone’s reality is their own individual, unique experience of reality. but is there any scientific truth to that?

this post discusses scientific evidence that reality is EXPERIENCED, not just observed.

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🌸✨ objectivity in science vs lived reality

in research, objectivity often means getting MULTIPLE OBSERVERS to agree (ex. in inter-rater reliability). if two people observe the same behavior in an experiment and record it similarly, it’s seen as “objective.”

but that doesn’t necessarily mean we’re accessing a pure, external truth.

we’re accessing SHARED SUBJECTIVITY: perspectives that just happen to align (o’connell, 2012).

even in science, reality is INTERPRETED, never just received.

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🌸✨ the brain is WIRED for SUBJECTIVE REALITY

neuroscientist riccardo fesce (2020) argues that subjectivity isn’t ADDED later by consciousness — it’s BUILT into the way your brain processes information from the START.

emotional and motivational relevance is part of how sensory data is processed

the hippocampus contextualizes this info: where you were, how it felt, what it meant

that processed, personal experience becomes your reality

^ you can literally see this in fesce’s diagram, where DATA BECOMES personal experience through neural pathways connecting the hippocampus, limbic system, and associative cortices!

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🌸✨ subjectivity is not a flaw. it’s the FRAMEWORK!

this isn’t just one researcher’s theory. other experts agree:

• feinberg (1997) showed that internal (subjective) and external (objective) perspectives of consciousness are mutually IRREDUCIBLE.

BASICALLY: you can’t FULLY explain the inner experience just by describing brain activity.

• bajic et al. (2021) revealed how alzheimer’s patients shift into more INTERNALLY constructed realities.

BASICALLY: this means that reality is ALWAYS, in part, a mental construction, and it changes as brain states change.

take this quote for instance:

“Even though we cannot perceive reality as an objective truth, as we always make our personal version of reality … this apparent objectivity cannot be characterized as dealing with things-out-there, as independent of mental contents-in-here” (Bajic et al., 2021).”

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🌸✨ so WHAT does this MEAN for shifting + law of assumption?

it means you’re not imagining things when you say “i create my reality.”

you LITERALLY do.

you’re not being delusional, you’re being deliberate.

science BACKS UP what your soul already KNOWS:

your consciousness filters, colors, and chooses what BECOMES real.

you shift realities not by forcing the world to change, but by CHANGING how YOU contextualize, interpret, and assign meaning to it.

and that process happens neurologically and energetically (your thoughts + emotions literally carry energy!)

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🌸✨ FINAL THOUGHTS

science doesn’t cancel your power. it CONFIRMS your role as the one who chooses the lens through which YOU view your reality. neuroscience shows that your brain CONSTRUCTS your perception of reality, not reality itself. it filters what you experience based on your beliefs, focus, and assumptions.

but it’s your consciousness, your SOUL, that chooses the reality in the first place. the brain just processes the version of reality you’ve aligned yourself with. it’s not the creator, just the interpreter.

you are the operant power. you choose the lens, the identity, the timeline. your brain and body simply respond to what your awareness has already declared as TRUTH.

you are the observer, the chooser, AND the experiencer.

　 . ★⋆. ࿐࿔　✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　.ੈ✧̣̇˳·˖

🫧✨ SOURCES

• Bajic, V., Jukic, M. M., & Bajic, M. B. (2021). Alzheimer’s and consciousness: How much subjectivity is objective? Neuroscience Insights, 16, 26331055211034912. https://doi.org/10.1177/26331055211034912

• Feinberg, T. E. (1997). The irreducible perspectives of consciousness. Seminars in Neurology, 17(2), 129–137. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2008-1040917

• Fesce, R. (2020). Subjectivity as an emergent property of information processing by neuronal networks. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 14, 579000. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2020.579000

• O’Connell, M. (2012). Subjective reality, objective reality, modes of relatedness, and therapeutic action. Journal of Analytic Psychology, 45(3), 391–410. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2167-4086.2000.tb00581.x

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✨ NOTE: i recognize that not everyone reading these posts may come from a scientific background, or even desire to dive into the full technical details of the neuroscience mechanisms and topics discussed. for that reason, the content of these posts are intentionally simplified to make the core ideas more accessible, while still staying true to the scientific literature referenced.

if you’re interested in a deeper dive, i HIGHLY recommend giving the original papers a read! i always cite them at the end of each post 🫶 additionally, while i integrate scientific findings into these posts, my overall discussion remains interpretive and spiritually oriented, reflecting the bridge between neuroscience research and manifestation philosophy, as well as expressing the correlations i observed between the two.

i write about the relationship between science and manifestation with the intention of providing clarity and reassurance regarding these topics, but please remember that you do not necessarily NEED physical proof in the traditional scientific sense (experiment, statistical analysis, etc.) in order to manifest. you ARE the proof! reality is subjective, and your experience of reality is purely your own.✨

furthermore, there are many inherent limitations to science itself as a means of measurement and explanation. it cannot measure the spiritual, and it certainly cannot measure every individual’s subjective reality experience. given this, i strongly (but lovingly!) urge you to refrain from seeking a post about conventional evidence (in the scientific sense) of shifting/manifestation, because you simply won’t find it. and that’s okay! science and spirituality go hand in hand. they are two sides of the same coin that is reality.

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i hope this post brought you some insight, reassurance and clarification! 🥹✨

sending so much love and light <3

[marcusrobertobaq]

DBH androids are a result of biorobotics, ofc more to the energy management (and cosmetics) side instead of AI. Well, we'll never really know beyond they having the capability of developing themselves alone by default like an "evolution" of sorts. There's a whole mystery behind it, actually. Even in how tf Kamski came with a totally new and unnecessarily complex android design in a whole synthetic-beings mindset. He's an AI guy, after all.

Not fungi but something else.

I believe that was the original concept, but ofc maintaining the mecha aspect of things to not raise alarms in the end of the day.

Fungus robots definitely wasn’t a research project that was relevant during the development of the game, but it makes me wonder of the conceptual potential with D:BH androids being biohybrid AI.

Using fungus as substance for brain matter or for more complex processors like heat signal or other sensory input because Fungi are living systems. specifically Mycelia has the ability to sense chemical and biological signals and respond to multiple inputs, making changes in the agricultural industry using fungus to detect Ph balance in soil for row crops.

Fungi also supposedly have shown a pattern of electrical impulses, which mimic language and grammatical structures. Like literal back and forth communication, functionally similar to neurons. Seeing this revelation would make anyone want to connect it to a robot to see what it could do. & sure enough fungus can absolutely control robots, amongst other things like responding to light.

With that, intermingling fungi with biocomponents to mimic more complex environmental inputs that computers itself can’t process would make some great androids. Maybe the fungus could develop its own thought patterns and reactions to environmental stimulus instead of following the computer portion of programmed information. Mostly because the software cannot form an accurate response to emotional shocks, or to more tricky forms of communication such as social cues.

Therefore if CyberLife androids were biohybrid robots, and the deviation of their programming is as a result of fungal growth in response to stimuli…

wouldn’t that make them an organic form of intelligent life?

[bloomzone]

2025 : #25 how to be a brand new person

Imagine looking in the mirror one year from now and seeing someone completely transformed ? Not just different clothes or a new haircut, but a fundamentally evolved human being with new patterns of thinking, behaving, and engaging with the world. This comprehensive transformation is not only possible but follows predictable psychological principles that we can understand and apply systematically !! (It's easy)

Understanding the science of personal reinvention

Before we explore the practical steps, let's understand what happens in your brain during major personal transformation. Your current identity exists as a complex network of neural pathways that have been strengthened through repetition over years or decades. Every time you think a familiar thought, react in a typical way, or engage in habitual behavior, you're essentially walking down a well-worn mental path.

Think of your brain like a forest where certain trails have been walked so frequently they've become highways. ur automatic responses, emotional patterns, and behavioral tendencies represent these heavily traveled neural routes. Becoming a brand new person means consciously creating entirely new pathways while allowing the old ones to gradually fade from disuse.

This process leverages neuroplasticity, which is your brain's remarkable ability to reorganize itself throughout your entire life. Scientists have discovered that you can literally rewire your brain through conscious effort and repetition. The key insight here is that your current personality and patterns are not fixed traits but rather learned responses that can be unlearned and replaced.

Phase one: Deconstructing ur current identity

The first step in becoming brand new involves taking an honest inventory of who you currently are. This isn't about self-criticism but rather about developing awareness of the patterns that define your present existence. Most people operate on autopilot, unconsciously repeating the same thoughts, emotions, and behaviors day after day . Begin by observing urself as if you were a scientist studying an interesting subject. Notice your automatic thoughts throughout the day. What stories do you tell yourself about your capabilities, your worth, and your place in the world? Pay attention to your emotional patterns. What triggers you consistently? How do you typically respond to stress, conflict, or unexpected challenges?

Examine your daily routines and behaviors with fresh eyes. What time do you wake up and what's your first action? how do you move through your morning routine? What conversations do you have with yourself in the shower or while commuting? These seemingly minor details actually form the foundation of your current identity.Consider your relationships and social patterns. Who do you spend time with and what roles do you play in those relationships? Are you the helper, the entertainer, the problem-solver, or the listener? Notice how you present yourself differently to various people and which version feels most authentic versus most performed . this observation phase typically takes several weeks cuz you're identifying patterns that have become invisible through familiarity. keep a simple journal during this period, noting observations about your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors without trying to change them yet. Think of this as creating a baseline measurement before beginning your transformation.

Phase two: designing ur new identity

Once u understand your current patterns, you can begin consciously designing who you want to become. This requires moving beyond vague wishes like "I want to be more confident" to creating a detailed profile of your new self that feels both inspiring and achievable.

Start by envisioning your transformed self in specific situations. How does this new version of you handle a stressful work meeting? What does their morning routine look like? How do they respond when someone tries to provoke an argument? The more specific and detailed your vision, the more your brain can begin creating the neural pathways to support these new patterns. Consider the core values that will guide your new identity. Perhaps your current self prioritizes avoiding conflict, but your new self values honest communication even when it's uncomfortable. Maybe ur current self seeks approval from others, while your new self operates from internal validation and clear personal standards. Think about the energy you want to embody. Some people transform by becoming more dynamic and outgoing, while others evolve by developing quiet confidence and thoughtful presence. Neither approach is better than the other, but clarity about your desired energy helps guide all other aspects of your transformation.

Design new thought patterns that align with your evolved identity. If your current self thinks "I hope I don't mess this up," your new self might think "I'm curious to see how I'll handle this challenge." These shifts in internal dialogue create ripple effects throughout your entire experience.

Phase Three: physical and environmental transformation

Your external environment & physical presence play crucial roles in supporting or undermining your identity transformation. Think of your surroundings and appearance as constant feedback loops that either reinforce your old patterns or support your new ones.

Begin with your physical space because it influences ur thoughts and feelings more than most people realize. ur living environment should reflect and support the person you're becoming ofc rather than the person you've been. This doesn't require expensive renovations ofc but rather intentional choices about how you organize and inhabit your space. Remove items that connect u to aspects of your old identity (I do this every year it's so helpful !) that you're ready to release. This might include clothes that make you feel frumpy or unsuccessful, or decorative items that represent a version of yourself you've outgrown. Replace these with objects that inspire and remind you of your evolving identity. Consider how your new self would organize their living space. Someone transforming into a more disciplined and focused person might create clean, minimalist environments that support concentration. Someone evolving into a more creative and expressive identity might introduce vibrant colors, artistic elements, and inspirational materials !!

Your physical appearance serves as both an internal anchor for your new identity and an external signal to others about how you want to be perceived. This doesn't mean conforming to superficial standards but rather making choices that feel authentic to your evolving self. Perhaps your new identity calls for a different style of dress, a new haircut, or changes in how you carry yourself physically. Pay particular attention to your posture and movement patterns because these communicate volumes about your internal state. Someone undergoing identity transformation often discovers that changing how they move through the world actually helps shift how they feel about themselves. Walking slightly slower with better posture, making more direct eye contact, or using more deliberate gestures can create immediate shifts in both self-perception and how others respond to you.

Phase Four: cognitive and emotional reprogramming

The MOST profound aspects of becoming a brand new person involve rewiring your thinking patterns and emotional responses. This requires understanding that ur thoughts are not facts but rather mental habits that can be consciously changed through practice and repetition. Start by identifying the core thought patterns that define your current identity. Common examples include catastrophic thinking, people-pleasing tendencies, perfectionism, or chronic self-doubt. Your new identity requires replacing these automatic thoughts with patterns that serve your evolution (it's so so helpful trust me).

Work systematically on emotional regulation because your emotional patterns are deeply connected to ur sense of identity. Someone who transforms from reactive to responsive has learned to observe their emotions without being controlled by them. This doesn't mean suppressing feelings but rather developing the ability to choose your responses consciously (⁠ ⁠╹⁠▽⁠╹⁠ ⁠)

Practice what researchers call "emotional granularity" by developing a more sophisticated vocabulary for your internal states. Instead of just feeling "bad" or "stressed," learn to identify whether you're feeling overwhelmed, disappointed, frustrated, or anxious. This precision helps you respond more effectively and develops emotional intelligence.

Phase Five: Behavioral integration and skcial transformation

Your new identity must be expressed through consistent behavioral changes for the transformation to become real and lasting. This phase involves systematically replacing old behavioral patterns with new ones that align with who you're becoming.

Begin with small, manageable changes that can be implemented immediately. If your new identity involves being more disciplined, start with simple practices like making your bed every morning or preparing your clothes the night before. These seemingly minor behaviors create momentum and reinforce ur evolving self-concept !

Pay careful attention to your communication patterns because how you speak reflects and shapes your identity. Someone transforming their presence might practice speaking more slowly and deliberately, using fewer words but with greater impact. Others might work on becoming better listeners or learning to express boundaries more clearly. Consider how your new identity navigates social situations differently. Perhaps your transformed self is more selective about social commitments, choosing quality over quantity in relationships. Maybe your new identity involves being more authentic in conversations rather than performing to please others !

Expect some resistance from people in your existing social circle because your changes might challenge the dynamics they're comfortable with. Some friends or family members might unconsciously try to pull you back into familiar patterns because your transformation makes them question their own choices. Developing the skill to maintain your new identity despite social pressure is crucial for long-term success 🪄 . Practice what psychologists call "implementation intentions" by creating specific plans for how you'll behave in various situations. Instead of hoping to be more confident, decide exactly how you'll handle specific scenarios like job interviews, social gatherings, or difficult conversations. This preparation helps ur new behavioral patterns become automatic more quickly.

Phase Six: Integration and Maintenance

The final phase involves developing systems and practices that maintain your transformation over time while allowing for continued growth and adaptation.

Create daily rituals that reinforce your new identity. This might include morning visualization exercises where you mentally rehearse being your transformed self, evening reflection periods where you review how well you embodied your new patterns, or weekly planning sessions where you align your activities with your evolved values.

Develop what researchers call "identity monitoring" by regularly checking whether your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors align with the person you've chosen to become. When you notice yourself slipping into old patterns, treat this as valuable information rather than failure. These moments show you where additional work is needed and provide opportunities to strengthen your new neural pathways. Understand that setbacks are normal and expected parts of the transformation process. Your old identity patterns have been strengthened over years and won't disappear overnight. When you catch yourself thinking, feeling, or acting in familiar ways, simply acknowledge what happened and consciously redirect yourself toward your new patterns.

Understanding the timeline and realistic expectations

Research in neuroscience and psychology suggests that significant behavioral changes typically require between 66 and 254 days to become automatic, depending on the complexity of the change and individual factors. Identity transformation, being more comprehensive than single habit changes, usually unfolds over 12 to 18 months for substantial shifts.

Sooo expect the process to happen in waves rather than linear progression. You'll have periods of rapid change followed by plateaus where changes integrate and solidify. Some days you'll feel completely transformed, while others you might feel like you're back to square one. This fluctuation is normal and doesn't indicate failure.

The most important insight about becoming a brand new person is that you're not actually changing your essential self but rather removing layers of conditioning and learned patterns that may have obscured your authentic nature. True transformation feels like coming home to yourself rather than becoming someone foreign.

Your new identity should feel like an expansion of possibility rather than a constraint or performance. When the changes feel forced or unnatural, it usually means you're trying to adopt someone else's version of improvement rather than evolving into your own authentic next level.

Remember that becoming brand new is ultimately about conscious choice rather than unconscious habit. Every moment offers an opportunity to choose thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that align with who you want to be rather than who you've been. This conscious choosing, practiced consistently over time, is what creates lasting transformation and allows you to become genuinely new while remaining authentically yourself. ✒️

@bloomzone

[covid-safer-hotties]

Also preserved in our archive (daily updates)

From September but still relevant.

By Jessica wildfire

The science of not helping.

In 1913, an engineer named Max Ringelmann noticed something weird about human behavior. When you told one person to do something like pull a rope, they tried really hard. When you put them into groups, they didn't try as hard.

They slacked.

Psychologists have identified this behavior as social loafing. Sometimes they also call it diffusion of responsibility, defined as "the idea that the presence of others changes the behavior of the individual by making them feel less responsible for the consequences of their actions," leading to "moral disengagement."

A 2005 study confirmed that when you put people into teams, each person does less, with the exception of highly motivated individuals, who wind up doing most of the work. If you were ever the team leader or facilitator, you know all about social loafing.

It happens online, too.

A 2022 review on diffusion of responsibility revealed that it happens all the time, in situations ranging from donations to tipping. It even happens in online communication. If you email one person, they're more likely to respond. They also give longer, more detailed responses. If you email a bunch of people, and they see each other copied on the message, they don't respond at all or they send shorter, less helpful replies.

Groups also make riskier decisions than individuals.

A team of psychologists asked a bunch of adults to play with marbles. They put them into pairs. Each pair's job was to stop the marble from sliding down a ramp. They won points if they stopped the marble before it hit the bottom. They got more points if their partner stopped it before they did. As predicted, both players got worse over time. As the study concludes, "The co-player's presence led participants to act later, reduced their subjective sense of agency, and also attenuated the neural processing of action outcomes." Basically, it made them slower and dumber.

In 1968, two psychologists wanted to see what adults would do in an emergency when they were alone, versus when they were in a group. They started pumping fake smoke into a room while people filled out a questionnaire. When they were on their own, 75 percent of participants did something. When they were in a group, the dynamic almost completely reversed. More than 60 percent of them did nothing. They just kept working on the questionnaire.

When the researchers asked why, participants said they didn't want to look stressed or anxious. They figured if nobody else was doing anything, then there was nothing wrong. They figured they were just overreacting. They cared more about looking weird than letting the building burn down.

That's called pluralistic ignorance.

You see similar results in studies over the last several decades. On their own, people generally take more responsibility.

There's nobody else to do it.

When you put them into groups, they start acting selfish and stupid. They look to each other for validation first. If they don't get any signals to act, then they'll ignore what their own eyes are telling them. The more people you add to a situation, the more passive they become, the less likely they jump into action.

About a decade after the smoke study, another team of psychologists ran a similar experiment, but this time it was a man beating a woman in public. Participants intervened when they thought the man was a stranger. When they thought the man was her husband, they didn't do anything. That's called confusion of responsibility, when bystanders think it's not their place to step in or step up to help, or they're afraid helping will get them into trouble with some kind of authority figure.

A 2018 study looked at the brain's natural response to emergencies. They observed a significant drop in the central gyrus and the prefrontal cortex, the parts of your brain associated with helping. A person's first reaction is to preserve themselves. Their brain has to cross an empathy or compassion threshold in order to risk their own safety and security by helping someone. Basically, they have to care more about the person in danger than themselves.

A 2019 study in Aggressive Behavior found that friends and family members help each other when strangers don't. In fact, knowing the person makes you roughly 20 times more likely to help. Flip that, and you see that if someone doesn't know you, they're 20 times less likely to get involved.

Saturation also plays a role.

When you add more people to a situation, there's less for them to do. At least, that's what they usually think. If someone's already helping, then bystanders are less likely to get involved.

The gravity of an emergency also makes a difference. Basically, an emergency has to look bad enough to get someone's attention, but not so bad that it triggers their self-protection instincts.

You can see why this setup poses a problem when it comes to a crisis that falls way above or way below that threshold.

The climate crisis and the pandemicene hit us right in the middle of the bystander effect, exploiting pluralistic ignorance and diffusion of responsibility. It's exactly the kind of problem everyone wants someone else to do something about.

The super rich grasp this vulnerability, at least intuitively.

So do politicians.

They're perfectly happy to profit off our deaths and the destruction of our future while everyone stands around waiting for someone else to make the hard decisions, for someone else to make the personal sacrifices, for someone else to deal with the problem. Even worse, they use the inaction they see as an excuse for them to do nothing. After all, why should Monica give up her carbon bomb vacation when Heather is going to Italy?

As we've observed time and again, everyone reinforces each other's anxiety about looking weird if they're the only ones doing the right thing. They would rather sabotage their own health than violate social codes.

Some research has pushed back on the bystander effect, showing that people do tend to offer help even when they're in a crowd. However, the Aggressive Behavior study shows this likely happens because of accountability cues. In other words, they act because there's a camera present of some kind or some other indication that there's going to be consequences for not helping. That's why they help.

They don't want to look bad.

Here's the strangest part:

Most people know about the diffusion of social responsibility, along with terms like social loafing and pluralistic ignorance. If they don't, they've heard the story of Kitty Genovese, even if it's exaggerated. We have countless examples of societies allowing moral crime and social murder to happen right in front of them, simply because their membership in society itself encouraged their silence and complicity.

They know all this, but they still decide to stay silent and complicit when it's happening right in front of them.

Maybe psychologists should study that.

Even when people know about these psychological and sociological hangups, they still choose to dwell in denial and wishful thinking. They tell themselves it's different this time, or there's some kind of exception to excuse it. They still choose to stand around and wait for someone else to do the right thing, until it's too late. They're really good at admitting fault and promising to do better after the fact, especially when they can fall back on a diffusion of responsibility as the reason.

Then they wait for everyone to forget.

Rinse and repeat.

It's ironic that we keep talking about society and community as something that calls on us to summon our better selves and help each other, when our actions continue to prove that group behavior often leads us to making bad decisions and indulging in our worst selves.

Simply being in a community isn't enough.

You have to do something.

[puffycinnabunny]

How to cope with a bad grade (or a grade worse than your expectations)

Hello hello,

Cinna here! I am a third-year neural science major, so, needless to say, I had my share of academic failures. I am sure there are some people who managed to finish college with perfect grades, but, trust me, there aren't as many as you think. It's human to make mistakes! But it's also OK to be upset about your mistakes. Your value is not determined by your grades! Regardless, here are some tips and tricks to get things going after a big whoopsie daisy.

Give yourself some time to process: Does this mean crying? maybe. Blankly staring at a wall? Also possible. Let it sink in. This step can take a long time, don't feel guilty about the time spent. As I said, grades don't define you, and it is not the end of the world. BUT your feelings are valid! You are allowed to feel upset or even disappointed. Give yourself some time to do that but don't let your feelings about the situation define your feelings about yourself <3

Get a treat: Yeah yeah, so you messed up. But I usually allow myself some escapism before getting back on track. Watch an episode you have been waiting to watch after the exams. Get a cookie. Take a nap. Do SOMETHING that makes you secrete some serotonin.

Check your exam: Make sure to learn what you got wrong. It may feel like it is too late now, but it is NOT! Go speak to your TA or professor and learn what went wrong and why. This might be very valuable for the next exams! It also allows the teaching staff to see you are TRYING to improve. This can be a game changer for the final grade when they consider performance grades or if you ask for a recommendation letter.

Game plan: It happened. You faced it, you asked for help, and now it's time to plan how to improve. You don't have to follow each and every step but sketch out things to review and when. This will make you state your intention. Sometimes declaring you are gonna do something is more powerful than you think. It will also help you feel less overwhelmed when you are studying for the next exams.

The redemption arc: Be easy on yourself. A healthy amount of regret can push you forward, but don't let it burn you out. This is a marathon! If you are a stem student like me, chances are you have MANY midterms (too many, absolutely too many). This means you have your chance to fix this. Remember you haven't lost until you stop trying. Go ask for help from your friends. If they are at the same level of knowledge you can cross-examine the content to see if you are missing something. Trying to teach the content also helps you organize it better in your head which helps the learning process. If you are a lone wolf and don't like studying with others, try speaking to yourself aloud (it's not crazy behavior, sush). Stay hydrated and have healthy snacks around! Be consistent and hopeful. I'm sure things will go better during the next midterms. And if not, the other midterms. And if not, the other... midterms... GOd I have too many midterms...

I believe in you, buddy. You got this! Take some chubby pigeons that I found cute as a motivator (they believe in you too).

[thecaffeinatedwitch]

The Science Behind the Law of Assumption: Is It Backed by Psychology?

The Law of Assumption sounds almost magical, doesn’t it? Think it, assume it’s yours, and poof—your desires come to life. But let’s bring it down to earth for a moment: is there any real science behind this idea? Spoiler alert: yes, there is. While it’s not wrapped in cosmic glitter, psychology offers some solid evidence for how changing your assumptions can genuinely transform your reality.

So, let’s dive into the psychological nuts and bolts behind the Law of Assumption—and maybe crack a smile along the way.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): A Fancy Way of Saying “Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life”

CBT is a superstar in the psychology world. At its core, it’s based on the idea that your thoughts shape your feelings and actions. Sound familiar? It’s essentially the Law of Assumption in a lab coat.

Here’s how it works:

Negative Thought Loop: You think, “I’ll never be good at this,” which makes you feel anxious and unmotivated. Naturally, you avoid the task, and voilà—you prove your own assumption right.

Positive Thought Shift: In CBT, you challenge that belief: “What if I can do this?” That little mental shift changes your actions and eventually your results.

The Law of Assumption takes this principle a step further by saying, “Don’t just question your limiting beliefs—replace them entirely with assumptions of success.”

Example: Instead of “What if I could be confident?” assume, “I am confident.” Yes, it might feel awkward at first, but just like a new pair of shoes, it’ll feel natural the more you wear it.

The Placebo Effect: Proof That Belief Changes Reality

Doctors have known for ages that the placebo effect is real—and honestly, kind of mind-blowing. If you believe a sugar pill is medicine, your body can actually heal as if you’ve taken the real thing.

Think about that for a second. Your belief literally changes your body’s chemistry. Now apply that same concept to your life: if you assume success, love, or abundance is already yours, your brain and body start working in ways that align with that belief.

The Science-y Bit: Your brain releases neurotransmitters and hormones based on your thoughts. Assume positivity, and your brain produces feel-good chemicals like dopamine. That positivity influences your actions, which influences your outcomes. Boom—belief becomes reality.

Example: Assume you’re a charismatic speaker. Your confidence increases, and you speak with ease. People respond positively, reinforcing your assumption. Suddenly, you are that charismatic speaker.

Neuroplasticity: Your Brain, the Ultimate Shape-Shifter

Neuroplasticity is your brain’s ability to rewire itself based on repeated thoughts and experiences. It’s like Play-Doh—but, you know, way more sophisticated.

When you consistently affirm a new assumption, like “I am successful,” your brain builds neural pathways to support that belief. The more you repeat it, the stronger those pathways become, until it’s your brain’s default setting.

Think of it like this:

Repeating “I am successful” is like carving a trail in the woods.

At first, it’s slow-going, and you have to hack through some underbrush (a.k.a. your old limiting beliefs).

But the more you walk that path, the clearer and easier it gets. Eventually, it’s the brain equivalent of a six-lane highway.

Changing Beliefs = Changing Behavior = Changing Reality

Here’s where the science and the Law of Assumption truly align. When you change your internal beliefs, you naturally start to act differently. Those actions create new opportunities, relationships, and results in your life.

Example: If you assume, “I am deserving of love,” you’re more likely to set boundaries, seek healthy relationships, and radiate confidence. These behaviors attract the kind of love you’ve been looking for, and—voilà—you’ve manifested it.

But What About the Doubters?

Now, I hear you: “This sounds a bit too good to be true.” Fair enough. Change doesn’t happen overnight, and you can’t just sprinkle affirmations on your problems like fairy dust. The magic lies in consistency and persistence.

Think of it like working out: you don’t hit the gym once and wake up with six-pack abs. (If only, right?) You repeat the process until the results show. The same goes for your mindset.

So, The Law of Assumption isn’t just fluffy self-help jargon—it’s rooted in solid psychological principles like CBT, the placebo effect, and neuroplasticity. Sure, it might feel a little weird to assume you’re a millionaire when your bank account says otherwise. But science backs you up: your thoughts shape your reality, and with practice, your brain will believe what you tell it.

So, go ahead. Assume you’re living your best life. And if anyone raises an eyebrow, just smile and say, “It’s science.”

[jcmarchi]

Creating AI That Helps, Not Harms - Technology Org

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/creating-ai-that-helps-not-harms-technology-org/

Creating AI That Helps, Not Harms - Technology Org

There are plenty of reasons to love artificial intelligence (AI). It can process billions of data points in a flash, perform work in environments too dangerous for humans—like deep sea exploration or nuclear power plants—and make predictions about the weather and stock market.

David Danks is a National AI Advisory Committee member with research interests at the intersection of philosophy, cognitive science and machine learning. Illustration by Erik Jepsen/University Communications.

But what happens when helpfulness turns into harm—like autonomous vehicles that go haywire or when personal information is monitored without consent? This is one of the big questions that occupies David Danks, a professor at UC San Diego’s Halıcıoğlu Data Science Institute and Department of Philosophy. 

Danks was recently invited by the School of Arts and Humanities’ Institute for Practical Ethics to deliver a keynote address on “The Ethical and Policy Implications of Artificial Intelligence.” Using personal stories and insights garnered in part from his role as a member of the National AI Advisory Committee, Danks demystified the path to a more ethical and responsible form of AI that can benefit all.

Myth #1: AI is currently growing untamed, wild west style

Hold your horses. While it’s true that popular tools like ChatGPT have permeated certain sectors of our economy in a seemingly uncontrolled fashion, Danks explained that “there’s an enormous amount of AI governance going on.” Much of it happens behind the scenes, and plenty of work remains to be done.

He suggested visualizing it as a spectrum. On one end, there is peer pressure, a method of making decisions as a group about what’s wrong or right. On the opposite side there is regulation in the form of official rules about what can and can’t be done. For example, the Equal Opportunity Exchange Commission investigates hiring discrimination that results from using AI.

Other types of governance are happening, like targeted funding. “Federal agencies, national foundations, and private entities are using their financial might to help shape where AI goes,” explained Danks. There’s also an effort to establish a set of standards and best practices to identify and implement responsible AI globally.

“AI is having massive impacts,” said Danks. “We have AI being imposed on us, often without trying to figure out if it is the right thing for us. There is a need for governance. How can we get our AI systems from where we are now, to where we want them to be?”

Myth #2: AI should be predictable

When we think about our technological values as a society—such as safety, privacy or accountability—it’s difficult to articulate how each should function. For instance, safety as it relates to driving could be evaluated many ways, including mechanically how the vehicle is built, or behaviorally based on the person behind the wheel.

Danks believes our values need to be defined before AI can be successful. Why? Because AI is designed to continually surprise us, to present answers that we never considered, or patterns we’ve failed to see. “If we know what AI should do, why would we use it?” said Danks. “The whole point is that it can discover patterns that we don’t recognize. It can discover solutions to problems that never would have occurred to us.”

To achieve the outcomes we want, we need more experts who know how to create responsible AI. Danks explained, “There are maybe 1,000 people in the world who can build a trustworthy AI system for any purpose. The real challenge is how to enable 100,000 people to gain these skills, to democratize the knowledge of how to build these systems responsibly.”

Currently, building an ethical AI system—for example, one that prevents discrimination and keeps data protected—is not the norm; it’s an afterthought. A supplement to gain a certification. Instead of having this dichotomy, Danks argues that building responsible AI should be the only way to build AI.

“We need to invert the way we’re doing things,” he explains. “We need to normalize creating AI that respects human values. You don’t get a gold star, it’s just what you ought to be doing. This will require reshaping the social norms that we have within the computing profession.”

Myth #3: Ethical issues only arise at the initial development of an AI system

When is the right time for designers to think about ethics? According to Danks, it should be top of mind throughout the entire lifecycle. “Ethical issues arise from the very beginning—from design to development to refinement to the decision to sunset,” he said. “The decision to build an AI system in the first place is already an ethical choice.”

If ethical values are defined from the beginning based on a set of standards collectively generated, then success is inevitable, right? Not necessarily.

Danks shared the example of the Department of Defense, which has the most comprehensive set of AI principles of any U.S. government organization. These delineate what is acceptable behavior, and what is to be condemned. Many other militaries around the world have their own unique set of ethical guidelines. 

Even though each organization has their own values clearly established, the probability of aligning completely is highly unlikely. This can lead to ethical outsourcing, when one organization or agency chooses to contract with another that has fewer restrictions. “Everyone has their own ethics; we might share outputs, but not actual code or the inner workings of our systems,” said Danks. 

He continued, “We shouldn’t be able to ethically outsource—to say, ‘I’m not allowed to do that, but someone in another country can.’ We can have ethical failings despite governance systems.”

“We shouldn’t be able to ethically outsource—to say, ‘I’m not allowed to do that, but someone in another country can.’ We can have ethical failings despite governance systems.”David Danks

Interrogating breakthroughs for the common good

The technology sphere is complex and perpetually evolving, requiring constant attention from ethicists, social scientists and policymakers. To promote socially responsible science, UC San Diego’s Institute for Practical Ethics unites interdisciplinary scholars from across the university. Collectively they conduct research on the ethical considerations of breakthrough science—from gene editing to big data and climate change.

Co-directed by Associate Dean of Social Sciences John Evans and Professor of Philosophy Craig Callender, the institute hosts an annual keynote talk to highlight an expert’s research findings. Discussions have ranged from whether to resurrect the wooly mammoth and the “return of nature” for environmental conservation. Danks, who earned a doctoral degree in philosophy at UC San Diego and serves on the Institute for Practical Ethics advisory board, garnered a sold-out audience for his talk.

“The Institute for Practical Ethics annual keynote address is the primary way we can interact with the public about topics most relevant to the mission of the institute,” said Dean of the School of Arts and Humanities Cristina Della Coletta, who opened the event with Vice Chancellor Corinne Peek-Asa and John Evans.

She added, “Artificial intelligence remains at the forefront of nearly everything these days, and I’m pleased the institute is focusing once again on this subject–which has such a broad reach and, perhaps, offers some of the biggest questions to answer.”

Can AI be more trustworthy than humans? Are there certain jobs that AI should never replace? What is the role of empathy in the development of this technology? These are just a few of the questions that were raised by audience members at the keynote event. They serve as a reminder of the immediate and ongoing need of the work being done by Danks and scholars at the institute to ensure ethics remain at the forefront of all breakthroughs.

Source: UCSD

You can offer your link to a page which is relevant to the topic of this post.

[compneuropapers]

Interesting Papers for Week 3, 2025

Synaptic weight dynamics underlying memory consolidation: Implications for learning rules, circuit organization, and circuit function. Bhasin, B. J., Raymond, J. L., & Goldman, M. S. (2024). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 121(41), e2406010121.

Characterization of the temporal stability of ToM and pain functional brain networks carry distinct developmental signatures during naturalistic viewing. Bhavna, K., Ghosh, N., Banerjee, R., & Roy, D. (2024). Scientific Reports, 14, 22479.

Connectomic reconstruction predicts visual features used for navigation. Garner, D., Kind, E., Lai, J. Y. H., Nern, A., Zhao, A., Houghton, L., … Kim, S. S. (2024). Nature, 634(8032), 181–190.

Socialization causes long-lasting behavioral changes. Gil-Martí, B., Isidro-Mézcua, J., Poza-Rodriguez, A., Asti Tello, G. S., Treves, G., Turiégano, E., … Martin, F. A. (2024). Scientific Reports, 14, 22302.

Neural pathways and computations that achieve stable contrast processing tuned to natural scenes. Gür, B., Ramirez, L., Cornean, J., Thurn, F., Molina-Obando, S., Ramos-Traslosheros, G., & Silies, M. (2024). Nature Communications, 15, 8580.

Lack of optimistic bias during social evaluation learning reflects reduced positive self-beliefs in depression and social anxiety, but via distinct mechanisms. Hoffmann, J. A., Hobbs, C., Moutoussis, M., & Button, K. S. (2024). Scientific Reports, 14, 22471.

Causal involvement of dorsomedial prefrontal cortex in learning the predictability of observable actions. Kang, P., Moisa, M., Lindström, B., Soutschek, A., Ruff, C. C., & Tobler, P. N. (2024). Nature Communications, 15, 8305.

A transient high-dimensional geometry affords stable conjunctive subspaces for efficient action selection. Kikumoto, A., Bhandari, A., Shibata, K., & Badre, D. (2024). Nature Communications, 15, 8513.

Presaccadic Attention Enhances and Reshapes the Contrast Sensitivity Function Differentially around the Visual Field. Kwak, Y., Zhao, Y., Lu, Z.-L., Hanning, N. M., & Carrasco, M. (2024). eNeuro, 11(9), ENEURO.0243-24.2024.

Transformation of neural coding for vibrotactile stimuli along the ascending somatosensory pathway. Lee, K.-S., Loutit, A. J., de Thomas Wagner, D., Sanders, M., Prsa, M., & Huber, D. (2024). Neuron, 112(19), 3343-3353.e7.

Inhibitory plasticity supports replay generalization in the hippocampus. Liao, Z., Terada, S., Raikov, I. G., Hadjiabadi, D., Szoboszlay, M., Soltesz, I., & Losonczy, A. (2024). Nature Neuroscience, 27(10), 1987–1998.

Third-party punishment-like behavior in a rat model. Mikami, K., Kigami, Y., Doi, T., Choudhury, M. E., Nishikawa, Y., Takahashi, R., … Tanaka, J. (2024). Scientific Reports, 14, 22310.

The morphospace of the brain-cognition organisation. Pacella, V., Nozais, V., Talozzi, L., Abdallah, M., Wassermann, D., Forkel, S. J., & Thiebaut de Schotten, M. (2024). Nature Communications, 15, 8452.

A Drosophila computational brain model reveals sensorimotor processing. Shiu, P. K., Sterne, G. R., Spiller, N., Franconville, R., Sandoval, A., Zhou, J., … Scott, K. (2024). Nature, 634(8032), 210–219.

Decision-making shapes dynamic inter-areal communication within macaque ventral frontal cortex. Stoll, F. M., & Rudebeck, P. H. (2024). Current Biology, 34(19), 4526-4538.e5.

Intrinsic Motivation in Dynamical Control Systems. Tiomkin, S., Nemenman, I., Polani, D., & Tishby, N. (2024). PRX Life, 2(3), 033009.

Coding of self and environment by Pacinian neurons in freely moving animals. Turecek, J., & Ginty, D. D. (2024). Neuron, 112(19), 3267-3277.e6.

The role of training variability for model-based and model-free learning of an arbitrary visuomotor mapping. Velázquez-Vargas, C. A., Daw, N. D., & Taylor, J. A. (2024). PLOS Computational Biology, 20(9), e1012471.

Rejecting unfairness enhances the implicit sense of agency in the human brain. Wang, Y., & Zhou, J. (2024). Scientific Reports, 14, 22822.

Impaired motor-to-sensory transformation mediates auditory hallucinations. Yang, F., Zhu, H., Cao, X., Li, H., Fang, X., Yu, L., … Tian, X. (2024). PLOS Biology, 22(10), e3002836.

[askagamedev]

Summer 2025 Game Development Student Internship Roundup, Part 2

Internship recruiting season has begun for some large game publishers and developers. This means that a number of internship opportunities for summer 2025 have been posted and will be collecting applicants. Internships are a great way to earn some experience in a professional environment and to get mentorship from those of us in the trenches. If you’re a student and you have an interest in game development as a career, you should absolutely look into these.

This is part 2 of this year's internship roundup. [Click here for part 1].

Associate Development Manager Co-op/Internship - Summer 2025 (Sports FC QV)

Game Product Manager Intern (Summer 2025)

Music Intern

EA Sports FC Franchise Activation Intern

Associate Character Artist Intern

Client Engineer Intern

Visual Effects Co-Op

Associate Environment Artist Co-Op (Summer 2025)

Game Design Intern (Summer 2025)

Game Design Co-Op (Summer 2025)

Concept Art Intern - Summer 2025

UI Artist Intern - Summer 2025 (Apex Legends)

Assistant Development Manager Intern

Global Audit Intern

Creator Partnerships Intern - Summer 2025

Technical Environment Art Intern - Summer 2025 (Apex Legends)

Intern, FC Franchise Activation, UKI

Tech Art Intern - Summer 2025 (Apex Legends)

Software Engineer Intern

UI Artist Intern

Game Designer Intern

FC Franchise Activation Intern

Software Engineer Intern

Product UX/UI Designer

Software Engineer Intern

Enterprise, Experiences FP&A Intern

Game Designer Intern

Software Engineer Intern

Development Manager Co-Op (Summer 2025)

Software Engineer Intern

PhD Software Engineer Intern

Character Artist Intern

2D Artist Intern - Summer 2025

Software Engineer Intern (UI)

Entertainment FP&A Intern

Game Design Co-Op (Summer 2025)

Data Science Intern

Production Manager Intern

Software Engineer Intern

Channel Delivery Intern

FC Pro League Operations Intern

World Artist Intern

Experience Design Co-Op

Media and Lifecycle Planning Intern

Software Engineer Intern - Summer 2025

Software Engineer Intern - Summer 2025

Intern, FC Franchise Activation, North America

Creative Copywriter Intern

Game Design Intern

Social Community Manager Co-Op

Business Intelligence Intern

Software Engineer Intern (F1)

Total Rewards Intern - MBA level

Intern - Office Administration

Digital Communication Assistant – Internship (6 months) february/march 2025 (W/M/NB)

International Events Assistant - Stage (6 mois) Janvier 2025 (H/F/NB)

Intern Cinematic Animator

Research Internship (F/M/NB) - Neural Textures for Complex Materials - La Forge

Research Internship (F/M/NB) - Efficient Neural Representation of Large-Scale Environments - La Forge

Research Internship (F/M/NB) – High-Dimensional Inputs for RL agents in Dynamic Video Games Environments - La Forge

Research Internship (F/M/NB) – Crafting NPCs & Bots behaviors with LLM/VLM - La Forge

3D Art Intern

Gameplay Programmer Intern

Intern Game Tester

Etudes Stratégiques Marketing – Stage (6 mois) Janvier 2025 (F/H/NB)

Localization Assistant– Stage (6 mois) Avril 2025 (F/H/NB)

Fraud & Analyst Assistant - Stage (6 mois) Janvier 2025 (F/H/NB)

Payment & Analyst Assistant - Stage (6 mois) Janvier 2025 (F/H/NB)

Media Assistant – Stage (6 mois) Janvier 2025 (F/H/NB)

IT Buyer Assistant - Alternance (12 mois) Mars 2025 (H/F/NB)

Event Coordinator Assistant - Stage (6 mois) Janvier 2025 (H/F/NB)

Communication & PR Assistant - Stage (6 mois) Janvier 2025 (F/H/NB)

Brand Manager Assistant - MARKETING DAY - Stage (6 mois) Janvier 2025 (F/N/NB)

Manufacturing Planning & Products Development Assistant - Stage (6 mois) Janvier 2025 (H/F/NB)

Retail Analyst & Sales Administration Assistant - Stage (6 mois) Janvier 2025 (H/F/NB)

UI Designer Assistant - Stage (6 mois) Janvier 2025 (F/M/NB)

Esports Communication Assistant

Machine Learning Engineer Assistant – Stage (6 mois) Janvier/Mars 2025 (F/H/NB)

Social Media Assistant – Stage (6 mois) Janvier 2025 (F/H/NB)

[theambitiouswoman]

The neuroscience of the Law of Attraction 🧠✨

This is a break down of how our brain and thoughts influence our reality. While it’s not "magic", science shows how our mindset shapes our experiences.

🧠 Reticular activating system (RAS)

There is a filter in your brain called the RAS (Reticular activating system) which is a filter that focuses on what’s important to you.

If you repeatedly think about a goal or desire, the RAS makes you more aware of opportunities and information that align with it.

Example: If you focus on abundance, your brain starts spotting chances to achieve it.

🧠 Neuroplasticity

Your brain rewires itself based on repeated thoughts and behaviors. Positive affirmations and visualizations create new neural pathways, reinforcing beliefs and actions that lead to achieving your goals. Consistent focus on what you want will “train” your brain to support your desires.

🧠 Mirror neurons

Mirror neurons make you subconsciously imitate the energy and actions you observe. If you visualize success or surround yourself with positive people, your brain begins to mirror those feelings and behaviors, aligning your energy with your goals.

🧠 Dopamine motivation

Visualizing and believing in your goals triggers dopamine release, which makes you feel motivated and confident. This motivation helps you take action which is essential for the Law of Attraction to work.

🧠 Stress and fear reduction

Negative emotions like fear and doubt activate the amygdala, which puts you in a fight or flight state, which blocks your creativity and focus.

Shifting to positive thinking reduces stress, allowing your brain to operate in a state of flow, where ideas and solutions come more easily.

How it all comes together

When you focus on positive outcomes your brain:

Filters for opportunities (RAS).

Rewires to support your beliefs (neuroplasticity).

Boosts your energy and actions (dopamine).

While the Law of Attraction isn’t purely scientific, neuroscience shows how focused thoughts, emotions and your actions shape the reality you experience.