Anastasia Christakou 💙
@christakou.bsky.social
Professor of Neuroscience 👩🎓
own views 🐙 anastasia.christakou.org
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4267-3436
children's welfare | science | 🧠 brains & their people
own views 🐙 anastasia.christakou.org
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4267-3436
children's welfare | science | 🧠 brains & their people
beside myself 😬
November 24, 2025 at 12:29 PM
beside myself 😬
Fun read; my 2p:
1. The definition of consciousness is unsatisfactory. IMHO Nagel's notion is a dead end; the critical definition is that of 'having an experience'.
2. The definition of computational functionalism does not do justice to the value of functionalism, neglecting its causal implications.
1. The definition of consciousness is unsatisfactory. IMHO Nagel's notion is a dead end; the critical definition is that of 'having an experience'.
2. The definition of computational functionalism does not do justice to the value of functionalism, neglecting its causal implications.
Happy to be on this new paper: "Identifying indicators of consciousness in AI systems" - www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti.... The paper expands on some of the methodological points made in the Butlin et al. 2023 report on AI Consciousness.
Identifying indicators of consciousness in AI systems
Rapid progress in artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities has drawn fresh attention to the prospect of consciousness in AI. There is an urgent need …
www.sciencedirect.com
November 17, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Fun read; my 2p:
1. The definition of consciousness is unsatisfactory. IMHO Nagel's notion is a dead end; the critical definition is that of 'having an experience'.
2. The definition of computational functionalism does not do justice to the value of functionalism, neglecting its causal implications.
1. The definition of consciousness is unsatisfactory. IMHO Nagel's notion is a dead end; the critical definition is that of 'having an experience'.
2. The definition of computational functionalism does not do justice to the value of functionalism, neglecting its causal implications.
This interview by @nigelwarburton.bsky.social with @keithfrankish.com on phil mind book suggestions is going round again.
Strong recommend, both for the list itself and for Keith's clarity of thinking and description.
What has been published since that could challenge these amazing books for a spot?
Strong recommend, both for the list itself and for Keith's clarity of thinking and description.
What has been published since that could challenge these amazing books for a spot?
"Philosophers of mind also think about conceptual issues. Take the question of whether we have free will. We might be able to do some relevant scientific experiments. But to answer the question we also need to understand what we mean by ‘free will’."
fivebooks.com/best-books/p...
fivebooks.com/best-books/p...
Philosophy of Mind
The best philosophy of mind books, as recommended by distinguished philosopher, Keith Frankish.
fivebooks.com
November 14, 2025 at 9:45 AM
This interview by @nigelwarburton.bsky.social with @keithfrankish.com on phil mind book suggestions is going round again.
Strong recommend, both for the list itself and for Keith's clarity of thinking and description.
What has been published since that could challenge these amazing books for a spot?
Strong recommend, both for the list itself and for Keith's clarity of thinking and description.
What has been published since that could challenge these amazing books for a spot?
I will be teaching these two posts in my scientific writing class.
Apologies, I realized I was posting like a scientist rather than a social-media influencer. What I meant to say was:
Cosmologists in SHAMBLES as statistical significance of their cherished idea tumbles from 4.2σ to a measly 3.2σ! When will science face this CRISIS? Or is it all just GROUPTHINK???
Cosmologists in SHAMBLES as statistical significance of their cherished idea tumbles from 4.2σ to a measly 3.2σ! When will science face this CRISIS? Or is it all just GROUPTHINK???
Hmm. The best evidence that dark energy is evolving rather than constant just got a little weaker.
The statistical significance of observational results don’t really have “momentum,” but we’ll have to continue to wait and see about this one.
The statistical significance of observational results don’t really have “momentum,” but we’ll have to continue to wait and see about this one.
November 12, 2025 at 2:35 PM
I will be teaching these two posts in my scientific writing class.
Well put. Useful 🧵
Noise ceilings are really useful: You can estimate the reliability of your data and get an index of how well your model can possibly perform given the noise in the data.
But, contrary to what you may think, noise ceilings do not provide an absolute index of data quality.
Let's dive into why. 🧵
But, contrary to what you may think, noise ceilings do not provide an absolute index of data quality.
Let's dive into why. 🧵
November 7, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Well put. Useful 🧵
Reposted by Anastasia Christakou 💙
Nature suggests you use their "Manuscript Adviser" bot to get advice before submitting
I uploaded the classic Watson & Crick paper about DNA structure, and the Adviser had this to say about one of the greatest paper endings of the century:
I uploaded the classic Watson & Crick paper about DNA structure, and the Adviser had this to say about one of the greatest paper endings of the century:
November 3, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Nature suggests you use their "Manuscript Adviser" bot to get advice before submitting
I uploaded the classic Watson & Crick paper about DNA structure, and the Adviser had this to say about one of the greatest paper endings of the century:
I uploaded the classic Watson & Crick paper about DNA structure, and the Adviser had this to say about one of the greatest paper endings of the century:
This is inspired!
New paper in Imaging Neuroscience by Ammar I. Marvi, Nancy G. Kanwisher, et al:
An efficient multifunction fMRI localizer for high-level visual, auditory, and cognitive regions in humans
doi.org/10.1162/IMAG...
An efficient multifunction fMRI localizer for high-level visual, auditory, and cognitive regions in humans
doi.org/10.1162/IMAG...
October 15, 2025 at 6:58 AM
This is inspired!
Psychiatry / Computational Psychiatry / Nutritional Psychiatry
October 8, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Psychiatry / Computational Psychiatry / Nutritional Psychiatry
legend
October 7, 2025 at 8:41 AM
legend
Fund #science for its own sake and the applications will follow.
The flip side of this coin is that the pursuit of quick "impact" risks allocating scarce resources to unworthy bandwagons.
So, fund (and manage, administer, review, nurture, support, study, do) #science for its own sake.
The flip side of this coin is that the pursuit of quick "impact" risks allocating scarce resources to unworthy bandwagons.
So, fund (and manage, administer, review, nurture, support, study, do) #science for its own sake.
New cures feel sudden, but the seeds were planted decades ago by basic scientists.
Which seeds will turn into cures? Unpredictable looking forward, a straight line looking back. 🧪🧬 🧵
Which seeds will turn into cures? Unpredictable looking forward, a straight line looking back. 🧪🧬 🧵
Huntington's disease successfully treated for first time
One of the most devastating diseases finally has a treatment that can slow its progression and transform lives, tearful doctors tell BBC.
www.bbc.com
September 29, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Reposted by Anastasia Christakou 💙
This is a problem.
September 26, 2025 at 5:59 AM
This is a problem.
Reposted by Anastasia Christakou 💙
Please RT
2 new positions in the lab as postdoc & PhD!
Interested in stress, pain, or reward? This project has it all!
We are a friendly but ambitious group. Oslo is a capital city on the fjord & bordered by forest, great urban & outdoors opportunities: 💃 ⛷️ 🚣 🎭 🎶
www.jobbnorge.no/en/available...
2 new positions in the lab as postdoc & PhD!
Interested in stress, pain, or reward? This project has it all!
We are a friendly but ambitious group. Oslo is a capital city on the fjord & bordered by forest, great urban & outdoors opportunities: 💃 ⛷️ 🚣 🎭 🎶
www.jobbnorge.no/en/available...
Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (286516) | University of Oslo
Job title: Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (286516), Employer: University of Oslo, Deadline: Wednesday, October 15, 2025
www.jobbnorge.no
September 24, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Please RT
2 new positions in the lab as postdoc & PhD!
Interested in stress, pain, or reward? This project has it all!
We are a friendly but ambitious group. Oslo is a capital city on the fjord & bordered by forest, great urban & outdoors opportunities: 💃 ⛷️ 🚣 🎭 🎶
www.jobbnorge.no/en/available...
2 new positions in the lab as postdoc & PhD!
Interested in stress, pain, or reward? This project has it all!
We are a friendly but ambitious group. Oslo is a capital city on the fjord & bordered by forest, great urban & outdoors opportunities: 💃 ⛷️ 🚣 🎭 🎶
www.jobbnorge.no/en/available...
You see this, post a concert pic that you took.
September 24, 2025 at 8:23 AM
You see this, post a concert pic that you took.
A Journal Club by Rodrigues and Sobrinho on our recent paper "Evidence for control of cerebral neurovascular function by circulating platelets in healthy older adults" in @jphysiol.bsky.social
physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
September 22, 2025 at 10:15 AM
A Journal Club by Rodrigues and Sobrinho on our recent paper "Evidence for control of cerebral neurovascular function by circulating platelets in healthy older adults" in @jphysiol.bsky.social
physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Anastasia Christakou 💙
Academia.edu is changing its Terms and Conditions, and they're so outrageous (AI training; signing over ownership to them etc) I closed my account today.
A thread with some practical tips if you want to delete your account (5 steps):
A thread with some practical tips if you want to delete your account (5 steps):
September 20, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Academia.edu is changing its Terms and Conditions, and they're so outrageous (AI training; signing over ownership to them etc) I closed my account today.
A thread with some practical tips if you want to delete your account (5 steps):
A thread with some practical tips if you want to delete your account (5 steps):
"renew, restore, rebuild"
www.thesun.co.uk/news/3678572...
www.thesun.co.uk/news/3678572...
UK is at crossroads - here's how we can ALL play our part to rebuild the country
1996. Wembley Stadium. I’m standing in a sea of England flags and fans, watching the Euros semi-final. As the crowd roars with one voice, it’s electric. Football’s coming home. It didn’t of course.…
www.thesun.co.uk
September 21, 2025 at 12:58 PM
"renew, restore, rebuild"
www.thesun.co.uk/news/3678572...
www.thesun.co.uk/news/3678572...
what fresh hell is this
“Too often people go to university to ‘explore research and knowledge’.”
- business secretary, Peter Kyle.
What do they want knowledge for? Heaven forbid that students go to university to learn something!
- business secretary, Peter Kyle.
What do they want knowledge for? Heaven forbid that students go to university to learn something!
British students lack ‘drive’ of their American peers, says Business Secretary | LBC
The Business Secretary has defended comments he made at a meeting with investors where he said British students lack the ‘drive’ and ‘vigour’ of their American peers.
www.lbc.co.uk
September 19, 2025 at 10:52 AM
what fresh hell is this
Reposted by Anastasia Christakou 💙
It is disconcerting that governments and organisations are unthinkingly pushing "growth" strategies centred around AI.
Who is meant to grow, and in what way?
The AI bandwagon is fuelled by a dangerous lack of understanding that looks like 'magical thinking', as @melaniemitchell.bsky.social explains.
Who is meant to grow, and in what way?
The AI bandwagon is fuelled by a dangerous lack of understanding that looks like 'magical thinking', as @melaniemitchell.bsky.social explains.
I wrote a response to Thomas Friedman's "magical thinking" on AI here: aiguide.substack.com/p/magical-th...
September 16, 2025 at 8:30 AM
It is disconcerting that governments and organisations are unthinkingly pushing "growth" strategies centred around AI.
Who is meant to grow, and in what way?
The AI bandwagon is fuelled by a dangerous lack of understanding that looks like 'magical thinking', as @melaniemitchell.bsky.social explains.
Who is meant to grow, and in what way?
The AI bandwagon is fuelled by a dangerous lack of understanding that looks like 'magical thinking', as @melaniemitchell.bsky.social explains.
Join the Charlie Waller Trust on their UK Walk for Wellbeing, taking on the South Downs Challenge on the 11th of October.
A great way to help them continue their crucial work, empowering young people to achieve and sustain better mental health.
charliewaller.org/get-involved...
A great way to help them continue their crucial work, empowering young people to achieve and sustain better mental health.
charliewaller.org/get-involved...
Walk for Wellbeing South Downs Challenge
Join fellow supporters of the Charlie Waller Trust on our UK Walk for Wellbeing, taking on the South Downs Challenge and help us continue our crucial work.
charliewaller.org
September 15, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Join the Charlie Waller Trust on their UK Walk for Wellbeing, taking on the South Downs Challenge on the 11th of October.
A great way to help them continue their crucial work, empowering young people to achieve and sustain better mental health.
charliewaller.org/get-involved...
A great way to help them continue their crucial work, empowering young people to achieve and sustain better mental health.
charliewaller.org/get-involved...
This is dense but comprehensive and interesting.
h/t @wiringthebrain.bsky.social
open.spotify.com/episode/151a...
h/t @wiringthebrain.bsky.social
open.spotify.com/episode/151a...
Karl Friston & Mark Solms: Is it Possible to Engineer Artificial Consciousness?
Spotify video
open.spotify.com
September 13, 2025 at 12:20 PM
This is dense but comprehensive and interesting.
h/t @wiringthebrain.bsky.social
open.spotify.com/episode/151a...
h/t @wiringthebrain.bsky.social
open.spotify.com/episode/151a...
Superb team effort by Greece to beat Lithuania and make it to the semifinals.
Wonderfully mature performance by omnipresent Kostas Antetokounmpo 🏀👋
Wonderfully mature performance by omnipresent Kostas Antetokounmpo 🏀👋
September 9, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Superb team effort by Greece to beat Lithuania and make it to the semifinals.
Wonderfully mature performance by omnipresent Kostas Antetokounmpo 🏀👋
Wonderfully mature performance by omnipresent Kostas Antetokounmpo 🏀👋
All model organisms should have a theme tune 🦐
Important & hilarious deconstruction of Trump & the authoritarian far right's absurdly dangerous attacks on American higher education featuring a cameo from Michael Thaddeus, acting president of @aaupcu.bsky.social.
#DefendHigherEd #Academicsky
#DefendHigherEd #Academicsky
John Oliver talks about Donald Trump’s war on higher education, the history of right-wing attacks on what universities research and teach, and how a weird little tree frog might – might! – just save us all. 👍♥️😁
#JohnOliver #Trump #HBO #BlueSky
#JohnOliver #Trump #HBO #BlueSky
September 9, 2025 at 12:14 PM
All model organisms should have a theme tune 🦐
My day is ruined after the BFF reveals he has yet to visit a website to register for the opportunity to receive a text that may unlock a slim chance to maybe buy @radiohead.bsky.social tickets it's been two hours I don't want to have to divorce him he's really nice why does everything happen to me
a drawing of a devil with a cd in the background and the word picmix at the bottom right
Alt: Just a traumatising collection of Stanley Donwood's Radiohead-adjacent minotaurs crying uncontrollably.
media.tenor.com
September 5, 2025 at 11:23 AM
My day is ruined after the BFF reveals he has yet to visit a website to register for the opportunity to receive a text that may unlock a slim chance to maybe buy @radiohead.bsky.social tickets it's been two hours I don't want to have to divorce him he's really nice why does everything happen to me
Write less, review more. 💯
Academic energy is totally misplaced.
Writing a paper should be only the end of a long, difficult journey of experimentation, failure, and peer input in all kinds of different formats, including through our own peer review of the work of others.
Academic energy is totally misplaced.
Writing a paper should be only the end of a long, difficult journey of experimentation, failure, and peer input in all kinds of different formats, including through our own peer review of the work of others.
If we spent a lower proportion of time writing papers and a higher proportion reviewing, there would be overall fewer papers, but they would reach their final form more quickly (arguably increasing quality). And if there are fewer papers, the absolute time spent reviewing might actually decrease.
September 5, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Write less, review more. 💯
Academic energy is totally misplaced.
Writing a paper should be only the end of a long, difficult journey of experimentation, failure, and peer input in all kinds of different formats, including through our own peer review of the work of others.
Academic energy is totally misplaced.
Writing a paper should be only the end of a long, difficult journey of experimentation, failure, and peer input in all kinds of different formats, including through our own peer review of the work of others.