Deon T. Benton
@deontbenton.bsky.social
Developmental cognitive scientist. Assistant Professor at Vanderbilt University. Co-host of The It's Innate! Podcast. PI of the Computational Cognitive Development Lab. Dad. Husband. Human. (he/him/his)
Pinned
Deon T. Benton
@deontbenton.bsky.social
· Nov 10
A brief bio, given that this is my permanent home.
I'm a developmental cognitive scientist and assistant prof at Vanderbilt University. I study how infants learn about causality & to evaluate others. I use experiments and computational (artificial neural networks) models to address these questions.
I'm a developmental cognitive scientist and assistant prof at Vanderbilt University. I study how infants learn about causality & to evaluate others. I use experiments and computational (artificial neural networks) models to address these questions.
Reposted by Deon T. Benton
The Office (US) characters as academics, a thread.
Creed Bratton: got a TT job by mail in 1964, without an interview. somehow hasn't retired yet. Invented some method used by the entire field. Completely nuts but still friendly
1/n
Creed Bratton: got a TT job by mail in 1964, without an interview. somehow hasn't retired yet. Invented some method used by the entire field. Completely nuts but still friendly
1/n
August 3, 2022 at 12:24 AM
The Office (US) characters as academics, a thread.
Creed Bratton: got a TT job by mail in 1964, without an interview. somehow hasn't retired yet. Invented some method used by the entire field. Completely nuts but still friendly
1/n
Creed Bratton: got a TT job by mail in 1964, without an interview. somehow hasn't retired yet. Invented some method used by the entire field. Completely nuts but still friendly
1/n
I can’t be the only advisor who hears a PhD student describe a problem that they’re stuck on and immediately wants to solve it—sometimes obsessively—even though I know they should be the ones to reach the solution.
November 22, 2025 at 1:05 AM
I can’t be the only advisor who hears a PhD student describe a problem that they’re stuck on and immediately wants to solve it—sometimes obsessively—even though I know they should be the ones to reach the solution.
Dealing with a version of this atm. Massively infuriating.
It's sad that AI conference reviewers use "incremental" as reason to reject a paper -- e.g., "the contribution of this paper is incremental; reject". Where do they think most progress in science comes from, and what eventually fuels big discoveries?
November 20, 2025 at 3:11 AM
Dealing with a version of this atm. Massively infuriating.
Reposted by Deon T. Benton
So all the suffering was for nothing. Way to go dems.
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Senate takes key vote toward ending government shutdown
The deal that split Democrats doesn’t extend expiring ACA subsidies. If a bill passes the Senate, it needs the House to approve and President Donald Trump on board.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:36 AM
So all the suffering was for nothing. Way to go dems.
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Deon T. Benton
Reposted by Deon T. Benton
They caved. With no concessions won. Quickly and quietly. On a Sunday. With a plan as to which less vulnerable senators would take the vote — less vulnerable meaning not up for reelection next year for many of them.
Depressing. How do they expect to keep their base engaged?
Depressing. How do they expect to keep their base engaged?
After election wins this week.
After everyone understanding that Trump and republicans are responsible for this mess.
After the cruelty of starving children and not paying people while have a f—ing Gatsby party.
The democrats may cave and blow up their own base. Moderates need the base to win.
After everyone understanding that Trump and republicans are responsible for this mess.
After the cruelty of starving children and not paying people while have a f—ing Gatsby party.
The democrats may cave and blow up their own base. Moderates need the base to win.
November 10, 2025 at 3:55 AM
They caved. With no concessions won. Quickly and quietly. On a Sunday. With a plan as to which less vulnerable senators would take the vote — less vulnerable meaning not up for reelection next year for many of them.
Depressing. How do they expect to keep their base engaged?
Depressing. How do they expect to keep their base engaged?
They're banking on folks forgetting by the time they're up for reelection. Cynical and cruel.
so currently defectors are:
Kaine (2030)
Shaheen (Retiring)
Hasan (2028)
Fetterman (2028)
Durbin (Retiring)
CCM (2028)
Rosen (2030)
King (2030)
Kaine (2030)
Shaheen (Retiring)
Hasan (2028)
Fetterman (2028)
Durbin (Retiring)
CCM (2028)
Rosen (2030)
King (2030)
November 10, 2025 at 3:53 AM
They're banking on folks forgetting by the time they're up for reelection. Cynical and cruel.
Reposted by Deon T. Benton
Been reading "What is Innateness?" by Paul Griffiths (2002) philpapers.org/rec/EGRWII in which he offers this very sound advice:
November 2, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Been reading "What is Innateness?" by Paul Griffiths (2002) philpapers.org/rec/EGRWII in which he offers this very sound advice:
Reposted by Deon T. Benton
"Vanderbilt is failing in its moral responsibility to push back against rising authoritarianism and political coercion."
My effort to convince Vanderbilt (and all universities) to take a stand for the rule of law, the Constitution, and our democracy.
www.tennessean.com/story/opinio...
My effort to convince Vanderbilt (and all universities) to take a stand for the rule of law, the Constitution, and our democracy.
www.tennessean.com/story/opinio...
Here's why Vanderbilt's response to the Trump higher ed 'compact' is not enough | Opinion
With the deadline looming for colleges to sign Trump's "compact," Vanderbilt must resist, says one university professor.
www.tennessean.com
October 24, 2025 at 12:32 PM
"Vanderbilt is failing in its moral responsibility to push back against rising authoritarianism and political coercion."
My effort to convince Vanderbilt (and all universities) to take a stand for the rule of law, the Constitution, and our democracy.
www.tennessean.com/story/opinio...
My effort to convince Vanderbilt (and all universities) to take a stand for the rule of law, the Constitution, and our democracy.
www.tennessean.com/story/opinio...
Reposted by Deon T. Benton
We have reached the point where the *American Bar Association* cannot find attorneys willing to represent them in litigation against the Trump administration.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
October 26, 2025 at 8:16 PM
We have reached the point where the *American Bar Association* cannot find attorneys willing to represent them in litigation against the Trump administration.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Seems problematic, particularly for junior faculty.
This is such a horrifically bad idea that I don't even know where to begin.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Oh wait, yes I do. I wrote a whole article about it last year: www.thetransmitter.org/publishing/a...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Oh wait, yes I do. I wrote a whole article about it last year: www.thetransmitter.org/publishing/a...
Google Scholar tool gives extra credit to first and last authors
Researchers welcome the initiative, but say it doesn’t go far enough to capture the nuance of researcher productivity and impact.
www.nature.com
October 26, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Seems problematic, particularly for junior faculty.
Reposted by Deon T. Benton
All the more reason for universities to stand strong - the public recognizes this is a rotten deal
My message to Vanderbilt and all univs - "it is essential to reject the entire idea of trading away institutional, faculty and student freedoms for government benefits"
bsky.app/profile/lkfa...
My message to Vanderbilt and all univs - "it is essential to reject the entire idea of trading away institutional, faculty and student freedoms for government benefits"
bsky.app/profile/lkfa...
"the results show that most Americans are not buying the White House’s arguments for the compact’s measures, said [Baker]...The compact has been presented as a tool to promote [affordability and merit]...but it’s really about censoring institutions and faculty."
www.chronicle.com/article/amer...
www.chronicle.com/article/amer...
Americans Think Trump Is Overreaching With His Higher-Ed Compact
Most don’t want the federal government setting colleges’ policies, a new Quinnipiac poll reveals.
www.chronicle.com
October 25, 2025 at 4:01 PM
All the more reason for universities to stand strong - the public recognizes this is a rotten deal
My message to Vanderbilt and all univs - "it is essential to reject the entire idea of trading away institutional, faculty and student freedoms for government benefits"
bsky.app/profile/lkfa...
My message to Vanderbilt and all univs - "it is essential to reject the entire idea of trading away institutional, faculty and student freedoms for government benefits"
bsky.app/profile/lkfa...
My brilliant colleague at it again!
"Vanderbilt is failing in its moral responsibility to push back against rising authoritarianism and political coercion."
My effort to convince Vanderbilt (and all universities) to take a stand for the rule of law, the Constitution, and our democracy.
www.tennessean.com/story/opinio...
My effort to convince Vanderbilt (and all universities) to take a stand for the rule of law, the Constitution, and our democracy.
www.tennessean.com/story/opinio...
Here's why Vanderbilt's response to the Trump higher ed 'compact' is not enough | Opinion
With the deadline looming for colleges to sign Trump's "compact," Vanderbilt must resist, says one university professor.
www.tennessean.com
October 26, 2025 at 2:38 AM
My brilliant colleague at it again!
Reposted by Deon T. Benton
New from me and @brendannyhan.bsky.social
Why Trump's "Compact for Academic Excellence" is a devil's bargain and should be rejected in all forms
www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...
Why Trump's "Compact for Academic Excellence" is a devil's bargain and should be rejected in all forms
www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...
Trump sent a 'compact' to our universities. They should reject this devil's bargain.
Any institution that yields to these broad and intrusive demands would forever be subservient to the whims of the government.
www.msnbc.com
October 7, 2025 at 1:22 PM
New from me and @brendannyhan.bsky.social
Why Trump's "Compact for Academic Excellence" is a devil's bargain and should be rejected in all forms
www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...
Why Trump's "Compact for Academic Excellence" is a devil's bargain and should be rejected in all forms
www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...
Reposted by Deon T. Benton
Out now - National Academies consensus report on Understanding and Addressing Misinformation About Science 🧪
It was a privilege to serve as one of the 15 committee members from a wide range of scientific disciplines who put this report together. Quick 🧵1/
www.nationalacademies.org/our-work/und...
It was a privilege to serve as one of the 15 committee members from a wide range of scientific disciplines who put this report together. Quick 🧵1/
www.nationalacademies.org/our-work/und...
December 19, 2024 at 6:20 PM
Out now - National Academies consensus report on Understanding and Addressing Misinformation About Science 🧪
It was a privilege to serve as one of the 15 committee members from a wide range of scientific disciplines who put this report together. Quick 🧵1/
www.nationalacademies.org/our-work/und...
It was a privilege to serve as one of the 15 committee members from a wide range of scientific disciplines who put this report together. Quick 🧵1/
www.nationalacademies.org/our-work/und...
Looks interesting. Can't wait to dig in.
Ever wonder how habituation works? Here's our attempt to understand:
A stimulus-computable rational model of visual habituation in infants and adults doi.org/10.7554/eLif...
This is the thesis of two wonderful students: @anjiecao.bsky.social @galraz.bsky.social, w/ @rebeccasaxe.bsky.social
A stimulus-computable rational model of visual habituation in infants and adults doi.org/10.7554/eLif...
This is the thesis of two wonderful students: @anjiecao.bsky.social @galraz.bsky.social, w/ @rebeccasaxe.bsky.social
September 30, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Looks interesting. Can't wait to dig in.
Reposted by Deon T. Benton
The Democratic Party leadership is so woefully unprepared for the current moment that it appears they are deaf and blind to what is happening around them.
Government funding is the one card congressional Democrats have to play, and one they could and should use to push back against Trump's authoritarianism.
What's their big demand?
RFK Jr's resignation? Reforms in ICE? Stand down of National Guard?
NOPE.
"Obamacare enhanced premium tax credits"
What's their big demand?
RFK Jr's resignation? Reforms in ICE? Stand down of National Guard?
NOPE.
"Obamacare enhanced premium tax credits"
September 17, 2025 at 12:13 PM
The Democratic Party leadership is so woefully unprepared for the current moment that it appears they are deaf and blind to what is happening around them.
Reposted by Deon T. Benton
This week, @anniewertz.bsky.social talks about her ground-breaking work exploring what infants know, and come prepared to learn, about 🌱plants🌿! (Annie gets credit for all plant-based puns in this episode).
youtu.be/bMbDieccEtc
www.podbean.com/eas/pb-67k8k...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
youtu.be/bMbDieccEtc
www.podbean.com/eas/pb-67k8k...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
Plants, Infants, and the Evolution of Social Learning with Annie Wertz
YouTube video by Evolutionary Psychology (The Podcast)
youtu.be
August 26, 2025 at 12:21 PM
This week, @anniewertz.bsky.social talks about her ground-breaking work exploring what infants know, and come prepared to learn, about 🌱plants🌿! (Annie gets credit for all plant-based puns in this episode).
youtu.be/bMbDieccEtc
www.podbean.com/eas/pb-67k8k...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
youtu.be/bMbDieccEtc
www.podbean.com/eas/pb-67k8k...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
precisely. I couldn't be more disappointed in Hakeem
Why is Jeffries out here telling people that Trump is unpopular (which, duh) when he could be helping the American people understand this moment by eloquently denouncing the crass and disgusting performative fascism that is making Trump so unpopular? Show some disgust, dude!
Jeffries on Trump planning a military crackdown in Chicago: "We should continue to support local law enforcement and not simply allow Donald Trump to play games with the lives of the American people as part of his effort to manufacture a crisis and create a distraction because he's deeply unpopular"
August 24, 2025 at 6:53 PM
precisely. I couldn't be more disappointed in Hakeem
Reposted by Deon T. Benton
It scares me that we have citizens that all you have to do is give them a technical term like posse comitatus, and they’ll go along with anything, no questions asked. A country of dipshits.
August 20, 2025 at 8:49 PM
It scares me that we have citizens that all you have to do is give them a technical term like posse comitatus, and they’ll go along with anything, no questions asked. A country of dipshits.
despite being unrelated to my own work, i stumbled on this absolutely fantastic and fascinating talk looking at how different types of learning (e.g., social learning and individuals learning) might evolve*
*if i were a nativist, this is absolutely the route I'd go
youtu.be/phF3qiX8hkY?...
*if i were a nativist, this is absolutely the route I'd go
youtu.be/phF3qiX8hkY?...
"A neural network model for the evolution of reconstructive social learning" by Jacob Chisausky
YouTube video by Michael Levin's Academic Content
youtu.be
August 16, 2025 at 9:28 PM
despite being unrelated to my own work, i stumbled on this absolutely fantastic and fascinating talk looking at how different types of learning (e.g., social learning and individuals learning) might evolve*
*if i were a nativist, this is absolutely the route I'd go
youtu.be/phF3qiX8hkY?...
*if i were a nativist, this is absolutely the route I'd go
youtu.be/phF3qiX8hkY?...
Reposted by Deon T. Benton
The cost of remembering: engram competition as a flexible mechanism of forgetting.
Our new perspective piece in @cp-trendsneuro.bsky.social, lead by Ryan Lab alumni, Livia Autore. Also with Michael Drew from @utaustin.bsky.social
Trends in Neurosciences www.cell.com/trends/neuro...
Our new perspective piece in @cp-trendsneuro.bsky.social, lead by Ryan Lab alumni, Livia Autore. Also with Michael Drew from @utaustin.bsky.social
Trends in Neurosciences www.cell.com/trends/neuro...
The cost of remembering: engram competition as a flexible mechanism of forgetting
The retention and use of long-term memories is crucial for adaptive behavior. While
stable memories help organisms anticipate outcomes, they may become maladaptive if
not updated to reflect new condit...
www.cell.com
August 15, 2025 at 8:59 AM
The cost of remembering: engram competition as a flexible mechanism of forgetting.
Our new perspective piece in @cp-trendsneuro.bsky.social, lead by Ryan Lab alumni, Livia Autore. Also with Michael Drew from @utaustin.bsky.social
Trends in Neurosciences www.cell.com/trends/neuro...
Our new perspective piece in @cp-trendsneuro.bsky.social, lead by Ryan Lab alumni, Livia Autore. Also with Michael Drew from @utaustin.bsky.social
Trends in Neurosciences www.cell.com/trends/neuro...
would be nice if Google Scholar's handy reference generator thing included DOIs
k have a nice day
k have a nice day
August 15, 2025 at 3:11 PM
would be nice if Google Scholar's handy reference generator thing included DOIs
k have a nice day
k have a nice day
anyone else’s mind always three or four sentences ahead such that you find yourself working on the current sentence but also writing fragments of those later ones so you don’t lose the thought? just me? ok.
August 14, 2025 at 5:41 PM
anyone else’s mind always three or four sentences ahead such that you find yourself working on the current sentence but also writing fragments of those later ones so you don’t lose the thought? just me? ok.
excited to be chatting with a fellow CMU'er
We're ecstatic to be talking today with Dr. Vlad Ayzenberg (@vayzenb.bsky.social) about his recent paper in Science Advances exploring the mechanisms that underpin object recognition in young children and adults. Stay tuned!
August 13, 2025 at 2:09 PM
excited to be chatting with a fellow CMU'er