Hannah Small
@hsmall.bsky.social
5th year PhD student in Cognitive Science at Johns Hopkins, working with Leyla Isik
https://www.hannah-small.com/
https://www.hannah-small.com/
Pinned
Hannah Small
@hsmall.bsky.social
· Sep 24
Excited to share new work with @hleemasson.bsky.social , Ericka Wodka, Stewart Mostofsky and @lisik.bsky.social! We investigated how simultaneous vision and language signals are combined in the brain using naturalistic+controlled fMRI. Read the paper here: osf.io/b5p4n
1/n
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Reposted by Hannah Small
Why do AI models struggle with social scenes? 🧐 Our new preprint with @lisik.bsky.social reveals a fundamental gap: most AI vision models lack explicit 3D pose information that humans rely on for social judgments.
Read the full work: arxiv.org/abs/2511.03988
Read the full work: arxiv.org/abs/2511.03988
Simple 3D Pose Features Support Human and Machine Social Scene Understanding
Humans can quickly and effortlessly extract a variety of information about others' social interactions from visual input, ranging from visuospatial cues like whether two people are facing each other t...
arxiv.org
November 10, 2025 at 12:38 AM
Why do AI models struggle with social scenes? 🧐 Our new preprint with @lisik.bsky.social reveals a fundamental gap: most AI vision models lack explicit 3D pose information that humans rely on for social judgments.
Read the full work: arxiv.org/abs/2511.03988
Read the full work: arxiv.org/abs/2511.03988
Reposted by Hannah Small
Excited to share our work on mechanisms of naturalistic audiovisual processing in the human brain 🧠🎬!!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org
November 7, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Excited to share our work on mechanisms of naturalistic audiovisual processing in the human brain 🧠🎬!!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Hannah Small
The department of Cognitive Science @jhu.edu is seeking motivated students interested in joining our interdisciplinary PhD program! Applications due 1 Dec
Our PhD students also run an application mentoring program for prospective students. Mentoring requests due November 15.
tinyurl.com/2nrn4jf9
Our PhD students also run an application mentoring program for prospective students. Mentoring requests due November 15.
tinyurl.com/2nrn4jf9
October 30, 2025 at 7:09 PM
The department of Cognitive Science @jhu.edu is seeking motivated students interested in joining our interdisciplinary PhD program! Applications due 1 Dec
Our PhD students also run an application mentoring program for prospective students. Mentoring requests due November 15.
tinyurl.com/2nrn4jf9
Our PhD students also run an application mentoring program for prospective students. Mentoring requests due November 15.
tinyurl.com/2nrn4jf9
Reposted by Hannah Small
🚨New preprint w/ @lisik.bsky.social!
Aligning Video Models with Human Social Judgments via Behavior-Guided Fine-Tuning
We introduce a ~49k triplet social video dataset, uncover a modality gap (language > video), and close via novel behavior-guided fine-tuning.
🔗 arxiv.org/abs/2510.01502
Aligning Video Models with Human Social Judgments via Behavior-Guided Fine-Tuning
We introduce a ~49k triplet social video dataset, uncover a modality gap (language > video), and close via novel behavior-guided fine-tuning.
🔗 arxiv.org/abs/2510.01502
October 3, 2025 at 1:48 PM
🚨New preprint w/ @lisik.bsky.social!
Aligning Video Models with Human Social Judgments via Behavior-Guided Fine-Tuning
We introduce a ~49k triplet social video dataset, uncover a modality gap (language > video), and close via novel behavior-guided fine-tuning.
🔗 arxiv.org/abs/2510.01502
Aligning Video Models with Human Social Judgments via Behavior-Guided Fine-Tuning
We introduce a ~49k triplet social video dataset, uncover a modality gap (language > video), and close via novel behavior-guided fine-tuning.
🔗 arxiv.org/abs/2510.01502
Reposted by Hannah Small
🚨🚨🚨 The Subjectivity Lab is looking for a lab manager! The position is available immediately. We want someone who can help coordinate our large sample fMRI study, plus other behavioral work. Because *gestures at everything* the job was approved only now (ends in June 2026). Great opportunity! 🧵 1/4
Laboratory Technician
About the Opportunity SUMMARY The Subjectivity Lab, directed by Jorge Morales, and housed in the Department of Psychology at Northeastern University is excited to invite applications for a full-time L...
northeastern.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com
September 29, 2025 at 2:22 PM
🚨🚨🚨 The Subjectivity Lab is looking for a lab manager! The position is available immediately. We want someone who can help coordinate our large sample fMRI study, plus other behavioral work. Because *gestures at everything* the job was approved only now (ends in June 2026). Great opportunity! 🧵 1/4
Reposted by Hannah Small
My lab at USC is recruiting!
1) research coordinator: perfect for a recent graduate looking for research experience before applying to PhD programs: usccareers.usc.edu REQ20167829
2) PhD students: see FAQs on lab website dornsife.usc.edu/hklab/faq/
1) research coordinator: perfect for a recent graduate looking for research experience before applying to PhD programs: usccareers.usc.edu REQ20167829
2) PhD students: see FAQs on lab website dornsife.usc.edu/hklab/faq/
September 28, 2025 at 9:46 PM
My lab at USC is recruiting!
1) research coordinator: perfect for a recent graduate looking for research experience before applying to PhD programs: usccareers.usc.edu REQ20167829
2) PhD students: see FAQs on lab website dornsife.usc.edu/hklab/faq/
1) research coordinator: perfect for a recent graduate looking for research experience before applying to PhD programs: usccareers.usc.edu REQ20167829
2) PhD students: see FAQs on lab website dornsife.usc.edu/hklab/faq/
Excited to share new work with @hleemasson.bsky.social , Ericka Wodka, Stewart Mostofsky and @lisik.bsky.social! We investigated how simultaneous vision and language signals are combined in the brain using naturalistic+controlled fMRI. Read the paper here: osf.io/b5p4n
1/n
1/n
September 24, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Excited to share new work with @hleemasson.bsky.social , Ericka Wodka, Stewart Mostofsky and @lisik.bsky.social! We investigated how simultaneous vision and language signals are combined in the brain using naturalistic+controlled fMRI. Read the paper here: osf.io/b5p4n
1/n
1/n
Reposted by Hannah Small
What shapes the topography of high-level visual cortex?
Excited to share a new pre-print addressing this question with connectivity-constrained interactive topographic networks, titled "Retinotopic scaffolding of high-level vision", w/ Marlene Behrmann & David Plaut.
🧵 ↓ 1/n
Excited to share a new pre-print addressing this question with connectivity-constrained interactive topographic networks, titled "Retinotopic scaffolding of high-level vision", w/ Marlene Behrmann & David Plaut.
🧵 ↓ 1/n
June 16, 2025 at 3:11 PM
What shapes the topography of high-level visual cortex?
Excited to share a new pre-print addressing this question with connectivity-constrained interactive topographic networks, titled "Retinotopic scaffolding of high-level vision", w/ Marlene Behrmann & David Plaut.
🧵 ↓ 1/n
Excited to share a new pre-print addressing this question with connectivity-constrained interactive topographic networks, titled "Retinotopic scaffolding of high-level vision", w/ Marlene Behrmann & David Plaut.
🧵 ↓ 1/n
Reposted by Hannah Small
Despite everything going on, I may have funds to hire a postdoc this year 😬🤞🧑🔬 Open to a wide variety of possible projects in social and cognitive neuroscience. Get in touch if you are interested! Reposts appreciated.
May 9, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Despite everything going on, I may have funds to hire a postdoc this year 😬🤞🧑🔬 Open to a wide variety of possible projects in social and cognitive neuroscience. Get in touch if you are interested! Reposts appreciated.
Reposted by Hannah Small
📢 Excited to announce our paper at #ICLR2025: “Modeling dynamic social vision highlights gaps between deep learning and humans”! w/ @emaliemcmahon.bsky.social, Colin Conwell, Mick Bonner, @lisik.bsky.social
📆 Thur, Apr, 24: 3:00-5:30 - Poster session 2 (#64)
📄 bit.ly/4jISKES%E2%8... [1/6]
📆 Thur, Apr, 24: 3:00-5:30 - Poster session 2 (#64)
📄 bit.ly/4jISKES%E2%8... [1/6]
April 23, 2025 at 6:08 PM
📢 Excited to announce our paper at #ICLR2025: “Modeling dynamic social vision highlights gaps between deep learning and humans”! w/ @emaliemcmahon.bsky.social, Colin Conwell, Mick Bonner, @lisik.bsky.social
📆 Thur, Apr, 24: 3:00-5:30 - Poster session 2 (#64)
📄 bit.ly/4jISKES%E2%8... [1/6]
📆 Thur, Apr, 24: 3:00-5:30 - Poster session 2 (#64)
📄 bit.ly/4jISKES%E2%8... [1/6]
Reposted by Hannah Small
I am excited to share our recent preprint and the last paper of my PhD! Here, @imelizabeth.bsky.social, @lisik.bsky.social, Mick Bonner, and I investigate the spatiotemporal hierarchy of social interactions in the lateral visual stream using EEG-fMRI.
osf.io/preprints/ps...
#CogSci #EEG
osf.io/preprints/ps...
#CogSci #EEG
April 23, 2025 at 3:34 PM
I am excited to share our recent preprint and the last paper of my PhD! Here, @imelizabeth.bsky.social, @lisik.bsky.social, Mick Bonner, and I investigate the spatiotemporal hierarchy of social interactions in the lateral visual stream using EEG-fMRI.
osf.io/preprints/ps...
#CogSci #EEG
osf.io/preprints/ps...
#CogSci #EEG
Reposted by Hannah Small
This is incredibly cool: if you search for a condition that’s affected your family, the site returns stats on how much NIH has done for that disease, *and* a contact form for reaching out to tell your Members of Congress why you want to see them defend NIH.
Pass it on!
Pass it on!
April 21, 2025 at 1:06 PM
This is incredibly cool: if you search for a condition that’s affected your family, the site returns stats on how much NIH has done for that disease, *and* a contact form for reaching out to tell your Members of Congress why you want to see them defend NIH.
Pass it on!
Pass it on!
Reposted by Hannah Small
New paper! 🧠 **The cerebellar components of the human language network**
with: @hsmall.bsky.social @moshepoliak.bsky.social @gretatuckute.bsky.social @benlipkin.bsky.social @awolna.bsky.social @aniladmello.bsky.social and @evfedorenko.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
1/n 🧵
with: @hsmall.bsky.social @moshepoliak.bsky.social @gretatuckute.bsky.social @benlipkin.bsky.social @awolna.bsky.social @aniladmello.bsky.social and @evfedorenko.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
1/n 🧵
The cerebellar components of the human language network
The cerebellum's capacity for neural computation is arguably unmatched. Yet despite evidence of cerebellar contributions to cognition, including language, its precise role remains debated. Here, we sy...
www.biorxiv.org
April 21, 2025 at 3:19 PM
New paper! 🧠 **The cerebellar components of the human language network**
with: @hsmall.bsky.social @moshepoliak.bsky.social @gretatuckute.bsky.social @benlipkin.bsky.social @awolna.bsky.social @aniladmello.bsky.social and @evfedorenko.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
1/n 🧵
with: @hsmall.bsky.social @moshepoliak.bsky.social @gretatuckute.bsky.social @benlipkin.bsky.social @awolna.bsky.social @aniladmello.bsky.social and @evfedorenko.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
1/n 🧵
Reposted by Hannah Small
I’m hiring a full-time lab tech for two years starting May/June. Strong coding skills required, ML a plus. Our research on the human brain uses fMRI, ANNs, intracranial recording, and behavior. A great stepping stone to grad school. Apply here:
careers.peopleclick.com/careerscp/cl...
......
careers.peopleclick.com/careerscp/cl...
......
Technical Associate I, Kanwisher Lab
MIT - Technical Associate I, Kanwisher Lab - Cambridge MA 02139
careers.peopleclick.com
March 26, 2025 at 3:09 PM
I’m hiring a full-time lab tech for two years starting May/June. Strong coding skills required, ML a plus. Our research on the human brain uses fMRI, ANNs, intracranial recording, and behavior. A great stepping stone to grad school. Apply here:
careers.peopleclick.com/careerscp/cl...
......
careers.peopleclick.com/careerscp/cl...
......
Reposted by Hannah Small
Substantial updates to the list of cancelled grants👇
- THANK YOU to all who have contributed. Crowdsourcing restores faith in humanity.
- It's still a work in progress. You'll see more updates shortly.
- There are multiple teams & efforts engaged in tracking & advocacy. More to come soon!
- THANK YOU to all who have contributed. Crowdsourcing restores faith in humanity.
- It's still a work in progress. You'll see more updates shortly.
- There are multiple teams & efforts engaged in tracking & advocacy. More to come soon!
Rescinded NIH & NSF Grants
docs.google.com
March 18, 2025 at 4:24 AM
Substantial updates to the list of cancelled grants👇
- THANK YOU to all who have contributed. Crowdsourcing restores faith in humanity.
- It's still a work in progress. You'll see more updates shortly.
- There are multiple teams & efforts engaged in tracking & advocacy. More to come soon!
- THANK YOU to all who have contributed. Crowdsourcing restores faith in humanity.
- It's still a work in progress. You'll see more updates shortly.
- There are multiple teams & efforts engaged in tracking & advocacy. More to come soon!
Reposted by Hannah Small
As a result of Trump’s slashes to research funding, dozens of graduate programs have announced reductions and cancellations of graduate admissions slots.
If you are an impacted applicant, please fill out this survey: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
🧪🧠🧬🔬🥼👩🏼🔬🧑🔬
If you are an impacted applicant, please fill out this survey: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
🧪🧠🧬🔬🥼👩🏼🔬🧑🔬
Grad Admission Impacts Survey
It is grad admissions season and many postbacs are feeling the chilling impacts of the Trump administration's recent executive orders freezing and slashing extramural research funding. Dozens of gradu...
docs.google.com
February 24, 2025 at 3:51 AM
As a result of Trump’s slashes to research funding, dozens of graduate programs have announced reductions and cancellations of graduate admissions slots.
If you are an impacted applicant, please fill out this survey: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
🧪🧠🧬🔬🥼👩🏼🔬🧑🔬
If you are an impacted applicant, please fill out this survey: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
🧪🧠🧬🔬🥼👩🏼🔬🧑🔬
Reposted by Hannah Small
Our language neuroscience lab (evlab.mit.edu) is looking for a new lab manager/FT RA to start in the summer. Apply here: tinyurl.com/3r346k66 We'll start reviewing apps in early Mar. (Unfortunately, MIT does not sponsor visas for these positions, but OPT works.)
EvLab
Our research aims to understand how the language system works and how it fits into the broader landscape of the human mind and brain.
evlab.mit.edu
February 5, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Our language neuroscience lab (evlab.mit.edu) is looking for a new lab manager/FT RA to start in the summer. Apply here: tinyurl.com/3r346k66 We'll start reviewing apps in early Mar. (Unfortunately, MIT does not sponsor visas for these positions, but OPT works.)
Reposted by Hannah Small
Hey Bsky friends on #neuroskyence! Very excited to share our
@iclr-conf.bsky.social paper: TopoNets! High-performing vision and language models with brain-like topography! Expertly led by grad student Mayukh and Mainak! A brief thread...
@iclr-conf.bsky.social paper: TopoNets! High-performing vision and language models with brain-like topography! Expertly led by grad student Mayukh and Mainak! A brief thread...
January 30, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Hey Bsky friends on #neuroskyence! Very excited to share our
@iclr-conf.bsky.social paper: TopoNets! High-performing vision and language models with brain-like topography! Expertly led by grad student Mayukh and Mainak! A brief thread...
@iclr-conf.bsky.social paper: TopoNets! High-performing vision and language models with brain-like topography! Expertly led by grad student Mayukh and Mainak! A brief thread...
Reposted by Hannah Small
✨i'm hiring a lab manager, with a start date of ~September 2025! to express interest, please complete this google form: forms.gle/GLyAbuD779Rz...
looking for someone to join our multi-disciplinary team, using OPM, EEG, iEEG and computational techniques to study speech and language processing! 🧠
looking for someone to join our multi-disciplinary team, using OPM, EEG, iEEG and computational techniques to study speech and language processing! 🧠
Google Forms: Sign-in
Access Google Forms with a personal Google account or Google Workspace account (for business use).
forms.gle
December 13, 2024 at 1:13 AM
✨i'm hiring a lab manager, with a start date of ~September 2025! to express interest, please complete this google form: forms.gle/GLyAbuD779Rz...
looking for someone to join our multi-disciplinary team, using OPM, EEG, iEEG and computational techniques to study speech and language processing! 🧠
looking for someone to join our multi-disciplinary team, using OPM, EEG, iEEG and computational techniques to study speech and language processing! 🧠
Reposted by Hannah Small
Our paper "Relational visual representations underlie human social interaction recognition" led by @manasimalik.bsky.social is now out in Nature Communications
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
November 13, 2023 at 3:54 PM
Our paper "Relational visual representations underlie human social interaction recognition" led by @manasimalik.bsky.social is now out in Nature Communications
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Hannah Small
Our paper "Hierarchical organization of social action features in the lateral visual stream" led by @emaliemcmahon.bsky.social with Mick Bonner is now out in @currentbiology.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
November 1, 2023 at 4:55 PM
Our paper "Hierarchical organization of social action features in the lateral visual stream" led by @emaliemcmahon.bsky.social with Mick Bonner is now out in @currentbiology.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
If you are interested in PhD Application Mentoring for the JHU Cog Sci program, fill out the interest form here! forms.gle/aBuBLzSa4Qje...
October 25, 2023 at 9:47 PM
If you are interested in PhD Application Mentoring for the JHU Cog Sci program, fill out the interest form here! forms.gle/aBuBLzSa4Qje...
Reposted by Hannah Small
My recent work with @lisik.bsky.social on social touch is now published on JNeuro. We show that the brain detects the social-affective significance of observed touch at an early stage, within the time frame of feedforward visual processing through social perceptual brain regions.
Rapid processing of observed touch through social perceptual brain regions: an EEG-fMRI fusion study
Seeing social touch triggers a strong social-affective response that involves multiple brain networks, including visual, social perceptual, and somatosensory systems. Previous studies have identified ...
www.jneurosci.org
October 24, 2023 at 9:25 AM
My recent work with @lisik.bsky.social on social touch is now published on JNeuro. We show that the brain detects the social-affective significance of observed touch at an early stage, within the time frame of feedforward visual processing through social perceptual brain regions.
Reposted by Hannah Small
In our new paper out today at Trends in Cognitive Science, @lisik.bsky.social and I argue that social interaction perception is a visual process–computed by the visual system. (1/3)
tinyurl.com/nhh2dhx
#PsychSciSky #CogSci #CogPsyc #compneuro
tinyurl.com/nhh2dhx
#PsychSciSky #CogSci #CogPsyc #compneuro
October 5, 2023 at 2:00 PM
In our new paper out today at Trends in Cognitive Science, @lisik.bsky.social and I argue that social interaction perception is a visual process–computed by the visual system. (1/3)
tinyurl.com/nhh2dhx
#PsychSciSky #CogSci #CogPsyc #compneuro
tinyurl.com/nhh2dhx
#PsychSciSky #CogSci #CogPsyc #compneuro