Joe Barnby
@joebarnby.com
snr. lecturer/assoc. prof. @ KCL & CAIML
PI @ socrlab.net
founder @ Hypatia
FENS-Kavli scholar
cognition & mental health in biological 🧠 and artificial 🤖 intelligence
Between London 🇬🇧 & Perth/Freo 🇦🇺
PI @ socrlab.net
founder @ Hypatia
FENS-Kavli scholar
cognition & mental health in biological 🧠 and artificial 🤖 intelligence
Between London 🇬🇧 & Perth/Freo 🇦🇺
Reposted by Joe Barnby
💭 In the first interview for Inside Discovery, @joebarnby.com discusses how deeply human questions about our social world can be explored through elegant, technical science.
Read the full conversation: buff.ly/CKx4k5c
Read the full conversation: buff.ly/CKx4k5c
November 11, 2025 at 4:11 PM
💭 In the first interview for Inside Discovery, @joebarnby.com discusses how deeply human questions about our social world can be explored through elegant, technical science.
Read the full conversation: buff.ly/CKx4k5c
Read the full conversation: buff.ly/CKx4k5c
Excited to receive 57 paper submissions for our 2026 workshop 🙌 Stoked about the interest in this space!
We also have 4 free student regos to award; tough choices ahead with many worthy authors
@reuth-mirsky.bsky.social @nitalon.bsky.social @stefansarkadi.bsky.social
tom4ai.github.io
We also have 4 free student regos to award; tough choices ahead with many worthy authors
@reuth-mirsky.bsky.social @nitalon.bsky.social @stefansarkadi.bsky.social
tom4ai.github.io
ToM4AI initiative
tom4ai.github.io
November 7, 2025 at 5:47 AM
Excited to receive 57 paper submissions for our 2026 workshop 🙌 Stoked about the interest in this space!
We also have 4 free student regos to award; tough choices ahead with many worthy authors
@reuth-mirsky.bsky.social @nitalon.bsky.social @stefansarkadi.bsky.social
tom4ai.github.io
We also have 4 free student regos to award; tough choices ahead with many worthy authors
@reuth-mirsky.bsky.social @nitalon.bsky.social @stefansarkadi.bsky.social
tom4ai.github.io
Reposted by Joe Barnby
I am pleased to announce that @davidschultner.bsky.social will be our next guest as part of the SoCR Lab's Invited Talk Series. Dr. Schultner will present recent work that offers evidence for a parsimonious and mechanistic explanation of human social learning strategies via reward learning!
November 5, 2025 at 3:42 PM
I am pleased to announce that @davidschultner.bsky.social will be our next guest as part of the SoCR Lab's Invited Talk Series. Dr. Schultner will present recent work that offers evidence for a parsimonious and mechanistic explanation of human social learning strategies via reward learning!
Just one more week to get submissions in for this!
Join us in Singapore to discuss the intersection of cog sci, comp. sci, psychiatry, and philosophy to understand Theory of Mind 🧠
DM me for informal qs 📜
@stefansarkadi.bsky.social @nitalon.bsky.social @reuth-mirsky.bsky.social
Join us in Singapore to discuss the intersection of cog sci, comp. sci, psychiatry, and philosophy to understand Theory of Mind 🧠
DM me for informal qs 📜
@stefansarkadi.bsky.social @nitalon.bsky.social @reuth-mirsky.bsky.social
🤖After a fantastic debut in 2025, the Theory of Mind in AI workshop at AAAI is back for 2026!
We invite submissions on ToM in artificial & biological intelligence—across comp sci, cog sci, comp psych, psychiatry & more.
CFP 👉 tom4ai.github.io/AAAI2026/cal...
2025 procs 👉 arxiv.org/abs/2505.03770
We invite submissions on ToM in artificial & biological intelligence—across comp sci, cog sci, comp psych, psychiatry & more.
CFP 👉 tom4ai.github.io/AAAI2026/cal...
2025 procs 👉 arxiv.org/abs/2505.03770
Call for Papers - ToM4AI Workshop@AAAI 2026
tom4ai.github.io
October 16, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Just one more week to get submissions in for this!
Join us in Singapore to discuss the intersection of cog sci, comp. sci, psychiatry, and philosophy to understand Theory of Mind 🧠
DM me for informal qs 📜
@stefansarkadi.bsky.social @nitalon.bsky.social @reuth-mirsky.bsky.social
Join us in Singapore to discuss the intersection of cog sci, comp. sci, psychiatry, and philosophy to understand Theory of Mind 🧠
DM me for informal qs 📜
@stefansarkadi.bsky.social @nitalon.bsky.social @reuth-mirsky.bsky.social
Reposted by Joe Barnby
1/6 Excited to see our NMH paper featured here for #WorldMentalHealthDay! rdcu.be/dYl7T
Many psychiatric symptoms are inherently social. @xiaosigu.bsky.social, @joebarnby.com, & I call for cognitive models that reflect processes most relevant to our questions, esp. for those about social symptoms🧵
Many psychiatric symptoms are inherently social. @xiaosigu.bsky.social, @joebarnby.com, & I call for cognitive models that reflect processes most relevant to our questions, esp. for those about social symptoms🧵
🚨To celebrate #WorldMentalHealthDay, our October issue includes a Focus that examines the advances in computational psychiatry and the challenges of developing computational models to address mental health disorders. #mentalhealthresearch #Psychiatry
➡️ nature.com/collections/...
🧵(1/8)
➡️ nature.com/collections/...
🧵(1/8)
October 13, 2025 at 9:09 PM
1/6 Excited to see our NMH paper featured here for #WorldMentalHealthDay! rdcu.be/dYl7T
Many psychiatric symptoms are inherently social. @xiaosigu.bsky.social, @joebarnby.com, & I call for cognitive models that reflect processes most relevant to our questions, esp. for those about social symptoms🧵
Many psychiatric symptoms are inherently social. @xiaosigu.bsky.social, @joebarnby.com, & I call for cognitive models that reflect processes most relevant to our questions, esp. for those about social symptoms🧵
Just one day left to apply to this role! ⏱️
Come work with us developing computational models to pick apart the mechanisms underlying social cognition and threat using THC 💊 neuroimaging 🧠 and interactive behavioural paradigms 👥
Apply here -> lnkd.in/eCMy9Jf5
Come work with us developing computational models to pick apart the mechanisms underlying social cognition and threat using THC 💊 neuroimaging 🧠 and interactive behavioural paradigms 👥
Apply here -> lnkd.in/eCMy9Jf5
🧠 We're hiring a computational postdoc!
3+ years with me & @mitulamehta.bsky.social on @wellcometrust.bsky.social funded social cognition/paranoia research at the IoPPN.
Lead & develop computational work, collaborate with experimentalists on psychosis/THC data.
DM for details! lnkd.in/eCMy9Jf5
3+ years with me & @mitulamehta.bsky.social on @wellcometrust.bsky.social funded social cognition/paranoia research at the IoPPN.
Lead & develop computational work, collaborate with experimentalists on psychosis/THC data.
DM for details! lnkd.in/eCMy9Jf5
September 30, 2025 at 5:37 AM
Just one day left to apply to this role! ⏱️
Come work with us developing computational models to pick apart the mechanisms underlying social cognition and threat using THC 💊 neuroimaging 🧠 and interactive behavioural paradigms 👥
Apply here -> lnkd.in/eCMy9Jf5
Come work with us developing computational models to pick apart the mechanisms underlying social cognition and threat using THC 💊 neuroimaging 🧠 and interactive behavioural paradigms 👥
Apply here -> lnkd.in/eCMy9Jf5
Reposted by Joe Barnby
The #FKNE Leadership Training Course for the Starting PI is open! Don't miss the opportunity to enhance your abilities and learn to tackle challenging moments as an early group leader! Application deadline: 15 Oct. 2025
fenskavlinetwork.org/fkne-leaders...
@fens.org
fenskavlinetwork.org/fkne-leaders...
@fens.org
September 18, 2025 at 1:08 PM
The #FKNE Leadership Training Course for the Starting PI is open! Don't miss the opportunity to enhance your abilities and learn to tackle challenging moments as an early group leader! Application deadline: 15 Oct. 2025
fenskavlinetwork.org/fkne-leaders...
@fens.org
fenskavlinetwork.org/fkne-leaders...
@fens.org
Reposted by Joe Barnby
Next week, we have the distinct pleasure of (e-)hosting the fantastic @hayleydorfman.bsky.social at the SoCR Lab's Invited Talk Series. Dr Dorfman will presenting some of her recent work on agency-modulated reinforcement learning 🧵👇
September 11, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Next week, we have the distinct pleasure of (e-)hosting the fantastic @hayleydorfman.bsky.social at the SoCR Lab's Invited Talk Series. Dr Dorfman will presenting some of her recent work on agency-modulated reinforcement learning 🧵👇
🤖After a fantastic debut in 2025, the Theory of Mind in AI workshop at AAAI is back for 2026!
We invite submissions on ToM in artificial & biological intelligence—across comp sci, cog sci, comp psych, psychiatry & more.
CFP 👉 tom4ai.github.io/AAAI2026/cal...
2025 procs 👉 arxiv.org/abs/2505.03770
We invite submissions on ToM in artificial & biological intelligence—across comp sci, cog sci, comp psych, psychiatry & more.
CFP 👉 tom4ai.github.io/AAAI2026/cal...
2025 procs 👉 arxiv.org/abs/2505.03770
Call for Papers - ToM4AI Workshop@AAAI 2026
tom4ai.github.io
September 10, 2025 at 11:35 AM
🤖After a fantastic debut in 2025, the Theory of Mind in AI workshop at AAAI is back for 2026!
We invite submissions on ToM in artificial & biological intelligence—across comp sci, cog sci, comp psych, psychiatry & more.
CFP 👉 tom4ai.github.io/AAAI2026/cal...
2025 procs 👉 arxiv.org/abs/2505.03770
We invite submissions on ToM in artificial & biological intelligence—across comp sci, cog sci, comp psych, psychiatry & more.
CFP 👉 tom4ai.github.io/AAAI2026/cal...
2025 procs 👉 arxiv.org/abs/2505.03770
📖 Our letter of reply to 'pseudosocial' cognition is now out in @cp-trendscognsci.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Led by the talented @srazavi.bsky.social + written with @vaughanbell.bsky.social, Peter Dayan, @nicholaraihani.bsky.social, Michael Moutoussis
#NeuroPsychSky
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Led by the talented @srazavi.bsky.social + written with @vaughanbell.bsky.social, Peter Dayan, @nicholaraihani.bsky.social, Michael Moutoussis
#NeuroPsychSky
September 5, 2025 at 7:16 AM
📖 Our letter of reply to 'pseudosocial' cognition is now out in @cp-trendscognsci.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Led by the talented @srazavi.bsky.social + written with @vaughanbell.bsky.social, Peter Dayan, @nicholaraihani.bsky.social, Michael Moutoussis
#NeuroPsychSky
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Led by the talented @srazavi.bsky.social + written with @vaughanbell.bsky.social, Peter Dayan, @nicholaraihani.bsky.social, Michael Moutoussis
#NeuroPsychSky
🧠 We're hiring a computational postdoc!
3+ years with me & @mitulamehta.bsky.social on @wellcometrust.bsky.social funded social cognition/paranoia research at the IoPPN.
Lead & develop computational work, collaborate with experimentalists on psychosis/THC data.
DM for details! lnkd.in/eCMy9Jf5
3+ years with me & @mitulamehta.bsky.social on @wellcometrust.bsky.social funded social cognition/paranoia research at the IoPPN.
Lead & develop computational work, collaborate with experimentalists on psychosis/THC data.
DM for details! lnkd.in/eCMy9Jf5
September 3, 2025 at 7:13 AM
🧠 We're hiring a computational postdoc!
3+ years with me & @mitulamehta.bsky.social on @wellcometrust.bsky.social funded social cognition/paranoia research at the IoPPN.
Lead & develop computational work, collaborate with experimentalists on psychosis/THC data.
DM for details! lnkd.in/eCMy9Jf5
3+ years with me & @mitulamehta.bsky.social on @wellcometrust.bsky.social funded social cognition/paranoia research at the IoPPN.
Lead & develop computational work, collaborate with experimentalists on psychosis/THC data.
DM for details! lnkd.in/eCMy9Jf5
Reposted by Joe Barnby
Just a reminder that this is happening tomorrow :) Feel free to reach out to me or better yet @joebarnby.com for a link!
It is such a pleasure to kick off the SoCR Lab 2025-2026 talk series with Dr. Ismail Guennouni. His work with
@maartenspeek.bsky.social
was an early and significant inspiration.
Reach out to
@joebarnby.com
or comment here for a link. Stay tuned as we will be organising monthly talks :) 🧵
@maartenspeek.bsky.social
was an early and significant inspiration.
Reach out to
@joebarnby.com
or comment here for a link. Stay tuned as we will be organising monthly talks :) 🧵
August 13, 2025 at 6:09 AM
Just a reminder that this is happening tomorrow :) Feel free to reach out to me or better yet @joebarnby.com for a link!
Reposted by Joe Barnby
📢 @markkho.bsky.social & I are recruiting a joint postdoc interested in computational models of social interaction & mental health
💻 Ideal candidates have experience w/ multi-player web-based experiments & computational modeling
📅 Apps are reviewed on a rolling basis
🔗 apply.interfolio.com/165809
💻 Ideal candidates have experience w/ multi-player web-based experiments & computational modeling
📅 Apps are reviewed on a rolling basis
🔗 apply.interfolio.com/165809
July 31, 2025 at 3:34 PM
📢 @markkho.bsky.social & I are recruiting a joint postdoc interested in computational models of social interaction & mental health
💻 Ideal candidates have experience w/ multi-player web-based experiments & computational modeling
📅 Apps are reviewed on a rolling basis
🔗 apply.interfolio.com/165809
💻 Ideal candidates have experience w/ multi-player web-based experiments & computational modeling
📅 Apps are reviewed on a rolling basis
🔗 apply.interfolio.com/165809
Reposted by Joe Barnby
For any postdocs who are are looking to transition to independence and might be keen to join us here at @kingsioppn.bsky.social, King's Prize fellowship applications are open (deadline 27 Nov)
👇 See link for details, and feel free to reach out if you'd like to chat
www.kcl.ac.uk/jobs/119505-...
👇 See link for details, and feel free to reach out if you'd like to chat
www.kcl.ac.uk/jobs/119505-...
King’s Prize Fellowship
www.kcl.ac.uk
July 18, 2025 at 10:33 AM
For any postdocs who are are looking to transition to independence and might be keen to join us here at @kingsioppn.bsky.social, King's Prize fellowship applications are open (deadline 27 Nov)
👇 See link for details, and feel free to reach out if you'd like to chat
www.kcl.ac.uk/jobs/119505-...
👇 See link for details, and feel free to reach out if you'd like to chat
www.kcl.ac.uk/jobs/119505-...
Having severe fomo not being able to attend #cpconf2025 this year but make sure to check out @gjcooper.bsky.social’s poster #50 today on making comp modelling scalable and intuitive to use 🖐️ ! Also say hi and buy phd student @srazavi.bsky.social a beer 🍺 to celebrate his first cpc
July 14, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Having severe fomo not being able to attend #cpconf2025 this year but make sure to check out @gjcooper.bsky.social’s poster #50 today on making comp modelling scalable and intuitive to use 🖐️ ! Also say hi and buy phd student @srazavi.bsky.social a beer 🍺 to celebrate his first cpc
Reposted by Joe Barnby
Our new study published in TheLancetPsych! We found that pramipexole augmentation substantially reduced depressive symptoms in patients with treatment-resistant depression over 48 weeks of treatment. This is an important advance in how we treat depression! 1/6
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Pramipexole augmentation for the acute phase of treatment-resistant, unipolar depression: a placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomised trial in the UK
In this trial involving participants with treatment-resistant depression, pramipexole
augmentation of antidepressant treatment, at a target dose of 2·5 mg, demonstrated
a reduction in symptoms relativ...
www.thelancet.com
June 30, 2025 at 3:54 AM
Our new study published in TheLancetPsych! We found that pramipexole augmentation substantially reduced depressive symptoms in patients with treatment-resistant depression over 48 weeks of treatment. This is an important advance in how we treat depression! 1/6
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
A recently proposed «pseudosocial cognition approach» aims at our previous work on the social dimension of paranoia.
The shortcomings of their article raise important questions on how we all connect behavioural models to neural data.
Our letter of response: osf.io/preprints/ps...
summary 🧵👇
The shortcomings of their article raise important questions on how we all connect behavioural models to neural data.
Our letter of response: osf.io/preprints/ps...
summary 🧵👇
June 30, 2025 at 7:01 AM
A recently proposed «pseudosocial cognition approach» aims at our previous work on the social dimension of paranoia.
The shortcomings of their article raise important questions on how we all connect behavioural models to neural data.
Our letter of response: osf.io/preprints/ps...
summary 🧵👇
The shortcomings of their article raise important questions on how we all connect behavioural models to neural data.
Our letter of response: osf.io/preprints/ps...
summary 🧵👇
✅ Our Version of Record (or what will become it) is now up on @elife.bsky.social :)
We've now added several supporting analyses since the first version. Thanks to the reviewers for their constructive critiques 🤝
More work along this line to come soon... 👀
elifesciences.org/reviewed-pre...
We've now added several supporting analyses since the first version. Thanks to the reviewers for their constructive critiques 🤝
More work along this line to come soon... 👀
elifesciences.org/reviewed-pre...
Self-Other Generalisation Shapes Social Interaction and Is Disrupted in Borderline Personality Disorder
elifesciences.org
June 19, 2025 at 7:30 AM
✅ Our Version of Record (or what will become it) is now up on @elife.bsky.social :)
We've now added several supporting analyses since the first version. Thanks to the reviewers for their constructive critiques 🤝
More work along this line to come soon... 👀
elifesciences.org/reviewed-pre...
We've now added several supporting analyses since the first version. Thanks to the reviewers for their constructive critiques 🤝
More work along this line to come soon... 👀
elifesciences.org/reviewed-pre...
At @rldmdublin2025.bsky.social this week? Check out our social learning workshop from @amritalamba.bsky.social and I tomorrow! Inc. talks from @natashajaques.bsky.social, @nitalon.bsky.social, @carocharp.bsky.social, @kartikchandra.bsky.social & more!
Full schedule: sites.google.com/view/rldm202...
Full schedule: sites.google.com/view/rldm202...
RLDM2025SocInfWorkshop
// RLDM 2025 Workshop \\
Reinforcement learning as a model of social behaviour and inference: progress and pitfalls
12.06.2025 // 9am-1pm
sites.google.com
June 11, 2025 at 6:49 AM
At @rldmdublin2025.bsky.social this week? Check out our social learning workshop from @amritalamba.bsky.social and I tomorrow! Inc. talks from @natashajaques.bsky.social, @nitalon.bsky.social, @carocharp.bsky.social, @kartikchandra.bsky.social & more!
Full schedule: sites.google.com/view/rldm202...
Full schedule: sites.google.com/view/rldm202...
Why not use cognitive science to test AI social skills?
In our new @aclmeeting.bsky.social paper (@eitanwagner.bsky.social, @nitalon.bsky.social, me & Omri Abend), we bring Theory of Mind to AI evals; Richer, more humanlike, more interactive 🧠
Read here 👉 lnkd.in/edDj-r3B #AI #ToM #ACL2025
In our new @aclmeeting.bsky.social paper (@eitanwagner.bsky.social, @nitalon.bsky.social, me & Omri Abend), we bring Theory of Mind to AI evals; Richer, more humanlike, more interactive 🧠
Read here 👉 lnkd.in/edDj-r3B #AI #ToM #ACL2025
LinkedIn
This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn
lnkd.in
June 4, 2025 at 6:58 AM
Why not use cognitive science to test AI social skills?
In our new @aclmeeting.bsky.social paper (@eitanwagner.bsky.social, @nitalon.bsky.social, me & Omri Abend), we bring Theory of Mind to AI evals; Richer, more humanlike, more interactive 🧠
Read here 👉 lnkd.in/edDj-r3B #AI #ToM #ACL2025
In our new @aclmeeting.bsky.social paper (@eitanwagner.bsky.social, @nitalon.bsky.social, me & Omri Abend), we bring Theory of Mind to AI evals; Richer, more humanlike, more interactive 🧠
Read here 👉 lnkd.in/edDj-r3B #AI #ToM #ACL2025
Finishing your PhD or under 2 years out of your PhD? Apply to a Forrest PostDoc Fellowship in sunny Perth 🏖️
Very generous salary (~$108K/~£51K) + additional living expenses, research funding + travel allowance
DM me to chat about projects or process 🧠
forrestresearch.org.au/fellowships/
Very generous salary (~$108K/~£51K) + additional living expenses, research funding + travel allowance
DM me to chat about projects or process 🧠
forrestresearch.org.au/fellowships/
Fellowships - Forrest Research Foundation
forrestresearch.org.au
June 4, 2025 at 5:02 AM
Finishing your PhD or under 2 years out of your PhD? Apply to a Forrest PostDoc Fellowship in sunny Perth 🏖️
Very generous salary (~$108K/~£51K) + additional living expenses, research funding + travel allowance
DM me to chat about projects or process 🧠
forrestresearch.org.au/fellowships/
Very generous salary (~$108K/~£51K) + additional living expenses, research funding + travel allowance
DM me to chat about projects or process 🧠
forrestresearch.org.au/fellowships/
We're very excited to share the proceedings from our #ToM4AI2025 workshop @realaaai.bsky.social ⭐
28 works on how cog sci, phil. of mind, and computer science can inform Theory of Mind in AI!
arxiv.org/abs/2505.03770
@nitalon.bsky.social l @reuth-mirsky.bsky.social [email protected]
28 works on how cog sci, phil. of mind, and computer science can inform Theory of Mind in AI!
arxiv.org/abs/2505.03770
@nitalon.bsky.social l @reuth-mirsky.bsky.social [email protected]
Proceedings of 1st Workshop on Advancing Artificial Intelligence through Theory of Mind
This volume includes a selection of papers presented at the Workshop on Advancing Artificial Intelligence through Theory of Mind held at AAAI 2025 in Philadelphia US on 3rd March 2025. The purpose of ...
arxiv.org
May 8, 2025 at 12:15 PM
We're very excited to share the proceedings from our #ToM4AI2025 workshop @realaaai.bsky.social ⭐
28 works on how cog sci, phil. of mind, and computer science can inform Theory of Mind in AI!
arxiv.org/abs/2505.03770
@nitalon.bsky.social l @reuth-mirsky.bsky.social [email protected]
28 works on how cog sci, phil. of mind, and computer science can inform Theory of Mind in AI!
arxiv.org/abs/2505.03770
@nitalon.bsky.social l @reuth-mirsky.bsky.social [email protected]
Reposted by Joe Barnby
Theory of Mind (ToM) is an active research frontier in AI. The question of whether AI can achieve ToM is crucial to our ability to develop AGI. In this paper arxiv.org/abs/2503.24215 with @joebarnby.bsky.social @reuth-mirsky.bsky.social and @stefansarkadi.bsky.social we show how AI can achieve ToM!
All You Need is Sally-Anne: ToM in AI Strongly Supported After Surpassing Tests for 3-Year-Olds
Theory of Mind (ToM) is a hallmark of human cognition, allowing individuals to reason about others' beliefs and intentions. Engineers behind recent advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) have claime...
arxiv.org
April 1, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Theory of Mind (ToM) is an active research frontier in AI. The question of whether AI can achieve ToM is crucial to our ability to develop AGI. In this paper arxiv.org/abs/2503.24215 with @joebarnby.bsky.social @reuth-mirsky.bsky.social and @stefansarkadi.bsky.social we show how AI can achieve ToM!