Rebecca Saxe
@rebeccasaxe.bsky.social
Cognitive neuroscience at MIT. Open science. 🇨🇦
Saxelab.mit.edu
Saxelab.mit.edu
If you are at MIT today come to the Open Data prize celebration at 3pm in the Nexus!
libraries.mit.edu/opendata/ope...
libraries.mit.edu/opendata/ope...
MIT Prize for Open Data | Open Data @ MIT
To highlight the value of open data at MIT, and to encourage the next generation of researchers, the MIT School of Science and the MIT Libraries present the MIT Prize for Open Data. Congratulations to...
libraries.mit.edu
October 21, 2025 at 4:38 PM
If you are at MIT today come to the Open Data prize celebration at 3pm in the Nexus!
libraries.mit.edu/opendata/ope...
libraries.mit.edu/opendata/ope...
My sister @shoshannasaxe.bsky.social
In this podcast, just rocks. So proud.
www.podbean.com/ep/pb-bqngw-...
In this podcast, just rocks. So proud.
www.podbean.com/ep/pb-bqngw-...
Are Bike Lanes Good for Cities?
Bike lanes are central to city planning, but why do they spark such fierce debate? On Good for Cities, host Matti Siemiatycki sits down with infrastructure expert Dr. Shoshanna Saxe to cut through the...
www.podbean.com
October 17, 2025 at 6:16 PM
My sister @shoshannasaxe.bsky.social
In this podcast, just rocks. So proud.
www.podbean.com/ep/pb-bqngw-...
In this podcast, just rocks. So proud.
www.podbean.com/ep/pb-bqngw-...
Totally agree with Mikes description of this project as a wild journey, utterly joyous true collaboration, and satisfying first step for quantitative predictive rational model of habituation.
Not the first time I’ve suggested a “first step” in research that required a whole PhD to complete. 😉
Not the first time I’ve suggested a “first step” in research that required a whole PhD to complete. 😉
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 2:01 AM
Totally agree with Mikes description of this project as a wild journey, utterly joyous true collaboration, and satisfying first step for quantitative predictive rational model of habituation.
Not the first time I’ve suggested a “first step” in research that required a whole PhD to complete. 😉
Not the first time I’ve suggested a “first step” in research that required a whole PhD to complete. 😉
Reposted by Rebecca Saxe
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 29, 2025 at 11:38 PM
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
Reposted by Rebecca Saxe
Total disaster for the #drosophila community if flybase disappears
August 13, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Total disaster for the #drosophila community if flybase disappears
Thanks so much to everyone was patient and supportive of my de-tangling efforts over the last 7 years.
@guggfellows.bsky.social
Patrick J McGovern Foundation
McGovern Institute at MIT
and so many friends and colleagues.
Fin.
@guggfellows.bsky.social
Patrick J McGovern Foundation
McGovern Institute at MIT
and so many friends and colleagues.
Fin.
August 13, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Thanks so much to everyone was patient and supportive of my de-tangling efforts over the last 7 years.
@guggfellows.bsky.social
Patrick J McGovern Foundation
McGovern Institute at MIT
and so many friends and colleagues.
Fin.
@guggfellows.bsky.social
Patrick J McGovern Foundation
McGovern Institute at MIT
and so many friends and colleagues.
Fin.
I have found this insights are ... disconcertingly ... relevant to current events over the past year. Maybe a topic for another thread sometime.
16/17
16/17
August 13, 2025 at 7:32 PM
I have found this insights are ... disconcertingly ... relevant to current events over the past year. Maybe a topic for another thread sometime.
16/17
16/17
My other favourite part is that we fit this complex model to the data from Study 1 and used it, with no free parameters, to predict the results in Study 2 & 3, for situations the model had never seen (e.g. punishment of allies or competitors, or that was personally costly or beneficial).
15/17
15/17
August 13, 2025 at 7:32 PM
My other favourite part is that we fit this complex model to the data from Study 1 and used it, with no free parameters, to predict the results in Study 2 & 3, for situations the model had never seen (e.g. punishment of allies or competitors, or that was personally costly or beneficial).
15/17
15/17
Having a single model that synthesizes these different results is enormously satisfying to me.
The synthesis, per se.
Putting the pieces together.
14/17
The synthesis, per se.
Putting the pieces together.
14/17
August 13, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Having a single model that synthesizes these different results is enormously satisfying to me.
The synthesis, per se.
Putting the pieces together.
14/17
The synthesis, per se.
Putting the pieces together.
14/17
Because Bayesian inference is continuous and quantitative, there are many intermediate cases in which people update all of their beliefs to some degree. People - human minds - do joint inference.
13/17
13/17
August 13, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Because Bayesian inference is continuous and quantitative, there are many intermediate cases in which people update all of their beliefs to some degree. People - human minds - do joint inference.
13/17
13/17
When observers believe that the target act was not wrong, the punisher gained directly from punishing, or punished a competitor or enemy, then punishment neither teaches norms nor improves reputation.
e.g. the controversy about when people punish out-groups more severely than in-groups.
12/17
e.g. the controversy about when people punish out-groups more severely than in-groups.
12/17
August 13, 2025 at 7:32 PM
When observers believe that the target act was not wrong, the punisher gained directly from punishing, or punished a competitor or enemy, then punishment neither teaches norms nor improves reputation.
e.g. the controversy about when people punish out-groups more severely than in-groups.
12/17
e.g. the controversy about when people punish out-groups more severely than in-groups.
12/17
When observers believe that the target act violated norms, punishers look justice-motivated. Costly punishment enhances their reputation for unselfishness. Punishment of an ally increases their reputation for impartiality.
e.g. third party punishment in common goods games.
11/17
e.g. third party punishment in common goods games.
11/17
August 13, 2025 at 7:32 PM
When observers believe that the target act violated norms, punishers look justice-motivated. Costly punishment enhances their reputation for unselfishness. Punishment of an ally increases their reputation for impartiality.
e.g. third party punishment in common goods games.
11/17
e.g. third party punishment in common goods games.
11/17
When observers believe that the punishing authority is motivating by justice and is impartial, then punishment communicates social norms, and the severity of norm violations.
E.g. vignettes about parents, institutions, or justice systems in the role of punisher.
10/17
E.g. vignettes about parents, institutions, or justice systems in the role of punisher.
10/17
August 13, 2025 at 7:32 PM
When observers believe that the punishing authority is motivating by justice and is impartial, then punishment communicates social norms, and the severity of norm violations.
E.g. vignettes about parents, institutions, or justice systems in the role of punisher.
10/17
E.g. vignettes about parents, institutions, or justice systems in the role of punisher.
10/17
Essentially, the prior literatures on punishment are each studying a special case, when observers have strong prior beliefs about one dimension of the situation.
People learn from punishment, whichever feature of the situation they don’t already know.
9/17
People learn from punishment, whichever feature of the situation they don’t already know.
9/17
August 13, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Essentially, the prior literatures on punishment are each studying a special case, when observers have strong prior beliefs about one dimension of the situation.
People learn from punishment, whichever feature of the situation they don’t already know.
9/17
People learn from punishment, whichever feature of the situation they don’t already know.
9/17
And the model derives from a familiar one: the Bayesian Theory of Mind model that Josh, Chris Baker and I worked on nearly twenty years ago (yikes).
saxelab.mit.edu/wp-content/u...
8/17
saxelab.mit.edu/wp-content/u...
8/17
saxelab.mit.edu
August 13, 2025 at 7:32 PM
And the model derives from a familiar one: the Bayesian Theory of Mind model that Josh, Chris Baker and I worked on nearly twenty years ago (yikes).
saxelab.mit.edu/wp-content/u...
8/17
saxelab.mit.edu/wp-content/u...
8/17
Working with @setayeshradkani.bsky.social and @joshtenenbaum.bsky.social: these three patterns are consequences of a single underlying cognitive model.
7/17
7/17
August 13, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Working with @setayeshradkani.bsky.social and @joshtenenbaum.bsky.social: these three patterns are consequences of a single underlying cognitive model.
7/17
7/17
What is going on?
For years, I found reading about punishment soooo confusing.
6/17
For years, I found reading about punishment soooo confusing.
6/17
August 13, 2025 at 7:32 PM
What is going on?
For years, I found reading about punishment soooo confusing.
6/17
For years, I found reading about punishment soooo confusing.
6/17
And yet, third, punishment often fails in both regards. Very often, after punishment, the target does not learn the intended norm *and* does not trust the punisher. To the contrary, the target may reject the lesson and the punisher as a bully.
This happens to parents (ugh) and governments.
5/17
This happens to parents (ugh) and governments.
5/17
August 13, 2025 at 7:32 PM
And yet, third, punishment often fails in both regards. Very often, after punishment, the target does not learn the intended norm *and* does not trust the punisher. To the contrary, the target may reject the lesson and the punisher as a bully.
This happens to parents (ugh) and governments.
5/17
This happens to parents (ugh) and governments.
5/17
Second, punishment can be altruism, paying a personal cost to benefit society. So, punishment must benefit reputation: Punishers are trusted, seen as unselfish and committed to norms.
Great e.g. is Lily Tsai’s work: how single-party governments punish officials for alleged corruption.
4/17
Great e.g. is Lily Tsai’s work: how single-party governments punish officials for alleged corruption.
4/17
August 13, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Second, punishment can be altruism, paying a personal cost to benefit society. So, punishment must benefit reputation: Punishers are trusted, seen as unselfish and committed to norms.
Great e.g. is Lily Tsai’s work: how single-party governments punish officials for alleged corruption.
4/17
Great e.g. is Lily Tsai’s work: how single-party governments punish officials for alleged corruption.
4/17
First, punishment is one way people teach and communicate norms. More severe punishments are chosen for more severe violations, so that both the targets of punishment and other observers learn and internalize the norms.
For example, think of how parents punish their children.
3/17
For example, think of how parents punish their children.
3/17
August 13, 2025 at 7:32 PM
First, punishment is one way people teach and communicate norms. More severe punishments are chosen for more severe violations, so that both the targets of punishment and other observers learn and internalize the norms.
For example, think of how parents punish their children.
3/17
For example, think of how parents punish their children.
3/17
Punishment is VERY puzzling.
This work entangles one piece of the puzzle.
2/17
This work entangles one piece of the puzzle.
2/17
August 13, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Punishment is VERY puzzling.
This work entangles one piece of the puzzle.
2/17
This work entangles one piece of the puzzle.
2/17
So pleased and proud to share this work.
I started trying to think clearly about authority punishment in 2018. This new paper with Setayesh Radkani is the first fruit of that labour.
Why so much struggle? See thread.
1/17
I started trying to think clearly about authority punishment in 2018. This new paper with Setayesh Radkani is the first fruit of that labour.
Why so much struggle? See thread.
1/17
🚨Out in PNAS🚨
with @joshtenenbaum.bsky.social & @rebeccasaxe.bsky.social
Punishment, even when intended to teach norms and change minds for the good, may backfire.
Our computational cognitive model explains why!
Paper: tinyurl.com/yc7fs4x7
News: tinyurl.com/3h3446wu
🧵
with @joshtenenbaum.bsky.social & @rebeccasaxe.bsky.social
Punishment, even when intended to teach norms and change minds for the good, may backfire.
Our computational cognitive model explains why!
Paper: tinyurl.com/yc7fs4x7
News: tinyurl.com/3h3446wu
🧵
PNAS
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a peer reviewed journal of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) - an authoritative source of high-impact, original research that broadly spans...
tinyurl.com
August 13, 2025 at 7:32 PM
So pleased and proud to share this work.
I started trying to think clearly about authority punishment in 2018. This new paper with Setayesh Radkani is the first fruit of that labour.
Why so much struggle? See thread.
1/17
I started trying to think clearly about authority punishment in 2018. This new paper with Setayesh Radkani is the first fruit of that labour.
Why so much struggle? See thread.
1/17
Reposted by Rebecca Saxe
Also sharing a beautiful illustration of these ideas by my lovely and talented 👩🎨 friend, Adhara Martellini!
August 8, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Also sharing a beautiful illustration of these ideas by my lovely and talented 👩🎨 friend, Adhara Martellini!
Reposted by Rebecca Saxe
🚨Out in PNAS🚨
with @joshtenenbaum.bsky.social & @rebeccasaxe.bsky.social
Punishment, even when intended to teach norms and change minds for the good, may backfire.
Our computational cognitive model explains why!
Paper: tinyurl.com/yc7fs4x7
News: tinyurl.com/3h3446wu
🧵
with @joshtenenbaum.bsky.social & @rebeccasaxe.bsky.social
Punishment, even when intended to teach norms and change minds for the good, may backfire.
Our computational cognitive model explains why!
Paper: tinyurl.com/yc7fs4x7
News: tinyurl.com/3h3446wu
🧵
PNAS
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a peer reviewed journal of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) - an authoritative source of high-impact, original research that broadly spans...
tinyurl.com
August 8, 2025 at 2:04 PM
🚨Out in PNAS🚨
with @joshtenenbaum.bsky.social & @rebeccasaxe.bsky.social
Punishment, even when intended to teach norms and change minds for the good, may backfire.
Our computational cognitive model explains why!
Paper: tinyurl.com/yc7fs4x7
News: tinyurl.com/3h3446wu
🧵
with @joshtenenbaum.bsky.social & @rebeccasaxe.bsky.social
Punishment, even when intended to teach norms and change minds for the good, may backfire.
Our computational cognitive model explains why!
Paper: tinyurl.com/yc7fs4x7
News: tinyurl.com/3h3446wu
🧵
Reading this book and really enjoying it. Even the parts that are familiar are fun to hear again in this new succinct and thoughtful voice.
Just look what was waiting for me when I came back from my run. Elusive Cures is now a REAL BOOK!!
press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
August 7, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Reading this book and really enjoying it. Even the parts that are familiar are fun to hear again in this new succinct and thoughtful voice.