Tommy Blanchard
@tommyblanchard.bsky.social
PhD in neuroscience, MA in philosophy. Writing about science and philosophy of mind: https://cognitivewonderland.substack.com/
Pinned
Why I Don’t Often Mention Neuroscience
Let’s read a bad neuro article to ironically regain our hope for neuroscience writing
cognitivewonderland.substack.com
I haven't been great about sharing here lately, but I have still been writing. This is from a couple of weeks ago: Why I Don't Often Mention Neuroscience (despite being a neuroscientist).
Reasons to get a PhD:
❌ Job prospects
❌ Satisfy intellectual curiosity
❌ Contribute to our understanding of the world
✅ Something fancy to put in your Substack bio
❌ Job prospects
❌ Satisfy intellectual curiosity
❌ Contribute to our understanding of the world
✅ Something fancy to put in your Substack bio
December 5, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Reasons to get a PhD:
❌ Job prospects
❌ Satisfy intellectual curiosity
❌ Contribute to our understanding of the world
✅ Something fancy to put in your Substack bio
❌ Job prospects
❌ Satisfy intellectual curiosity
❌ Contribute to our understanding of the world
✅ Something fancy to put in your Substack bio
My review of An Immense World by Ed Yong: cognitivewonderland....
I loved this book. Reading about animal senses can help break the reflexive naive realism that mistakes our perceptions of the world as direct, transparent access to the world itself.
I loved this book. Reading about animal senses can help break the reflexive naive realism that mistakes our perceptions of the world as direct, transparent access to the world itself.
An Immense World - Book Review and Tangents
Reflections on "What it is like" and Umwelt crafting
cognitivewonderland.substack.com
December 4, 2025 at 4:43 PM
My review of An Immense World by Ed Yong: cognitivewonderland....
I loved this book. Reading about animal senses can help break the reflexive naive realism that mistakes our perceptions of the world as direct, transparent access to the world itself.
I loved this book. Reading about animal senses can help break the reflexive naive realism that mistakes our perceptions of the world as direct, transparent access to the world itself.
“No man is an island”
Well acktually that's obvious because no man is even a land mass let alone one surrounded by sea
Well acktually that's obvious because no man is even a land mass let alone one surrounded by sea
December 3, 2025 at 12:08 PM
“No man is an island”
Well acktually that's obvious because no man is even a land mass let alone one surrounded by sea
Well acktually that's obvious because no man is even a land mass let alone one surrounded by sea
Everyone keeps talking about Judith Butler but whenever I hear that name all I can think is “The existence of Judith Butler implies the existence of Judith Maid”
December 2, 2025 at 12:28 AM
Everyone keeps talking about Judith Butler but whenever I hear that name all I can think is “The existence of Judith Butler implies the existence of Judith Maid”
My hands are jittery from too much caffeine. Need to find something for them to hold, like a fresh mug of hot tea.
November 30, 2025 at 10:06 PM
My hands are jittery from too much caffeine. Need to find something for them to hold, like a fresh mug of hot tea.
I haven't been great about sharing here lately, but I have still been writing. This is from a couple of weeks ago: Why I Don't Often Mention Neuroscience (despite being a neuroscientist).
Why I Don’t Often Mention Neuroscience
Let’s read a bad neuro article to ironically regain our hope for neuroscience writing
cognitivewonderland.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:27 PM
I haven't been great about sharing here lately, but I have still been writing. This is from a couple of weeks ago: Why I Don't Often Mention Neuroscience (despite being a neuroscientist).
Reposted by Tommy Blanchard
Are podcasts—as some argue—“inefficient”?
That depends on whether you are interested in explicit or tacit knowledge, writes @tommyblanchard.bsky.social.
Sometimes the former alone is really not enough, and podcasts can contain lots of the latter:
buff.ly/M6NgPOd
That depends on whether you are interested in explicit or tacit knowledge, writes @tommyblanchard.bsky.social.
Sometimes the former alone is really not enough, and podcasts can contain lots of the latter:
buff.ly/M6NgPOd
October 26, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Are podcasts—as some argue—“inefficient”?
That depends on whether you are interested in explicit or tacit knowledge, writes @tommyblanchard.bsky.social.
Sometimes the former alone is really not enough, and podcasts can contain lots of the latter:
buff.ly/M6NgPOd
That depends on whether you are interested in explicit or tacit knowledge, writes @tommyblanchard.bsky.social.
Sometimes the former alone is really not enough, and podcasts can contain lots of the latter:
buff.ly/M6NgPOd
On tacit knowledge, the nature of expertise, and the value in informal dialogue
In Defense of Podcasts and Expertise
Tacit learning and why you should be skeptical of people on the internet, even if they provide sources
cognitivewonderland.substack.com
October 23, 2025 at 2:37 PM
On tacit knowledge, the nature of expertise, and the value in informal dialogue
A silly little "choose-your-own-adventure" story I wrote about the classic transporter/mind upload questions about personal identity:
open.substack.com/pub/cognitiv...
open.substack.com/pub/cognitiv...
Transporters and Personal Identity
A weird little choose-your-own-adventure
open.substack.com
October 19, 2025 at 1:15 PM
A silly little "choose-your-own-adventure" story I wrote about the classic transporter/mind upload questions about personal identity:
open.substack.com/pub/cognitiv...
open.substack.com/pub/cognitiv...
Reposted by Tommy Blanchard
Do LLMs like ChatGPT, consummate as they are in having, er, meaningful conversations, have a conception of ‘meaning’?
It is widely believed they don’t (because of how they are built and work), but it’s not that clear cut, argues @tommyblanchard.bsky.social:
buff.ly/Smaypaw
It is widely believed they don’t (because of how they are built and work), but it’s not that clear cut, argues @tommyblanchard.bsky.social:
buff.ly/Smaypaw
October 8, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Do LLMs like ChatGPT, consummate as they are in having, er, meaningful conversations, have a conception of ‘meaning’?
It is widely believed they don’t (because of how they are built and work), but it’s not that clear cut, argues @tommyblanchard.bsky.social:
buff.ly/Smaypaw
It is widely believed they don’t (because of how they are built and work), but it’s not that clear cut, argues @tommyblanchard.bsky.social:
buff.ly/Smaypaw
My latest post: cognitivewonderland....
About how the things we're immersed in are often invisible to us. "There's nothing we're more immersed in than the workings of our own brains."
About how the things we're immersed in are often invisible to us. "There's nothing we're more immersed in than the workings of our own brains."
May 19, 2025 at 5:26 PM
My latest post: cognitivewonderland....
About how the things we're immersed in are often invisible to us. "There's nothing we're more immersed in than the workings of our own brains."
About how the things we're immersed in are often invisible to us. "There's nothing we're more immersed in than the workings of our own brains."
A guest post by self-control researcher Michael Inzlicht on how the field has mischaracterized self-control and willpower: cognitivewonderland....
May 6, 2025 at 3:12 PM
A guest post by self-control researcher Michael Inzlicht on how the field has mischaracterized self-control and willpower: cognitivewonderland....
New post: cognitivewonderland....
"In a very real sense, we are stuck in our skulls, figuring out what's going on in the world from the measurements of various instruments."
"In a very real sense, we are stuck in our skulls, figuring out what's going on in the world from the measurements of various instruments."
April 28, 2025 at 5:07 PM
New post: cognitivewonderland....
"In a very real sense, we are stuck in our skulls, figuring out what's going on in the world from the measurements of various instruments."
"In a very real sense, we are stuck in our skulls, figuring out what's going on in the world from the measurements of various instruments."
What did dopamine do to deserve this? New guest post by @garwboy.bsky.social on the unfair demonization of a neurotransmitter
"Saying you’re addicted to dopamine is like saying you’re looking at your own retina: you can’t do that, it’s too fundamental to the process."
"Saying you’re addicted to dopamine is like saying you’re looking at your own retina: you can’t do that, it’s too fundamental to the process."
What did dopamine do to deserve this?
It’s become alarmingly common to invoke dopamine as the root cause of so many problems. But this demonisation of a vital and versatile neurotransmitter risks causing serious consequences for us all.
open.substack.com
April 10, 2025 at 2:37 PM
What did dopamine do to deserve this? New guest post by @garwboy.bsky.social on the unfair demonization of a neurotransmitter
"Saying you’re addicted to dopamine is like saying you’re looking at your own retina: you can’t do that, it’s too fundamental to the process."
"Saying you’re addicted to dopamine is like saying you’re looking at your own retina: you can’t do that, it’s too fundamental to the process."
New post: cognitivewonderland....
All about scanning fish brains, fMRI statistics, and overzealous skepticism
"A little over 15 years ago, some researchers put a salmon into an fMRI scanner."
All about scanning fish brains, fMRI statistics, and overzealous skepticism
"A little over 15 years ago, some researchers put a salmon into an fMRI scanner."
The Salmon of Neuroimaging Doubt
We shouldn't throw the baby out with the bathwater (or the brain scanning out with the multiple corrections)
cognitivewonderland.substack.com
April 7, 2025 at 1:57 PM
New post: cognitivewonderland....
All about scanning fish brains, fMRI statistics, and overzealous skepticism
"A little over 15 years ago, some researchers put a salmon into an fMRI scanner."
All about scanning fish brains, fMRI statistics, and overzealous skepticism
"A little over 15 years ago, some researchers put a salmon into an fMRI scanner."
This week: Some book recommendations of sci fi stories that use my favorite sci fi trope: mind uploading!
cognitivewonderland....
cognitivewonderland....
March 31, 2025 at 7:15 PM
This week: Some book recommendations of sci fi stories that use my favorite sci fi trope: mind uploading!
cognitivewonderland....
cognitivewonderland....
New post. cognitivewonderland....
Disagreement doesn't mean irrationality: people interpret the same evidence differently due to prior beliefs and trusted sources. Being charitable, rather than dismissive, helps us understand—and maybe even persuade—those who disagree.
Disagreement doesn't mean irrationality: people interpret the same evidence differently due to prior beliefs and trusted sources. Being charitable, rather than dismissive, helps us understand—and maybe even persuade—those who disagree.
March 24, 2025 at 1:23 PM
New post. cognitivewonderland....
Disagreement doesn't mean irrationality: people interpret the same evidence differently due to prior beliefs and trusted sources. Being charitable, rather than dismissive, helps us understand—and maybe even persuade—those who disagree.
Disagreement doesn't mean irrationality: people interpret the same evidence differently due to prior beliefs and trusted sources. Being charitable, rather than dismissive, helps us understand—and maybe even persuade—those who disagree.
New post is up! cognitivewonderland....
Talking about why you shouldn't sweat decisions so much. More generally on power laws, touching on linguistics, Sturgeon's law, data science, and decision theory.
Talking about why you shouldn't sweat decisions so much. More generally on power laws, touching on linguistics, Sturgeon's law, data science, and decision theory.
March 13, 2025 at 5:29 PM
New post is up! cognitivewonderland....
Talking about why you shouldn't sweat decisions so much. More generally on power laws, touching on linguistics, Sturgeon's law, data science, and decision theory.
Talking about why you shouldn't sweat decisions so much. More generally on power laws, touching on linguistics, Sturgeon's law, data science, and decision theory.
In last week's post, I answered some reader questions about the Dunning-Kruger effect, procrastination, and my vibes on the current political situation in the US.
cognitivewonderland....
cognitivewonderland....
March 10, 2025 at 2:03 PM
In last week's post, I answered some reader questions about the Dunning-Kruger effect, procrastination, and my vibes on the current political situation in the US.
cognitivewonderland....
cognitivewonderland....
"There appears to be a disconnect between research findings and opinions of certain leaders. As a form of work organization, WFH, and especially hybrid work, has been shown to have significant benefits."
Time to Embrace Hybrid Work Arrangements
Research keeps showing hybrid work is a superior form of work organization.
open.substack.com
March 2, 2025 at 6:46 PM
"There appears to be a disconnect between research findings and opinions of certain leaders. As a form of work organization, WFH, and especially hybrid work, has been shown to have significant benefits."
Why The Algorithm Hates You: cognitivewonderland....
The Friendship Paradox and other adventures in sampling bias
The Friendship Paradox and other adventures in sampling bias
February 18, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Why The Algorithm Hates You: cognitivewonderland....
The Friendship Paradox and other adventures in sampling bias
The Friendship Paradox and other adventures in sampling bias
I've seen a lot of articles talking about how dads roughhousing with their kids has benefits for the kids’ emotional and motor development, but I've never seen one that mentions the primary benefit: satisfying the dad's deep-seated need to just pick someone up and chuck them across the room
February 17, 2025 at 1:54 PM
I've seen a lot of articles talking about how dads roughhousing with their kids has benefits for the kids’ emotional and motor development, but I've never seen one that mentions the primary benefit: satisfying the dad's deep-seated need to just pick someone up and chuck them across the room
This thread about the NIH cuts...
Thanks to all of the NIHers and their friends who reached out to me. I am still here (DM me or Signal jeremymberg.78)
I still have a very incomplete picture but based on what I have been told, the damage to NIH and to many wonderful people who work(ed) there is/was impossible for me to imagine
1/n
I still have a very incomplete picture but based on what I have been told, the damage to NIH and to many wonderful people who work(ed) there is/was impossible for me to imagine
1/n
February 16, 2025 at 1:22 PM
This thread about the NIH cuts...
