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Nastaran Arfaei

@n-arfaei.bsky.social
115 followers 138 following 126 posts

Brain and behavior. PhD candidate at NYU. Here I post mostly at the intersection of science and science fiction. Images are made by myself unless otherwise specified.

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Reposted by Nastaran Arfaei
Jordan Lei @jordanlei.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Funny how cog sci mimics real life! Relatedly, we've been interested in how other agents might be a source of uncertainty; the Ma Lab has worked on two player games like 4-in-a-row, and @n-arfaei.bsky.social is doing work on collaborative planning: 2024.ccneuro.org/pdf/544_Pape...
2024.ccneuro.org
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Nastaran Arfaei @n-arfaei.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
#WorldCup final nears, and I worry about drowning in a sea of sameness. About prescribed results. About #novels that all read as if written by the same author. About endless Hollywood remakes. We are drowning in a sea of neon-pink soccer shoes, each meant to stand out as perfectly unique.
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Nastaran Arfaei @n-arfaei.bsky.social · 30/10/2025
BUGONIA just melted my brain. Beats lock in, twists pay off, dialogue cuts, music nails the moments, and the performances wrap it all together. Feels wonderful to come out of the theater and gush with no reservations! #Bugonia #FilmSky #NowWatching #writingcommunity #review
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Nastaran Arfaei @n-arfaei.bsky.social · 21/10/2025
I myself rewrote my first three chapters both in past and present tense before deciding ☺️
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Nastaran Arfaei @n-arfaei.bsky.social · 21/10/2025
I believe your narrative will dictate either of these choices. For instance an unreliable narrator will force you into first person past, while an exhilarating thriller may beg for the present tense.
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Reposted by Nastaran Arfaei
Shen Tao @dragons.bsky.social · 20/10/2025
They are giving away 50 copies of my debut, The Poet Empress, on goodreads! I hope you'll enter 🥰 #booksky #ThePoetEmpress
50 physical copy giveaway of The Poet Empress by Shen Tao on Goodreads, until November 3
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Nastaran Arfaei @n-arfaei.bsky.social · 15/10/2025
Reading this wonderful paper on inverse planning, with their motivation rooted in literary theory. 💙📚🪐 The fiction writer is an inverse planner, choosing every action, word and event for the objective of inducing emotions in the reader. 🧠🤖🧪 #writingcommunity #books #readersky #literary #science
dl.acm.org
Acting as Inverse Inverse Planning
Great storytellers know how to take us on a journey. They direct characters to act—not necessarily in the most rational way—but rather in a way that leads to interesting situations, and ultimately creates an impactful experience for audience members looking on.
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Nastaran Arfaei @n-arfaei.bsky.social · 09/10/2025
Thank you so much Layemi! I’m done editing for now but would totally ask you when next round of edits comes around ☺️
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Nastaran Arfaei @n-arfaei.bsky.social · 09/10/2025
Can’t wait for this to be in bookstores!
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Nastaran Arfaei @n-arfaei.bsky.social · 09/10/2025
Thanks Kyla! ♥️
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Nastaran Arfaei @n-arfaei.bsky.social · 09/10/2025
A literary NeuroScifi that dives into memory, consciousness and control. #DVpit #SF #LF #A #IMM #OWN
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Nastaran Arfaei @n-arfaei.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
This sounds beautiful!!
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Nastaran Arfaei @n-arfaei.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
It’s like a new planned obsolescence but for humans!!! Love the concept!
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Nastaran Arfaei @n-arfaei.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
Would totally read this!
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Nastaran Arfaei @n-arfaei.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
A neuroscientist suspects an anti-technology cult murdered her friend. When pursuing them gets her in deep trouble, a powerful tech company steps in to offer her protection, if she takes a critical job: She must find and “quench” emergent sentience in supercomputers. #DVpit #SF #LF #A #IMM #OWN
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Nastaran Arfaei @n-arfaei.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
Loving this from its first pitch I heard till now!
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Nastaran Arfaei @n-arfaei.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
Thanks! I hope the same for yours! ☺️
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Nastaran Arfaei @n-arfaei.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
Yay to Persian inspired fantasy!!! ♥️
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Nastaran Arfaei @n-arfaei.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
Is lobotomizing a machine that has gained consciousness just routine procedure or equal to murder? Severance X Exhalation X Ishiguro #DVpit #SF #LF #A #IMM #OWN 💙📚🪐
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Nastaran Arfaei @n-arfaei.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
So dark and yet relevant to our times! Love the premise!
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Nastaran Arfaei @n-arfaei.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
Trauma, memory and identity. Killer combo. I would love to read this!
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Nastaran Arfaei @n-arfaei.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
A neuroscientist must either "quench" a nascent consciousness in a supercomputer, or save it and betray her powerful employers. As pressure mounts, she wonders if she, herself is that different from the machine; or just another expendable cog. Severance X Ishiguro #DVpit #SF #LF #A #IMM #OWN
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Nastaran Arfaei @n-arfaei.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
Omg so scary yet believable!! Would love to read!
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Nastaran Arfaei @n-arfaei.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
Thank Rohan! For you too ☺️
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Nastaran Arfaei @n-arfaei.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
Yay to more science! ♥️ Thanks Vivi!
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Nastaran Arfaei @n-arfaei.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
Powerful combination!
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Nastaran Arfaei @n-arfaei.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
I’ve been loving every version of this pitch 😂 can’t wait to read!
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Nastaran Arfaei @n-arfaei.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
Thanks Miai! ☺️
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Nastaran Arfaei @n-arfaei.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
Thanks!
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Nastaran Arfaei @n-arfaei.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
And I want to read your book so bad! Agents should pick our books so we can read them sooner!!! ☺️
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Nastaran Arfaei @n-arfaei.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
So relevant!
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Nastaran Arfaei @n-arfaei.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
Yeah right! Makes us read everything on the feed! ☺️
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Nastaran Arfaei @n-arfaei.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
Thanks Nour! It does keep me up at nights 😂😂
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Nastaran Arfaei @n-arfaei.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
Ok now this is high stakes!
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Nastaran Arfaei @n-arfaei.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
An anti-technology cult. Missing memories. A corporate offer she can’t refuse. A neuroscientist tries to untangle her friend’s murder while leading a team that “quenches” emergent sentience in supercomputers. Severance X A Memory Called Empire X Ishiguro #DVpit #SF #LF #A #IMM #OWN 💙📚🪐
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Nastaran Arfaei @n-arfaei.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
Yeah! There’s way less #SF than I expected! And my hashtag search is broken so having a hard time finding those 😂
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Nastaran Arfaei @n-arfaei.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
Such a wonderful premise! Cant wait to read!
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Nastaran Arfaei @n-arfaei.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
Thanks! Wonderful solution!
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Nastaran Arfaei @n-arfaei.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
Loving this!
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Nastaran Arfaei @n-arfaei.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
Right?!
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Nastaran Arfaei @n-arfaei.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
Intriguing!
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Nastaran Arfaei @n-arfaei.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
What a combination!
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Nastaran Arfaei @n-arfaei.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
Can’t wait to get to read this!
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Nastaran Arfaei @n-arfaei.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
This transports me instantly into the magic of a forest! Good luck!
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Nastaran Arfaei @n-arfaei.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
Thanks Rawiya!
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Nastaran Arfaei @n-arfaei.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
Loving this!
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Nastaran Arfaei @n-arfaei.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
Thanks Rajani!! ☺️
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Nastaran Arfaei @n-arfaei.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
Sounds very fun!
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Nastaran Arfaei @n-arfaei.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
Loving this Rajani! Cant wait to get to read it ☺️
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Nastaran Arfaei @n-arfaei.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
This sounds soo fun!
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