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Peter Sokol-Hessner

@p1sh.bsky.social
750 followers 195 following 41 posts

Studies decision-making & emotions. Assoc. Prof. at Univ. of Denver, PI of the Sokol-Hessner Lab, Exec. Dir. of ASFP (www.asfp.io, @asfp.io), dad to 6 y.o. twins. He/Him

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Reposted by Peter Sokol-Hessner
SANS @sansmeeting.bsky.social · 07/03/2026
Discussion will be moderated by 2027 SANS Program Co-Chairs Dr. Peter Sokol-Hessner (@p1sh.bsky.social) & Dr. Nina Lauharatanahirun. More info here: socialaffectiveneuro.org/program/
socialaffectiveneuro.org
Program - Social Affective Neuroscience Society
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SANS @sansmeeting.bsky.social · 07/03/2026
Register now for the trainee focused (pre-grad → postdoc) #SANS2026 Pre-Conference Workshop: Building a Thriving Research Career! NIH staff from OBSSR, NICHD, NIA & NINDS will be there to talk about funding opportunities, career development programs, and to answer YOUR questions directly.
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Alex Shackman @ajshackman.bsky.social · 23/04/2025
Please consider making a public comment opposing the possibility of making NIH directors, program officers, and other staff (e.g. SRO, GMS) political appointees. This only took me ~90 seconds. Please repost. Thanks 👍
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Peter Sokol-Hessner @p1sh.bsky.social · 26/04/2025
“Science is a smart, low cost investment. The costs of not investing in it are higher than the risk of doing so… talk to people about science.” - @kevinochsner.bsky.social makes his case to the field #sans2025
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Peter Sokol-Hessner @p1sh.bsky.social · 26/04/2025
What's with the revival of "limbic"? In recent cog neuro textbooks, papers, and scientific talks, I've seen more of the "limbic system" than I have for years. Affective neuroscientists argued that this idea should be thrown out *25 years ago*. Why are we backsliding? #friendsdontletfriendssaylimbic
A quote from Joseph LeDoux's 2000 article titled "Emotion Circuits in the brain." The quote says "The limbic system itself has been a moving target… after half a century of debate and discussion, there are still no agreed upon criteria that can be used to decide which areas of the brain belong to the limbic system… both the anatomical concept and the emotional function it was supposed to mediate were defined so vaguely as to be irrefutable…

In spite of the fact that the limbic system concept remains the predominant view about how the brain makes emotions, it is a flawed and inadequate theory of the emotional brain…"
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Gang Chen @gangchen6.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
For those who think more data just means more headcount, here’s a quirky twist: the number of data points per individual actually matters--a lot. If you're into a bit of rigor, this article highlights a factor that’s often overlooked. Thanks for the shoutout! www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
sciencedirect.com
Hyperbolic trade-off: The importance of balancing trial and subject sample sizes in neuroimaging
Here we investigate the crucial role of trials in task-based neuroimaging from the perspectives of statistical efficiency and condition-level generali…
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Peter Sokol-Hessner @p1sh.bsky.social · 25/04/2025
AI can be helpful with programming & writing, but *the better you are at those things, the more useful AI is.* Early on, when you're just starting out with either, it can "actually be very disruptive to the learning process" to use AI instead of doing it yourself. @markthornton.bsky.social #SANS2025
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Peter Sokol-Hessner @p1sh.bsky.social · 25/04/2025
"Highlight, don't hide" @gangchen6.bsky.social makes an impassioned argument that thresholding (reflective of a "binary" yes/no approach to analysis) holds back our science, making it less transparent and less reproducible. Instead, be a facilitator - share uncertainty and evidence! #SANS2025
Slide from Gang Chen describing how he feels people should approach brain analysis in ways that increase transparency & reproducibility, focusing on encouraging people to share results with the uncertainty that accompanies our inferences.
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Sara Grady @saramgrady.bsky.social · 25/04/2025
Really interesting to consider how taking (& reporting!) all the forking paths in analytical decisions gives a more robust picture of effects, as a “multiverse analysis” approach (h/t Dani Cosme) details here: dcosme.shinyapps.io/explore-sca/ #SANS2025 #commscience
Graphic, all analytical decisions in a decision tree of choices a a researcher makes in preprocessing & managing dataA set of decisions becomes 1100 different models of the same tested relationship in the same data
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Peter Sokol-Hessner @p1sh.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
@gangchen6.bsky.social making a strong case that statistical power is related to the number of participants, but ALSO to the number of datapoints *per person* (i.e. number of trials). An excellent point we often have to argue for in my lab's own work!! Couldn't agree more. #SANS2025
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Peter Sokol-Hessner @p1sh.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
At #SANS2025, enjoying the first debate on how to approach our science: big consortia or small labs? @thaliawheatley.bsky.social beautifully frames small labs as a kind of "collective intelligence." #ScrappyAudaciousNimbleScience
Slide from a talk by Thalia Wheatley. Says "The small labs model is a form of collective intelligence. We map the complexity of human sociality and emotion by staying curious, pushing methodological boundaries, and openly sharing our successes, failures, and data to build a deeply integrated science. SANS: Scrappy, Audacious, Nimble Science.
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Kimberly Chiew @kimberlychiew.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
At #SANS25? 🤗 Von Monteza, advised by @p1sh.bsky.social & myself, is presenting "Temporal contexts of effort and arousal: decision speed and pupillometry illuminate the experience of choice difficulty during a novel risky decision-making paradigm" 👁️ Poster P3A6, Sat 12-3 @sansmeeting.bsky.social
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Peter Sokol-Hessner @p1sh.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
Von's work is super cool - uses a novel task we've built, the Denver Bespoke Gambling Paradigm (DBGP) to quantify and manipulate decision difficulty on a per-person basis, giving us unique opportunities to control and study how folks respond to variations in decision difficulty! Stop by!
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Sara Grady @saramgrady.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
At the opening remarks of #SANS2025, which are 🔥 on doing science on identity, emotion, community, our brains & wellbeing in the current climate is still necessary and beneficial, even when actively being threatened. @sansmeeting.bsky.social
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Peter Sokol-Hessner @p1sh.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
This was lots of fun. So much great energy and excitement, and so, so many excellent questions.
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Colin Camerer @cfcamerer.bsky.social · 18/01/2025
“Riveting storytelling” practically begs for stories that are only loosely tethered to the truth
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Uma Karmarkar @umakarma.bsky.social · 03/12/2024
You can actually see the sci comm win in the transcript of the two hosts talking: BARBER: Wow. OK, so no lizard brain. SELYUKH: Forget it. Our brains are too complex for these basic metaphors.
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ASFP @asfp.io · 09/11/2024
💫 That's a wrap! 💫 Statement feedback has been returned to applicants! Check spam/junk folders and email applicant-support@asfp.io if you didn't get an email but believe you should have. #CognPsychSky #ClinicalPsychSky #AcademicChatter #DevelopmentalPsychSky #SocialPsychSky
Image of woman holding mail with text: Check your email! Statement Feedback has been emailed to applicants.
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ASFP @asfp.io · 02/11/2024
Applicants have now been MATCHED with editors! APPLICANTS: Check your email for match status! EDITORS: Check your email for feedback forms! Don't see any emails? Check your spam/trash or Email applicant-support@asfp.io or editor-support@asfp.io if you need further help.
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Peter Sokol-Hessner @p1sh.bsky.social · 31/10/2024
Every year, applicants ask us to tell the next year’s applicants to “JUST DO IT”! 🚨Submit your statement NOW!🚨 www.asfp.io/applicants/submission-form
asfp.io
Application Statement Feedback Program Submission Form
If you have questions about this form, please see the Applicant and FAQ pages of our site. For general questions, email us at applicant-support@asfp.io; for technical issues with this form, email us a...
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Peter Sokol-Hessner @p1sh.bsky.social · 29/10/2024
#ASFP2024 Roll Call! I’m an Associate Prof. of Psych at the Univ. of Denver, and I co-founded, lead, and edit with @asfp.io. I'm proud to help PhD applicants in psych who are underrepresented or without informed mentorship, because I believe our field is better when it's inclusive!
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Peter Sokol-Hessner @p1sh.bsky.social · 28/10/2024
APPLICANTS, it's time! asfp.io/applicants/s... Submit your statement before Thursday evening to get fast, free, double-blind expert feedback on your application statements to Psychology PhD programs in Clinical, Cognitive, Developmental, or Social psychology!
asfp.io
Application Statement Feedback Program Submission Form
If you have questions about this form, please see the Applicant and FAQ pages of our site. For general questions, email us at applicant-support@asfp.io; for technical issues with this form, email us a...
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ASFP @asfp.io · 26/10/2024
Calling psychology PhD applicants! The ASFP applicant portal opens on MONDAY. www.asfp.io/applicants Prepare your statements and get ready to submit! Tell your friends & colleagues! Please share this post! #CogPsych #ClinicalPsych #SocialPsych #DevelopmentalPsych #AcademicSky
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ASFP @asfp.io · 25/10/2024
🛑 Editor training is TODAY (10/25)🛑 We have emailed all registered editors w/ info to access the trainings. Check your spam/junk! (Today's training is required for new editors; recording avail. after). If you didn't get an email, please DM or email us (team@asfp.io)
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ASFP @asfp.io · 23/10/2024
🎴Today is the LAST DAY to register to be an editor with ASFP 2024! 🎴 Editors are faculty, postdocs and PhD students in psychology! Registration takes 5 minutes: www.asfp.io/editors/join
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Peter Sokol-Hessner @p1sh.bsky.social · 23/10/2024
Registration closes today! Psychology faculty, postdocs, and graduate students, join us!! www.asfp.io/editors/join
asfp.io
ASFP 2024: Editor Registration Form
Please complete this form by 6 pm PT (9 pm ET) on Wednesday October 23. If you have feedback, questions, or concerns about this form, please reach out to us at editor-support@asfp.io. Thank you for m...
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ASFP @asfp.io · 20/10/2024
Wow. We are halfway through editor registration & 192 editors from 99 different North American institutions have signed up to deliver 983 reviews. We are proud to be part of this community! Register here: www.asfp.io/editors/join #SocialPsych #PsychSciSky #cogpsych #AcademicSky #devpsych #ClinPsych
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ASFP @asfp.io · 17/10/2024
What Dr. Chiew said 👇🤩 @kimberlychiew.bsky.social Editor registration is open! It takes 5 minutes to sign up: www.asfp.io/editors/join #SocialPsych #PsychSciSky #cogpsych #AcademicSky #devpsych #ClinPsych
Faculty Editor testimonial. Dr. Kimberly Chiew. Associate professor, University of Denver. 
"I’m honored to serve as a faculty editor in the Application Statement Feedback Program. 
This is an accessible and concrete action I’m proud to take towards supporting the next generation of 
psychological scientists, addressing one source of inequity in psychological science, and 
improving diverse representation and inclusion in our field." Sign up at asfp.io.
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ASFP @asfp.io · 18/10/2024
98% of editors would recommend ASFP to a colleague! This level of agreement is RARE in academia, so you know it must be worth your time ⌚️✍️ See what other amazing things editors said about ASFP: www.asfp.io/s/2023-Edito... #SocialPsych #PsychSciSky #cogpsych #AcademicSky #devpsych #ClinPsych
asfp.io
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Peter Sokol-Hessner @p1sh.bsky.social · 16/10/2024
ASFP works!! Did you know 71% of ASFP applicants get accepted to at least one PhD program? Field averages (from APA) are below 12%. See more below and at www.ASFP.io/s/2023-Applicant-Report.pdf
asfp.io
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Peter Sokol-Hessner @p1sh.bsky.social · 15/10/2024
You don't have to take our word for it that ASFP is a "fantastic experience" - just listen to what Prof. Fareri has to say!
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Peter Sokol-Hessner @p1sh.bsky.social · 15/10/2024
Editor registration is ✨Open✨! Psychology FACULTY, POSTDOCS, and PhD STUDENTS, we need you! The applicants need you! Let’s make psychology better, together - edit with us!
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ASFP @asfp.io · 12/10/2024
We are back! The 5th Annual ASFP begins soon - so get ready! 🔵EDITORS: Registration opens in 2 days (Oct 14) 🟡APPLICANTS: Prepare your statements! (submission portal opens Oct. 28) More info at ASFP.IO #SocialPsych #PsychSciSky #cogpsych #AcademicSky
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ASFP @asfp.io · 11/10/2024
Editing with ASFP is fun and easy, and the impact is BIG. Join faculty editors like Dr. Heather Urry! Complete the Editor Interest Email List and we'll email you when registration opens on Oct 14: www.asfp.io/editors/emai...
Faculty editor testimonial. Dr. Heather Urry. Professor at Tufts University. "If you want to make a concrete difference in the lives of the scholars of tomorrow, be an ASFP editor. The program makes it easy to help applicants demonstrate readiness, skills, and fit to pursue a Psychology PhD. Bonus? It feels GOOD." Sign up at asfp.io.
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ASFP @asfp.io · 12/10/2024
✍️ FAST & FREE FEEDBACK ✍️ Get double-blind, constructive feedback on psych PhD personal statements from current faculty, postdocs, and PhD students with ASFP. Find more information about participating as an applicant at www.asfp.io/applicants
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Peter Sokol-Hessner @p1sh.bsky.social · 11/10/2024
Every year, one of the best parts of my year. So many good vibes with ASFP!! ❤️
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ASFP @asfp.io · 10/10/2024
Applying to psych PhD programs this fall? Submit a draft of your application statement Oct. 28-31 & we will send you double-blind, constructive feedback from 2 editors on Nov 9. Complete this Applicant Interest Email List & we'll email you when submission portal opens: asfp.io/applicants/e...
asfp.io
ASFP 2024: Applicant Email List
Fill out this form if you're planning to apply to psychology PhD programs in Fall 2024 and are interested in getting free double-blind expert feedback on your application statement from ASFP editors! ...
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Peter Sokol-Hessner @p1sh.bsky.social · 09/10/2024
Psychology faculty, postdocs, and PhD students, join me as an ASFP editor this fall! More info below. Registration opens in 5 days!
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Peter Sokol-Hessner @p1sh.bsky.social · 14/06/2024
It’s official! It’s been a journey, but by the confluence of lots of luck, late nights, great collaborators, & an endlessly supportive professional and personal community… I received tenure! I'll be processing this surreal feeling for a long time - but some celebrations are in order for now!
A letter from the Provost of the University of Denver that says:

Dear Professor Sokol-Hessner: 

It is my privilege to inform you that, upon the appropriate recommendations, the Board of Trustees of the University of Denver has approved your promotion to the rank of Associate Professor with Tenure in the Department of Psychology, effective September 1, 2024.
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David V. Smith @dvsmith.bsky.social · 29/02/2024
our first data paper (with @dfareri.bsky.social), which describes our initial fMRI work examining age-related differences in social reward processing and social decision making. thanks to SRNDNA for supporting this work! www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
An fMRI Dataset on Social Reward Processing and Decision Making in Younger and Older Adults - Scientific Data
Scientific Data - An fMRI Dataset on Social Reward Processing and Decision Making in Younger and Older Adults
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Peter Sokol-Hessner @p1sh.bsky.social · 03/03/2024
Thrilled to be in a great symposium "Affect Shapes Economic Decision-Making" today with Karolina Lempert, Candace Raio, and Joey Heffner. If you're at #AffectScience2024, come by Salon 9 now!
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Peter Sokol-Hessner @p1sh.bsky.social · 02/03/2024
During a debate on how brain decoding can (not?) help us understand the structure of emotion at #AffectScience2024, Phil Kragel argues that if we want to understand the structure of emotion, ignoring context might be helpful. Not sure I agree. Esp. with emotion, context might be *the point*.
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Peter Sokol-Hessner @p1sh.bsky.social · 01/03/2024
At #AffectScience2024, and really enjoying @ajaysatpute.bsky.social's conference-opening talk on how our assumptions about the structure of emotions can interfere with our ability to study the structure of the same. The threat of circularity is big.
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Randall Munroe @xkcd.com · 07/02/2024
Log Cabin xkcd.com/2891
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ASFP @asfp.io · 04/11/2023
That's it for an incredible ASFP 2023! 🎉 We were able to match 562 applicants with 235 editors and provide an astounding 1,203 pieces of constructive feedback! Huge thank you to everyone who contributed to ASFP, and good luck to all our applicants! 💛
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ASFP @asfp.io · 03/11/2023
💫 That's a wrap! 💫 Statement feedback has been returned to applicants! Check spam/junk folders and email applicant-support@asfp.io if you didn't get an email but believe you should have.
That's a wrap! Statement feedback has been returned to applicants! Check spam/junk folders and email applicant-support@asfp.io if you didn't get an email but believe you should have. Graphic reads: "Check your email! Statement feedback has been emailed to applicants." Graphic shows a woman carrying a large envelope and shows ASFP logo.
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ASFP @asfp.io · 01/11/2023
ASFP 2023 is in the homestretch! EDITORS get your feedback in by TONIGHT at 6pm PT, 9pm ET! If you’re having trouble finding your statements, have questions, or are having issues, reach out to editor-support@asfp.io.
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Hayley Brooks @hayleybrooks.bsky.social · 01/11/2023
Today is the last day of the edit-a-thon! Just 11 hours left to get that feedback in!
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ASFP @asfp.io · 28/10/2023
✨ Applicants have now been MATCHED with editors! ✨ Check your email for match status! Make sure to check spam/trash. Email applicant-support@asfp.io if you didn't get an email but you think you should have.
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Peter Sokol-Hessner @p1sh.bsky.social · 26/10/2023
This is it, Applicants!! Submit your statement in the next few hours!
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