Sign in

Stephen J. Gotts

@sjgotts.bsky.social
330 followers 525 following 18 posts

Cognitive neuroscientist interested in vision, conceptual processing, learning and memory. Views and opinions my own. www.researchgate.net/profile/Stephe…

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Stephen J. Gotts
Elizabeth Jacobs, PhD @elizabethjacobs.bsky.social · 6h
If the Hepatitis B vaccine trial RFK Jr. has funded in Guinea-Bissau were ethical, he’d be doing it in the U.S. Instead, he’s preying on infants in one of the poorest countries in the world, which also happens to have a high prevalence of Hep B. Infants will suffer b/c RFK Jr. is anti-vax.
1125181
Reposted by Stephen J. Gotts
Colette Delawalla, PhD @cdelawalla.bsky.social · 15h
In January, @standupforscience.net sent an on the ground investigator to Guinea Bissau to learn more about the study. Something that has not changed in GB or about the study: there is NOT A WORD for Hep B. They use the language for "yellow fever", that's not informed consent.
rollingstone.com
CDC Is Moving Forward With a Previously Shelved Controversial Hepatitis B Vaccine Study
“It’s a wholly unethical trial, and it shouldn’t be allowed,” says Dr. Paul Offit of Guinea-Bissau study
36421
Reposted by Stephen J. Gotts
bryan newbold @bnewbold.net · 07/10/2026
ah damn, RIP Margaret Hamilton. she took safety-critical software engineering seriously, and got people to the moon and back. news.mit.edu/2026/margare...
old photos of a woman (Margaret Hamilton) standing next to a tall stack of books (printouts of Apollo space mission software source code)
101140774644
Reposted by Stephen J. Gotts
Kristian G. Andersen @kgandersen.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
A scientist gave a scientific talk - on scientific work he has led for 5+ years - on a scientific topic at a scientific institution. And apparently it's so newsworthy that Politico had to write about it? Talk was only possible thanks to "academic freedom", apparently 🙄. What a world we live in 😵‍💫.
98024
Reposted by Stephen J. Gotts
Nicole Rust @nicolecrust.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Just like that: poof & gone. RIP *all* of NSF social, behavioral and economic research (including psyc & cogneuro). I’m speechless.
814263
Reposted by Stephen J. Gotts
The Fig Economy @figgityfigs.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Sometimes my wife and I like to send each other text messages as though they’re democratic fundraising messages, and I believe she has produced the jewel of the form.
, it's
and I
have some personal news to share with you.
Being a mom is one of the greatest joys of my life, and I feel deeply that we should have salad tonight
This year has been challenging in many ways, and I have immense gratitude for the kindness and support of family, community, and people like you who have continued to stand by me through everything. It means the world, and I wanted you to be among the first to know that squash is in the oven and kale is in the fridge.As many of you are aware, ve been navigating one of the most challenging periods of my day while waiting for dinner.
Facing baseless federal hunger brought on by not eating since lunch, fighting for the working kids of this country, and now caring for a mean toddler and helping him grow up in a world that isn't always easy. But it has also reminded me exactly why I do this work and who I do it for.
I will never stop working to eat dinner. I will never stop fighting for what is right, even when there is also some feta in the fridge. And I will never stop being so very thankful that you are by my side in this important work and that there is tahini in the pantry for dressing
With love and gratitude,
stop to end
185109871831
Reposted by Stephen J. Gotts
Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 06/10/2026
Trump shouts out Russ Vought and then says, ominously, "we have some big surprises coming up in a few weeks, right Russ? He's gonna be one of the important people in the history of our country."
56031831122
Reposted by Stephen J. Gotts
Mel Goodale @action-brain.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Good to see that our opinion piece on grand theories of consciousness is out. #consciousness #neuroskyence #philsci #philsky🧠 #neuroscience #brain 🧪
12813
Stephen J. Gotts @sjgotts.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
congrats, guys!
000
Reposted by Stephen J. Gotts
Jefferson Moss Rehabilitation Research Institute @mossresearch.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Congrats to Drs. Andrew Persichetti, Dr. Laurel Buxbaum, Dr. Aaron L Wong, & postdoc Dr. Amy Lebkurcher on receiving a Knowledge Building Award funded by Jefferson Moss-Magee Rehabilitation & our Institute! Their project will examine the organization and breakdown of action concepts after stroke.
111
Reposted by Stephen J. Gotts
Sitting on a corn flake @grrlscientist.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
In 1992 Peter Ratcliffe received this rejection from Nature. Almost 30 years later he won the Nobel Prize for the same discovery.
013237
Reposted by Stephen J. Gotts
Stand Up for Science! @standupforscience.net · 03/10/2026
Trump corrupted America's most innovative institution, the National Science Foundation, by stealing $1.4B mandated by Congress for research. 🧪 🧵
A photo of Trump in front of the U.S. National Science Foundation entrance, overlaid headline that reads "Trump admin stole $1.4B for world changing science against the will of congress", with a Stand Up for Science logo beneath it.
28574294
Reposted by Stephen J. Gotts
Mark Histed @markhisted.org · 03/10/2026
Killed. NSF’s SBE was killed, in violation of law. The President does not have the power to choose to kill programs at a whim by defunding them. The imperial presidency was a mistake and we are in a separation of powers constitutional crisis.
151451529
Reposted by Stephen J. Gotts
Dorothy Bishop @deevybee.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
this will be of interest to those at #SNL2026
1236
Reposted by Stephen J. Gotts
Decision, Action, and Neural Computation (DANC) lab @danclab.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Our multilayer MEG paper is out today in Nature Communications: depth-resolved laminar inference in humans 🧠#neuroskyence www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
Multilayer MEG source modelling enables depth-resolved laminar inference in humans - Nature Communications
Researchers developed a multilayer MEG framework that estimates activity across cortical depth non-invasively. Simulations and three human datasets show when reliable laminar inference is possible, en...
18243
Reposted by Stephen J. Gotts
Tim Verstynen @tdverstynen.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Looking for a postdoc in comp neuro and human brain imaging? Interested in foraging? Join our international collaboration with Jon Rubin, @jyotikab.bsky.social, & @davidrobbe.bsky.social be.bsky.social to study the neural basis of foraging behavior! cmu.wd115.myworkdayjobs.com/CMU/job/Pitt...
cmu.wd115.myworkdayjobs.com
Postdoctoral Research Associate – Cognitive Axon Lab – Dietrich College
The Cognitive Axon Lab, in the Department of Psychology and Carnegie Mellon Neuroscience Institute, seeks applications for a multi-year Postdoctoral Research Associate at Carnegie Mellon University. T...
02120
Reposted by Stephen J. Gotts
A.R. Moxon @juliusgoat.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Hard to imagine what that would be like
23875231267
Reposted by Stephen J. Gotts
The New Republic @newrepublic.com · 27/09/2026
Trump is banning students majoring in degrees that don’t make enough money from taking out college loans. Degrees for social work, art, religious studies, teaching aides, and music will be hit the hardest. trib.al/kQdKbY1
trib.al
Trump Moves to Cut Off Student Loans for Tons of Degrees
Under a new rule, if your degree doesn’t make enough money, you won’t be able to get a student loan.
164983668
Reposted by Stephen J. Gotts
Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
This is like accusing someone of robbing a bank because they deposited money and never withdrew it
58982761860
Reposted by Stephen J. Gotts
Dan Handwerker @danielhandwerker.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Great postdoc opportunity with Peter Bandettini @fmri-today.bsky.social (and me).
jobs.humanbrainmapping.org
Postdoctoral Researcher in fMRI methods Job Opening in Bethesda, Maryland - Organization for Human Brain Mapping
A new Postdoctoral Researcher in fMRI methods job is available in Bethesda, Maryland. Check it out on Organization for Human Brain Mapping.
077
Reposted by Stephen J. Gotts
Christina Jewett @by-cjewett.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
🧵NEW: Kennedy drew $4 million in book advances from Tony Lyons, a publisher who also runs MAHA groups that accept $$ from health companies with business before HHS. The advances were set the month when Kennedy dropped his presidential bid to back Trump: www.nytimes.com/2026/09/23/u...
nytimes.com
Kennedy Drew $4 Million in Book Advances From Publisher Who Also Monetized MAHA (Gift Article)
A new disclosure also shows $210,000 in consulting fees paid to Cheryl Hines, the health secretary’s wife, by one of several MAHA-affiliated groups capitalizing from his agenda.
1015787
Reposted by Stephen J. Gotts
Nima Dehghani @neurovium.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
XJ Wang left ?!? What a loss for the US (and NYU) Everyday I get some news that a prominent scientist is leaving. The chaos of the science budget and downfall of the American science are spiralling down very fast. This is disheartening. www.eurekalert.org/news-release...
eurekalert.org
World-renowned computational neuroscientist professor Xiao-Jing Wang joins HKU as Chair Professor
The University of Hong Kong (HKU) announces the appointment of Professor Xiao-Jing Wang, a pioneer in theoretical and computational neuroscience, to its faculty as a Chair Professor. Professor Wang wi...
1277
Reposted by Stephen J. Gotts
Ken Jennings @kenjennings.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
"Gentlemen, our 29% approval rating is too high. Let's start take away people's health care."
742732440
Reposted by Stephen J. Gotts
bioRxiv Neuroscience @biorxiv-neursci.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Computational simulation reveals the critical role of spike-timing-dependent plasticity in synchrony www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/20…
021
Reposted by Stephen J. Gotts
Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
NEW: @apnews.com confirms that ICE has begun electronically "disappearing" people in the agency's custody who have final orders of removal. As of last week, anyone jailed by ICE with a final order of removal will NOT appear in the ICE Online Detainee Locator System, making them effectively vanish.
apnews.com
AP Exclusive: ICE hides locations of thousands of detainees with final removal orders
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has stopped publicly revealing where it is holding most detainees who are subject to final deportation orders, in a move that has made it harder for lawyers an...
18845982953
Reposted by Stephen J. Gotts
Blasé Boylan @blazesboylan.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Never a bad time to mention that Vought cancelled research on the disease his daughter suffers from. This is who they are. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
motherjones.com
Project 2025 is gutting medical funding that helped Russell Vought's own kid
Its architect's daughter has cystic fibrosis—and benefits from a "miracle drug" backed by an agency he's attacking.
25923
Reposted by Stephen J. Gotts
Tom Nichols @radiofreetom.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Tear it down in broad daylight
1131585158
Reposted by Stephen J. Gotts
Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
It really is striking how many authoritarian states have ended up in this exact same place, where the leader seizes control of scientific inquiry. Lysenkoism in the Soviet Union, Aryan Physics in the Third Reich, Great Leap Forward (also related to Lysenko) in China.
8527311077
Reposted by Stephen J. Gotts
Dr. Bradley Onishi @bradleyonishi.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
As a former megachurch youth pastor I can tell you that Hegseth is running the military like a megachurch youth pastor, which as a former megachurch youth pastor I can tell you is a bad idea.
261125247
Reposted by Stephen J. Gotts
Alicia Izquierdo @aliciaizquierdo.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Dr. Eydie London was a force for good, a dear colleague, and a pioneering neuroscientist. She leaves an indelible mark in our hearts and minds. @jdavidjentsch.bsky.social started a collection to establish an ✨ACNP Travel Award✨ in her honor. Please consider donating via Venmo @ elondontravelaward
Smiling people against a beautiful downtown LA night skyline.
Left to right: Alicia Izquierdo, Ben Santos-Jentsch, Lara Ray, Eydie London, and David Jentsch.
2229
Reposted by Stephen J. Gotts
Kyle Griffin @kylegriffin1.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
The Trump admin is currently preparing temporary signs that will accuse the National Museum of American History of ideological bias. The National Park Service is planning to add about a dozen signs outside the museum at an estimated cost of $84,000, according to a letter from the Interior Sec'y.
theatlantic.com
The Next Change Trump Has Planned for the Smithsonian
A letter from Interior Secretary Doug Burgum revealed new details about warning signs the White House will install near the American-history museum.
98587366
Reposted by Stephen J. Gotts
Jenna Norton @jenna-m-norton.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
The cuts in staff across federal health agencies are staggering. Great analysis from @ourpublicservice.bsky.social. 1 in 5 people gone from NIH. More than 1 in 4 gone from CDC. Nearly 7 in 10 gone from AHRQ. ourpublicservice.org/resource/the...
ourpublicservice.org
The Cost of Cutting American Science: How Federal Cuts Diminish Public Health Capacity
3154109
Reposted by Stephen J. Gotts
Samantha Joel @datingdecisions.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
I do not want a Briefing or a summary Please just go away - a Haiku about AI
28421
Reposted by Stephen J. Gotts
Jay Willis @jaywillis.net · 15/09/2026
Genuinely an insane paragraph from Sam Alito. “Voter fraud is real and scary and we have to stop it, so the fact that implementing Trump’s mail ballot rule will disenfranchise millions is legally irrelevant.” Brain melted. A right-wing podcaster in a robe. www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25p...
___, (slip op., at 9) (internal quotation marks omitted).
As for the equities, the Government has a strong interest
in enforcing the rule, and implementing it will also “en-
hance the visibility of Federal Ballot Mail” in order to better
detect election fraud. 91 Fed. Reg. 54972. On the other side
of the balance, the plaintiff States invoke the practical ef-
fects of implementing the rule close to the midterm elec-
tions. I take that problem very seriously, but it is not
enough to convince me to deny the application.
First, as the District Court acknowledged, the States dis-
21446871282
Reposted by Stephen J. Gotts
Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
He says he‘s doing all this because he wants his grandkids to get the best education. Yeah, man, closing programs and chasing away top scholars is definitely going to do that. Great work, peepaw.
934421
Reposted by Stephen J. Gotts
Philip Gourevitch @pgourevitch.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Yeah dude - the more I pay at the pump the less I fear nuclear attack by people who don’t have nukes and who wouldn’t be able to have them if you idiots didn’t tear up obama’s deal and start a self-defeating war about it.
521640
Reposted by Stephen J. Gotts
Jenna Norton @jenna-m-norton.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
“Our national parks are in crisis” - former national parks superintendents protectnps.org/2026/09/02/f...
protectnps.org
Former National Park Superintendents Warn Interior Secretary: National Parks Are in Crisis – The Coalition To Protect America's National Parks
13817
Reposted by Stephen J. Gotts
Michael Hobbes @michaelhobbes.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
This is what shutting down scientific debate actually looks like
bloomberg.com
A Top Virus Scientist Stared Down Covid Lab-Leak Proponents. Now His Life’s Work Is at Stake
The battle over Covid’s origins has come for Bob Garry, who’s faced some of the world’s deadliest viral threats.
172055581
Reposted by Stephen J. Gotts
Harmit Singh Malik @harmitmalik.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
The current NIH Director’s animus against NIAID to sign away much needed research funds so we can continue bombing another country is… a staggering betrayal of Congressional intentions and authority. Not surprising but still staggering.
5465116
Reposted by Stephen J. Gotts
ProPublica @propublica.org · 03/09/2026
The success of the U.S. vaccination system depends on two fundamental pillars: parents trusting in vaccines and children having access to them. Under RFK Jr., both are in peril. (Published March)
propublica.org
How Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Vaccine Agenda Risks a Resurgence of Deadly Childhood Plagues
The health secretary is spreading doubts about vaccine safety and considering changes that could prompt manufacturers to flee the U.S. market. History has shown how plagues from the past can roar back...
281051486
Reposted by Stephen J. Gotts
Marc Coutanche @marccoutanche.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
We are recruiting an Assistant Professor in Cog Neuro/Cog Psych to join us at Rice! Please spread the word! apply.interfolio.com/192080
apply.interfolio.com
Apply - Interfolio {{$ctrl.$state.data.pageTitle}} - Apply - Interfolio
24642
Reposted by Stephen J. Gotts
Jonathan Bernstein @jonathanbernstein.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Y'all think that the Supreme Court is going to intervene to stop a Dem president from demolishing Trump's stupid ballroom but that's probably wrong; the Supreme Court will intervene to stop the Dem president from demolishing Trump's stupid ballroom after Congress passes a law and he signs it.
312718
Reposted by Stephen J. Gotts
Paul Taylor @afni-pt.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Have you ever felt like something was missing from your #fmri results? Have you been worried about potential reproducibility issues? Well, this new @natmethods.nature.com article with 40+ coauthors shows how the simple change to transparent thresholding helps both. Go Figure! rdcu.be/B4tikBETdQZa
A comparison of old and new thresholding approaches for fMRI data. The newer, transparent thresholding allows for interpreting context, more complete modeling, a reduction of biases and an increase in meaningful content. This all leads to more accurate interpretations and improved reproducibility evaluations.
19151
Reposted by Stephen J. Gotts
Union of Concerned Scientists @ucs.org · 31/08/2026
1/ At a time when 17,000 people have been sickened by the food-borne #cyclospora parasite, the Trump USDA is cutting its parasite research budget and forcing out the very scientists who could help avert the next catastrophe. 🧵 ⬇️
politico.com
USDA cyclospora research projects shelved amid funding cuts and relocations
The shuttering of three projects is expected to hinder vital research at a time when consumers are increasingly worried about the safety of the food supply.
65737
Reposted by Stephen J. Gotts
Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
This was so stupid I had to check to see if it's real, and yes. Ted Cruz, the man who once told a story about the "basketball ring," is trying to tell a guy who literally played lacrosse at Michigan how Michigan athletes refer to their rival.
What does it say that this 🤡 —who wants to represent Michigan—has never heard of Ohio State?
1302103246
Reposted by Stephen J. Gotts
Sam Wang @samwang.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
If anyone wants to actually learn something about the entry into humans of the SARS-CoV2 virus, here is a great summary of evidence. It is a little technical but it actually considers both major hypotheses. The authors are leading virologists. journals.asm.org/doi/epub/10....
25017
Reposted by Stephen J. Gotts
Canadian History Ehx @cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Lake Ontario's name comes from the Wyandot word Ontarí'io, which is typically translated as "beautiful lake". The Kanienʼkéha called it Katarokwi. Samuel de Champlain called it Lac de St. Louis. The name Lacus Ontario was first recorded in 1660 by Francis Creuxius.
812678824
Reposted by Stephen J. Gotts
Justin Ling @justinling.ca · 27/08/2026
Today's @xkcd.com
It's a stickman holding a hammer, lifting up his leg, and saying:

"Listen up, leg. I've been sending you rich, oxygenated blood for years, while you send me worthless used-up blood with no oxygen. Time to teach you a lesson about not ripping me off!"

It is captioned: tariffs
2146841152