Redrawing the lines between language and graphics

Graphic and verbal communication are typically thought to work in very different ways. While speech uses a conventionalized vocabulary that is acquired from children’s environments, drawing is assumed to reflect the articulation of how people see and think, with learning based on “artistic talent.” Yet, research from linguistics and cognitive science upends these assumptions, suggesting that these domains are actually not so distinctive.

Contextual effects, image statistics, and deep learning

Neural responses and perception of visual inputs strongly depend on the spatial context, i.e., what surrounds a given object or feature. I will discuss our work on developing a visual cortical model based on the hypothesis that neurons represent inputs in a coordinate system that is matched to the statistical structure of images in the natural environment. The model generalizes a nonlinear computation known as normalization, that is ubiquitous in neural processing, and can capture some spatial context effects in cortical neurons.

Individual Differences in Lifespan Cognitive Development

This is an exciting time for scientists who are interested in cognitive development: there is now a wealth of easily-accessible data that can be used to ask interesting questions about how psychological, neural, and genetic factors affect changes in cognitive functions across the lifespan - and how they differ between individuals. In this talk, I'll describe several studies that apply individual-differences methods to large-scale, sometimes longitudinal datasets that include cognitive and biological information.

Traditional Supernatural Beliefs and Pro-Social Behavior

Résumé : In sub-Saharan Africa, traditional religious beliefs, including belief in witchcraft, black magic, or fetishism, are widespread. Some have hypothesized that these beliefs help to sustain cooperative behavior in a setting where the state is often absent. Others have documented that, at least at a macro-level such beliefs are negatively associated with prosocial behavior. We contribute to a better understanding of the causal effects of these traditional religious beliefs using lab-in-the-field experiments in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Les origines psychologiques des premières révolutions modernes

Les deux chercheurs ont étudié le contenu d'environ deux mille pièces de théâtre du début de la période moderne en Angleterre et en France, sur trois cents ans, et extrait la fréquence relative des mots liés à la coopération et la domination. En partant de l'hypothèse selon laquelle le contenu de ces textes reflète les préférences des auteurs et du public, ils ont évalué les tendances des préférences en matière de coopération au fil du temps, leur lien avec les révolutions démocratiques et la manière dont ces tendances ont coexisté avec le développement économique.

The cultural transmission of health-related conspiracy theories

For research and policy-development in public health, it is crucial to understand the spread of ideas and beliefs as well as diseases. Conspiracy theories about secret agendas behind vaccination programmes, the side effects of medical treatments, and cover-ups by the government or pharmaceutical industry are prevalent in many countries and can have devastating effects on health and well-being.

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