Ben Alderson-Day
@aldersonday.bsky.social
Psychology prof at Durham + interdisciplinary stuff (usually psychosis, inner speech, a bit of neurodiversity). Author of "Presence: The Strange Science of the Unseen Other" (MUP).
Chair of @theichr.bsky.social
Chair of @theichr.bsky.social
Pinned
Welcome to Whitehaven. Absolutely no avian dancing allowed.
Reposted by Ben Alderson-Day
New from the band formerly known as Hearing the Voice...a short paper about felt presence and early psychosis.
We report some basic links to things like fear and quoted examples from our "Voices in Psychosis" study 1/3
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
We report some basic links to things like fear and quoted examples from our "Voices in Psychosis" study 1/3
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Experiences of felt presence in first episode psychosis - Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia - Experiences of felt presence in first episode psychosis
www.nature.com
November 26, 2025 at 5:43 PM
New from the band formerly known as Hearing the Voice...a short paper about felt presence and early psychosis.
We report some basic links to things like fear and quoted examples from our "Voices in Psychosis" study 1/3
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
We report some basic links to things like fear and quoted examples from our "Voices in Psychosis" study 1/3
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Ben Alderson-Day
And I get to do all of this with the best people! I feel so privileged to learn for a living, and grateful for all the opportunities with such wonderful and supportive folk.
November 27, 2025 at 2:20 PM
And I get to do all of this with the best people! I feel so privileged to learn for a living, and grateful for all the opportunities with such wonderful and supportive folk.
Reposted by Ben Alderson-Day
Interdisciplinary work is fun, and I’ve been lucky enough to join the team in taking ReaderBank from Edinburgh to Jaipur and back, tell stories on stage, and present to lots of cool groups of people, like the lovely people at Wellcome, ICHR, and the NHS.
November 27, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Interdisciplinary work is fun, and I’ve been lucky enough to join the team in taking ReaderBank from Edinburgh to Jaipur and back, tell stories on stage, and present to lots of cool groups of people, like the lovely people at Wellcome, ICHR, and the NHS.
Reposted by Ben Alderson-Day
I did some cool stuff like attending a Sleep School over in São Paulo, Brazil, where I learned a lot about chronobiology and circadian rhythms. I also broke my hand AND accidentally started a two hour Open Science debate among the ~100 people attending but they’re stories for another time.
November 27, 2025 at 2:20 PM
I did some cool stuff like attending a Sleep School over in São Paulo, Brazil, where I learned a lot about chronobiology and circadian rhythms. I also broke my hand AND accidentally started a two hour Open Science debate among the ~100 people attending but they’re stories for another time.
Reposted by Ben Alderson-Day
My PhD thesis was 'Exploring the association between hallucinations, sleep, and cognitive control' supervised by @petermoseley.bsky.social, Jason Ellis, and @davidesmailes.bsky.social. Loved this experience and will be sharing some in press articles soon!
November 27, 2025 at 2:20 PM
My PhD thesis was 'Exploring the association between hallucinations, sleep, and cognitive control' supervised by @petermoseley.bsky.social, Jason Ellis, and @davidesmailes.bsky.social. Loved this experience and will be sharing some in press articles soon!
Reposted by Ben Alderson-Day
During this time, I got involved in some amazing qualitative projects around wellbeing and mental health systems. For my undergrad dissertation, I investigated young adults’ experiences of waiting lists in mental health care.
journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
‘You’re on the waiting list’: An interpretive phenomenological analysis of young adults’ experiences of waiting lists within mental health services in the UK
Waiting lists in mental health services are currently considered too long. Lengthy waits of up to 18 weeks are commonly reported in the UK. Waiting lists have long been associated with a variety of ne...
journals.plos.org
November 27, 2025 at 2:20 PM
During this time, I got involved in some amazing qualitative projects around wellbeing and mental health systems. For my undergrad dissertation, I investigated young adults’ experiences of waiting lists in mental health care.
journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
Reposted by Ben Alderson-Day
I'm a research psychologist, and completed my education at Northumbria University in 2024. I was a demonstrator during my postgrad degrees teaching theory, qual and quant methods, and gaining my FHEA.
November 27, 2025 at 2:20 PM
I'm a research psychologist, and completed my education at Northumbria University in 2024. I was a demonstrator during my postgrad degrees teaching theory, qual and quant methods, and gaining my FHEA.
Reposted by Ben Alderson-Day
Firstly, hi, I’m Georgia. I like taking photos, climbing hills and walls, running and walking long distances, and trying not to kill my houseplants. I’m interested in empirically and phenomenologically exploring mental imagery, cognitive control, sleep, and hallucinations.
November 27, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Firstly, hi, I’m Georgia. I like taking photos, climbing hills and walls, running and walking long distances, and trying not to kill my houseplants. I’m interested in empirically and phenomenologically exploring mental imagery, cognitive control, sleep, and hallucinations.
Reposted by Ben Alderson-Day
I deleted X a long while ago, yet I've put off hard launching a BlueSky for over a year. It's sort of sad seeing all my documented efforts as a student etc lost to the void that was Twitter.
And so, because I'm stickler for chronology, I thought I'd post a lil synopsis of the last few years here!
And so, because I'm stickler for chronology, I thought I'd post a lil synopsis of the last few years here!
November 27, 2025 at 2:20 PM
I deleted X a long while ago, yet I've put off hard launching a BlueSky for over a year. It's sort of sad seeing all my documented efforts as a student etc lost to the void that was Twitter.
And so, because I'm stickler for chronology, I thought I'd post a lil synopsis of the last few years here!
And so, because I'm stickler for chronology, I thought I'd post a lil synopsis of the last few years here!
Reposted by Ben Alderson-Day
Since my viva, I’ve been working @durhamimh.bsky.social with @aldersonday.bsky.social to create ReaderBank - an interdisciplinary project looking into reading, the imagination, and mental health along in collaboration with Edinburgh International Book Festival.
readerbank.org
readerbank.org
November 27, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Since my viva, I’ve been working @durhamimh.bsky.social with @aldersonday.bsky.social to create ReaderBank - an interdisciplinary project looking into reading, the imagination, and mental health along in collaboration with Edinburgh International Book Festival.
readerbank.org
readerbank.org
MORNING
New from the band formerly known as Hearing the Voice...a short paper about felt presence and early psychosis.
We report some basic links to things like fear and quoted examples from our "Voices in Psychosis" study 1/3
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
We report some basic links to things like fear and quoted examples from our "Voices in Psychosis" study 1/3
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Experiences of felt presence in first episode psychosis - Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia - Experiences of felt presence in first episode psychosis
www.nature.com
November 27, 2025 at 9:05 AM
MORNING
Reposted by Ben Alderson-Day
Forthcoming Workshop on Varieties of Communication and Self-talk at the Department of Humanities @upf.edu, co-organised with @victormverdejo.bsky.social.
Everybody welcome!
Everybody welcome!
November 27, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Forthcoming Workshop on Varieties of Communication and Self-talk at the Department of Humanities @upf.edu, co-organised with @victormverdejo.bsky.social.
Everybody welcome!
Everybody welcome!
Reposted by Ben Alderson-Day
Abstract deadline tomorrow if anyone is interested in joining us in Exeter in February to talk all things Social AI!
✨CFA✨
I’m hosting a workshop on Social AI at the Uni of Exeter, generously funded by the Society of Applied Philosophy (10&11 Feb). If you fancy joining us to present your work, please submit an abstract!
Confirmed speakers: Rob Clowes, Pii Telakivi, Joel Krueger, Tom Roberts, & me. #philsky
I’m hosting a workshop on Social AI at the Uni of Exeter, generously funded by the Society of Applied Philosophy (10&11 Feb). If you fancy joining us to present your work, please submit an abstract!
Confirmed speakers: Rob Clowes, Pii Telakivi, Joel Krueger, Tom Roberts, & me. #philsky
November 27, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Abstract deadline tomorrow if anyone is interested in joining us in Exeter in February to talk all things Social AI!
Reposted by Ben Alderson-Day
New preprint alert!
Cognitive maps are flexible, dynamic, (re)constructed representations
#psychscisky #neuroskyence #cognition #philsky 🧪
Cognitive maps are flexible, dynamic, (re)constructed representations
#psychscisky #neuroskyence #cognition #philsky 🧪
OSF
osf.io
November 26, 2025 at 6:11 PM
New preprint alert!
Cognitive maps are flexible, dynamic, (re)constructed representations
#psychscisky #neuroskyence #cognition #philsky 🧪
Cognitive maps are flexible, dynamic, (re)constructed representations
#psychscisky #neuroskyence #cognition #philsky 🧪
Reposted by Ben Alderson-Day
This has been a long time in the making, starting four years ago with an interdisciplinary project at Durham University at the Institute of Advanced Study. Massive thanks to all my collaborators on this. It has been a team effort.
November 26, 2025 at 6:18 PM
This has been a long time in the making, starting four years ago with an interdisciplinary project at Durham University at the Institute of Advanced Study. Massive thanks to all my collaborators on this. It has been a team effort.
Reposted by Ben Alderson-Day
I only wish Simon James, one of our collaborators, was still here to see this out in the real world. I know how enthusiastic he'd have been to see this, as it was his genuine passion for interdisciplinary research that kept us going throughout.
November 26, 2025 at 6:18 PM
I only wish Simon James, one of our collaborators, was still here to see this out in the real world. I know how enthusiastic he'd have been to see this, as it was his genuine passion for interdisciplinary research that kept us going throughout.
Reposted by Ben Alderson-Day
Cognitive and affective neuroscientists, are you ready? @ESCAN Rome 2026 is live! 🎉 escan2026.eu
Our Rome hosts @AgliotiLab and the ESCAN board have put together an inclusive event of groundbreaking, rigorous science, and fun, set in the stunning Eternal City.
✨ Submissions open December 1st!
Our Rome hosts @AgliotiLab and the ESCAN board have put together an inclusive event of groundbreaking, rigorous science, and fun, set in the stunning Eternal City.
✨ Submissions open December 1st!
Home - ESCAN 2026
ESCAN 2026 is the 9th ESCAN Conference, the biennial meeting of the European Society for Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience.
escan2026.eu
November 26, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Cognitive and affective neuroscientists, are you ready? @ESCAN Rome 2026 is live! 🎉 escan2026.eu
Our Rome hosts @AgliotiLab and the ESCAN board have put together an inclusive event of groundbreaking, rigorous science, and fun, set in the stunning Eternal City.
✨ Submissions open December 1st!
Our Rome hosts @AgliotiLab and the ESCAN board have put together an inclusive event of groundbreaking, rigorous science, and fun, set in the stunning Eternal City.
✨ Submissions open December 1st!
Reposted by Ben Alderson-Day
Grateful to The Verge for publishing my essay on why large-language models are not going to achieve general intelligence nor push the scientific frontier.
www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
Is language the same as intelligence? The AI industry desperately needs it to be
The AI boom is based on a fundamental mistake.
www.theverge.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Grateful to The Verge for publishing my essay on why large-language models are not going to achieve general intelligence nor push the scientific frontier.
www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
Reposted by Ben Alderson-Day
It has been so so fun to think with some of my favorite scientists about what it means to understand!
What does it mean to understand language? We argue that the brain’s core language system is limited, and that *deeply* understanding language requires EXPORTING info to other brain regions.
w/ @neuranna.bsky.social @evfedorenko.bsky.social @nancykanwisher.bsky.social
arxiv.org/abs/2511.19757
1/n🧵👇
w/ @neuranna.bsky.social @evfedorenko.bsky.social @nancykanwisher.bsky.social
arxiv.org/abs/2511.19757
1/n🧵👇
What does it mean to understand language?
Language understanding entails not just extracting the surface-level meaning of the linguistic input, but constructing rich mental models of the situation it describes. Here we propose that because pr...
arxiv.org
November 26, 2025 at 5:08 PM
It has been so so fun to think with some of my favorite scientists about what it means to understand!
New from the band formerly known as Hearing the Voice...a short paper about felt presence and early psychosis.
We report some basic links to things like fear and quoted examples from our "Voices in Psychosis" study 1/3
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
We report some basic links to things like fear and quoted examples from our "Voices in Psychosis" study 1/3
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Experiences of felt presence in first episode psychosis - Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia - Experiences of felt presence in first episode psychosis
www.nature.com
November 26, 2025 at 5:43 PM
New from the band formerly known as Hearing the Voice...a short paper about felt presence and early psychosis.
We report some basic links to things like fear and quoted examples from our "Voices in Psychosis" study 1/3
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
We report some basic links to things like fear and quoted examples from our "Voices in Psychosis" study 1/3
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Ben Alderson-Day
Absolutely delighted to have won the FPA Media Award for Print & Web Story of the Year 2025. It’s for a piece I wrote for the FT Magazine on how Israeli is turning its dead soldiers into fathers. Read it free with this link
on.ft.com/486WawY
on.ft.com/486WawY
November 25, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Absolutely delighted to have won the FPA Media Award for Print & Web Story of the Year 2025. It’s for a piece I wrote for the FT Magazine on how Israeli is turning its dead soldiers into fathers. Read it free with this link
on.ft.com/486WawY
on.ft.com/486WawY
Reposted by Ben Alderson-Day
LAST CALL: Fourteenth Annual Essay Prize at the Centre for Philosophical Psychology, University of Antwerp
Topic: The philosophical implications of aphantasia/hyperphantasia
Length: 3000 words.
Deadline: December 1, 2025.
Prize money: 3,000 Euros.
Topic: The philosophical implications of aphantasia/hyperphantasia
Length: 3000 words.
Deadline: December 1, 2025.
Prize money: 3,000 Euros.
November 25, 2025 at 9:24 AM
LAST CALL: Fourteenth Annual Essay Prize at the Centre for Philosophical Psychology, University of Antwerp
Topic: The philosophical implications of aphantasia/hyperphantasia
Length: 3000 words.
Deadline: December 1, 2025.
Prize money: 3,000 Euros.
Topic: The philosophical implications of aphantasia/hyperphantasia
Length: 3000 words.
Deadline: December 1, 2025.
Prize money: 3,000 Euros.
Reposted by Ben Alderson-Day
Qualities of felt presence are described
November 13, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Qualities of felt presence are described
Reposted by Ben Alderson-Day
📆 🔊 ❗ Another date for your calendars
⭐ 16th January 2026 - 4h workshop ⭐
"Engaging meaning-making in delusions: the phenomenological toolbox"
Presented by myself & Dr. Elizabeth Pienkos
med.stanford.edu/inspire-trai...
⭐ 16th January 2026 - 4h workshop ⭐
"Engaging meaning-making in delusions: the phenomenological toolbox"
Presented by myself & Dr. Elizabeth Pienkos
med.stanford.edu/inspire-trai...
Master Clinician Series
med.stanford.edu
November 24, 2025 at 8:50 PM
📆 🔊 ❗ Another date for your calendars
⭐ 16th January 2026 - 4h workshop ⭐
"Engaging meaning-making in delusions: the phenomenological toolbox"
Presented by myself & Dr. Elizabeth Pienkos
med.stanford.edu/inspire-trai...
⭐ 16th January 2026 - 4h workshop ⭐
"Engaging meaning-making in delusions: the phenomenological toolbox"
Presented by myself & Dr. Elizabeth Pienkos
med.stanford.edu/inspire-trai...
Reposted by Ben Alderson-Day
** Recruiting a postdoc ** We are looking for a postdoc to work on emotion, mental health, and interoception, based in London at @ucl.ac.uk in my lab (Clinical and Affective Neuroscience). Part of a large Wellcome Grant (co-led with the brilliant @camillanord.bsky.social)
November 24, 2025 at 12:22 PM
** Recruiting a postdoc ** We are looking for a postdoc to work on emotion, mental health, and interoception, based in London at @ucl.ac.uk in my lab (Clinical and Affective Neuroscience). Part of a large Wellcome Grant (co-led with the brilliant @camillanord.bsky.social)