Scott Alexander explores the concept of 'trapped priors' as a fundamental problem in rationality, explaining how it leads to persistent biases and suggesting potential solutions. Longer summary

Scott Alexander explores the concept of 'trapped priors' as a fundamental problem in rationality. He explains how the brain combines raw experience with context to produce perceptions, and how this process can lead to cognitive biases and phobias. The article discusses how trapped priors can make it difficult for people to update their beliefs, even in the face of contradictory evidence. Scott also examines how this concept applies to political biases and suggests potential ways to overcome trapped priors. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander investigates the prevalence of Hallucinogen Persisting Perceptual Disorder (HPPD) and explores potential connections between perception, cognition, and belief in supernatural phenomena. Longer summary

Scott Alexander explores the prevalence and nature of Hallucinogen Persisting Perceptual Disorder (HPPD), a condition where people experience ongoing visual disturbances after using psychedelics. He discusses results from his own survey, which found that about 12.8% of psychedelic users reported some persisting hallucinations, with 3% still experiencing them. Most cases were mild, involving visual snow, halos, or patterns. Scott then critiques a study claiming HPPD doesn't exist, noting methodological issues. He also considers the possibility that some people naturally experience HPPD-like phenomena without drug use, and speculates on potential links between perception, cognition, and belief in supernatural phenomena. Shorter summary

Scott reviews Kuhn's 'Structure of Scientific Revolutions', finding its thesis on paradigm shifts in science intriguing but frustratingly vague, especially beyond physics. Longer summary

Scott reviews Thomas Kuhn's 'The Structure of Scientific Revolutions', which argues that science progresses through paradigm shifts rather than simple accumulation of facts. Kuhn posits that scientific paradigms are comprehensive worldviews that guide research and interpretation of data. When anomalies accumulate, a new paradigm may emerge to replace the old one. Scott finds Kuhn's thesis intriguing but frustratingly vague in parts, especially in applying it beyond physics. He draws connections between Kuhn's ideas and predictive coding in neuroscience, suggesting both describe how pre-existing mental structures shape perception and understanding. Overall, Scott sees value in Kuhn's perspective but wishes for more clarity and examples from other scientific fields. Shorter summary

Scott presents a distorted map of Europe as a riddle, challenging readers to reconsider their perceptions and solve the puzzle. Longer summary

Scott Alexander presents a distorted map of Europe and challenges readers to figure out why it appears incorrect. He suggests that the problem lies not with the map, but with the viewer's perception. The post is structured as a riddle, with Scott providing hints through links to other works. The answer to the riddle is revealed in a linked image, encouraging readers to engage in problem-solving and to consider how our perceptions can be misleading. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander reviews 'Surfing Uncertainty' by Andy Clark, exploring the predictive processing model of brain function and its wide-ranging explanatory power. Longer summary

Scott Alexander reviews the book 'Surfing Uncertainty' by Andy Clark, which explains the predictive processing model of how the brain works. This model posits that the brain is constantly making predictions about sensory input and updating its models based on prediction errors. Scott explores how this theory can explain various phenomena like attention, imagination, learning, motor behavior, and even psychiatric conditions like autism and schizophrenia. He finds the model compelling and potentially explanatory for a wide range of cognitive and perceptual processes. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander explores potential links between perception of optical illusions and cognitive styles, proposing further research to investigate these connections. Longer summary

Scott Alexander discusses the potential link between perception and cognition based on survey results about optical illusions. He notes that 'weirder' groups (e.g., schizophrenics, transhumanists, polyamorous people) tend to see more ambiguity in illusions like the Hollow Mask and Spinning Dancer. Scott proposes a research program to explore whether perception of optical illusions could predict cognitive biases or high-level beliefs. He plans to include more illusions in future surveys to better understand the underlying mental processes. While acknowledging the ambitiousness of this idea, he cites some supporting evidence, such as the involvement of NMDA receptors in both political opinions and illusion perception. Scott also considers potential confounding factors and how to address them in future research. Shorter summary

The post explores how Bayesian processes in the brain might explain perception and various mental disorders, linking neurotransmitters to different aspects of Bayesian reasoning. Longer summary

This post explores the application of Bayes' Theorem to neuroscience and psychiatry. It discusses how the brain might use Bayesian processes for perception and cognition, and how disruptions in these processes could explain various mental disorders. The author first explains Bayes' Theorem and its relevance to perception, then delves into a neuroscientific model that links neurotransmitters to different aspects of Bayesian processing. The post then applies this model to explain phenomena in schizophrenia, psychedelic experiences, and autism. The author concludes by pointing out some limitations and inconsistencies in the model, while still appreciating its potential as a high-level framework for understanding brain function and mental disorders. Shorter summary

A fictional story about a suicidal woman's encounters with an unusual 'dark side psychiatrist' and a regular psychiatrist, with a supernatural twist at the end. Longer summary

The post is a fictional story about a woman who, feeling suicidal, accidentally calls a 'suicide hotline' instead of a 'suicide prevention hotline'. She then visits a 'dark side psychiatrist' who encourages her suicidal thoughts. Traumatized, she later sees a regular psychiatrist who helps her rationalize the experience as a misunderstanding. The story takes a twist at the end when it's implied that the 'dark side psychiatrist' might have been supernatural. The narrative explores themes of mental health, therapy techniques, and the nature of reality versus perception. Shorter summary

Two individuals share childhood misconceptions: Davis thought secrets weren't real, and Julia believed stars were just a poetic metaphor. Longer summary

This post presents two brief anecdotes about misconceptions. Davis shares his belief that secrets were not real, comparing them to evil twins, until a friend in college challenged this notion. Julia recounts her childhood misconception that stars were merely a poetic metaphor, only realizing they were real and visible to everyone when she got glasses in second grade. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander explores subjective temporal granularity, its relation to meditation, and how it might allow for intervening in thought construction. Longer summary

Scott Alexander explores the concept of subjective temporal granularity and its potential connection to meditation. He starts by quoting a Reddit comment that explains meditation as a method for training the mind to override automatic responses. Scott then describes his own experiments with temporal granularity, finding he can perceive events at about a quarter-second scale. He relates this to claims by experienced meditators about perceiving 'vibrations' in sensory input. Scott speculates that meditation might be a way to refine one's subjective temporal granularity, potentially allowing intervention in the thought construction process rather than just experiencing finished thoughts. Shorter summary