Category Archives: In eigener Sache

#Yannygate highlights the underrated benefits of keeping foxes around

Posted on May 25, 2018 by Lascap

In May 2018, a phenomenon surfaced that lends itself of differential interpretation – some people hear “Laurel” whereas others hear “Yanny” when listening to the same clip. As far as I’m concerned, this is a direct audio analogue of #thedress … Continue reading →

Posted in In eigener Sache, Neuroscience, Pet peeve, Psychology, Science, Social commentary | 1 Comment

My policy on quote review

Posted on November 8, 2017 by Lascap

I understand the need of journalists to simplify quotes and make them more palatable to their audience. Academics have a tendency to hedge every statement. In fact, they would have to be an octopus to account for all the hands … Continue reading →

Posted in In eigener Sache | Leave a comment

Of psychopaths, musical tastes, media relations and games of telephone

Posted on September 27, 2017 by Lascap

Usually, I publicly comment on our work once it is published, like here, here or here. So I was quite surprised when I was approached by the Guardian to comment on an unpublished abstract. Neuroscientists typically present these as “work in progress” … Continue reading →

Posted in In eigener Sache, Science, Social commentary | 2 Comments

Predicting movie taste

Posted on May 9, 2017 by Lascap

There is a fundamental tension between how movie critics conceive of their role and how their reviews are utilized by the moviegoing public. Movie critics by and large see their job as educating the public as to what is a good movie and explaining … Continue reading →

Posted in In eigener Sache, Journal club, Psychology, Science | 1 Comment

Pascal’s Pensees, 5 years on

Posted on October 25, 2015 by Lascap

Before October 25th, 2010, I had no social media presence whatsoever – I wasn’t on Twitter, didn’t have a blog and G+ wasn’t around yet. Frankly, it hadn’t occurred to me before, but it was one of the requirements to … Continue reading →

Posted in Conference, In eigener Sache, Neuroscience | 3 Comments

Why I am not continuing this online argument

Posted on December 6, 2014 by Lascap

I started our exchange in a spirit of friendship and respectful exploration. I hoped that we could maybe learn something. The reason I’m now discontinuing it is that I realize that this specific communication can no longer be meaningfully characterized … Continue reading →

Posted in In eigener Sache | Leave a comment

A primer on the neuroscience of happiness

Posted on February 9, 2014 by Lascap

The age old question of what makes for a happy life is of great interest to almost anyone who is in fact alive. A classic answer, building on Aristotelian notions of happiness, is provided by Charles Murray who points out … Continue reading →

Posted in In eigener Sache, Neuroscience, Philosophy, Psychology, Social commentary, Technology | 1 Comment

Coming to the US of A – 10 years on

Posted on February 19, 2011 by Lascap

I find it hard to believe, but ten years ago today, I arrived in the US for the very first time. I find it worth reflecting on this – personally quite meaningful and memorable – anniversary. And I do remember … Continue reading →

Posted in In eigener Sache, Life | Leave a comment

In eigener Sache: The attractor structure of logarithmic iterations in the complex plane

Posted on December 29, 2010 by Lascap

I decided to post my explorations in empirical mathematics on arXiv. This was done in the same spirit as the work that led to the Eagleman prize back in 2006. At some point, I will have to prettify the plots … Continue reading →

Posted in In eigener Sache, Matlab, Science | 1 Comment