After Phrenology

Artificial Intelligence

Why Natural General Intelligence (Still) Reigns Supreme

Michael L. Anderson Ph.D. on November 21, 2025

When someone tells you that AI is going to replace human intelligence, you can honestly tell them that, as of this writing, it's impossible. So far, AI only reproduces what we do.

When someone tells you that AI is going to replace human intelligence, you can honestly tell them that, as of this writing, it's impossible. So far, AI only reproduces what we do.

Personal Perspectives

You Are Not a Brain in a Vat

Michael L. Anderson Ph.D. on March 4, 2025

Personal Perspective: The tech bros are touting the idea that we live in a simulation. It's demonstrably false. Why do they push this nonsense? Why now?

Personal Perspective: The tech bros are touting the idea that we live in a simulation. It's demonstrably false. Why do they push this nonsense? Why now?

Without some deep thinking about the true nature of the brain and its complexity, recent neuroscience initiatives risk needlessly repeating the mistakes of the human genome project

Environment

Psychological Ecology

Michael L. Anderson Ph.D. on January 10, 2013

Psychological biases and frames often prevent us from admitting the possibility of environmental calamity, despite the overwhelming evidence for climate change. Here I describe two simple principles that guide our thinking, and how understanding them can help us improve communication and cooperation to solve some pressing problems.

Psychological biases and frames often prevent us from admitting the possibility of environmental calamity, despite the overwhelming evidence for climate change. Here I describe two simple principles that guide our thinking, and how understanding them can help us improve communication and cooperation to solve some pressing problems.

Neuroscience

The Eyes Have It

Michael L. Anderson Ph.D. on October 8, 2012

MIT neuroscientist Sebastian Seung is using the eyes to examine the brain, and he invites you to help him. Learn about what the study of cell-to-cell connections is telling us about some fundamental principles of brain organization, and how you can join his virtual lab and become an internet brain scientist.

MIT neuroscientist Sebastian Seung is using the eyes to examine the brain, and he invites you to help him. Learn about what the study of cell-to-cell connections is telling us about some fundamental principles of brain organization, and how you can join his virtual lab and become an internet brain scientist.

Neuroscience

You Are Not Your Connectome!

Michael L. Anderson Ph.D. on July 16, 2012

Connectomics—the study of our brain’s wiring diagram—is exciting science. But the notion that this is the Big Idea that will crack the neural code has led to some pretty fringe ideas, like the possibility of mind-uploads. In fact, the brain is more complicated than that. No matter how thin you deli-slice your brain, you’re guaranteed to be missing something.

Connectomics—the study of our brain’s wiring diagram—is exciting science. But the notion that this is the Big Idea that will crack the neural code has led to some pretty fringe ideas, like the possibility of mind-uploads. In fact, the brain is more complicated than that. No matter how thin you deli-slice your brain, you’re guaranteed to be missing something.

Intelligence

Brain Injury Study Points to Integrative Nature of Intelligence

Michael L. Anderson Ph.D. on April 14, 2012

In a study of 182 patients with focal brain injuries, Dr. Aron Barbey and colleagues use a simple but elegant method known as voxel-based lesion-symptom mapping to identify the many regions of the brain that are causally related to general intelligence.

In a study of 182 patients with focal brain injuries, Dr. Aron Barbey and colleagues use a simple but elegant method known as voxel-based lesion-symptom mapping to identify the many regions of the brain that are causally related to general intelligence.

The 2010 publication of "Testing predictions from personality neuroscience: Brain structure and the big five" marked the beginning of a small personal test of the "just let it die" neuroscience-without-criticism approach to bad ideas.

In science, as in life, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Neuroscience

MIT Scientists Declare There Is No Science of Brains!

Michael L. Anderson Ph.D. on September 2, 2011

If individual differences trump general principles, then things look dim for neuroscience.

If individual differences trump general principles, then things look dim for neuroscience.

Intelligence

Is Our Brain as Good as It Gets?

Michael L. Anderson Ph.D. on July 7, 2011

How the laws of physics may keep us from getting any smarter than we already are.

How the laws of physics may keep us from getting any smarter than we already are.

Neuroscience

What Psychology Tells Us About the Brain and Vice Versa Part I: An Intro to Cognitive Neuroscience 2.0

Michael L. Anderson Ph.D. on May 24, 2011

A new way to look at brain images leads to a new way to look at the brain.

A new way to look at brain images leads to a new way to look at the brain.

Neuroscience

The Dynamic Brain

Michael L. Anderson Ph.D. on February 23, 2011

The brain is constantly dancing to its own inner music. What does that tell us about how the brain works?

The brain is constantly dancing to its own inner music. What does that tell us about how the brain works?