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Postdoc position for biophysical modeling and measurement of TMS effects

by Thomas Knoesche

The Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences (MPI CBS) in Leipzig, Germany, is an internationally recognized research institute of the Max Planck Society and is dedicated to the study of human cognitive abilities and brain processes as well as the development of neuroimaging methods. The Brain Networks Group led by Professor Thomas Knösche offers a Postdoc position (m/f/d) for 3 years. The successful candidate will work on a DFG funded project that is dedicated to the investigation of the working mechanisms underlying the effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of the human motor cortex using advanced electrophysiological measurement techniques combined with biophysical modeling. The project will be carried out in cooperation between the Leipzig University of Applied Sciences, the Czech Academy of Sciences, and the MPI-CBS. Candidates should hold a PhD degree and have a background in engineering, computer science, neuroscience, physics, or similar, as well as a keen interest in neuroscience. Good computer programming skills (e.g., C++, Matlab, Python) are necessary. The ideal candidate would have experience in EEG or MEG (or similar) experimenting, data analysis, and modeling. Prior exposure to volume conduction modeling and/or source analysis would be beneficial. The Institute offers a world-leading research environment with outstanding facilities and research infrastructure (five MR scanners, including a 3T Connectom and 7T Terra.X; MEG; EEG; TMS). The Brain Networks group is dedicated to the development of methods to investigate, model, and understand brain networks and how they give rise to human behavior and cognition. Current projects are centered around non-invasive brain stimulation of the motor system, sensory perception, the relation between human cognition and machine learning, and others. The position is offered for three years. Starting date is in principle flexible, while we aim to get started as soon as possible. The salary is fixed in accordance with the collective agreement for the public sector: TVöD E13. We look forward to receiving your complete online application (reference number “PostDoc 16/25”). Please submit through the online application system on the MPI-CBS website: (1) a statement describing your research interest and motivation to apply for this position as well as your relevant qualifications (max. 2 pages), (2) a full CV, (3) transcript of records for the master and bachelor degrees, and (4) names and contact details of up to two potential referees. There is no formal closing date for the application – it will remain open until filled. Please feel free to contact Prof. Dr. Thomas R. Knösche (knoesche(a)cbs.mpg.de) for informal enquires about the position. The Max Planck Society seeks to employ more people with disabilities and strongly encourages them to apply. Furthermore, we actively support the compatibility of work and family life. The Max Planck Society strives for gender equality and diversity. -- Prof. Dr. Thomas R. Knösche Brain Networks (@brainnetleipzig) Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences Stephanstraße 1A 04103 Leipzig Germany Tel +49 341 9940 2619 Fax +49 341 9940 2624 knoesche(a)cbs.mpg.de http://www.cbs.mpg.de/~knoesche

Dec. 4, 2025

Konstanz School of Collective Behavior 2026 ( Deadline: March 15th, 2026)

by Ahmed El Hady

*Konstanz School of Collective Behaviour 2026* *Konstanz, Germany * *20th July 2026 – 7th August 2026 *** *Deadline to apply: March 15th, 2026* The Konstanz School of Collective Behaviour (KSCB) <https://www.exc.uni-konstanz.de/kscb/about/> will take place between 20th July – 7th August 2026 at the Cluster of Excellence Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour (CASCB) at the University of Konstanz <https://www.uni-konstanz.de/en/>. Konstanz <https://www.konstanz.de/start> is a vibrant, small city located on the border between Germany and Switzerland, on the shores of the Bodensee (Lake Constance). Over three weeks, students will delve deeply into the topic of collective behaviour with lectures, hands-on tutorials, and projects, making it a unique and unforgettable experience. The school faculty will cover collective behaviours across a variety of species from cells, worms, drosophila, fish to non – human primates and human. A set of tutorials delving into state-of-the-art quantitative methods used to study collective behaviour will complement the lectures. At the end of the school, students will work on independent projects guided by our resident faculty and tutors. The Konstanz School of Collective Behaviour is intended for graduate students, doctoral researchers, and early postdoctoral researchers. We consider applicants with strong quantitative background including but not limited to physics, computer science, mathematics and engineering. Applicants with biological and experimental background will be considered if they demonstrate in their application extensive quantitative and mathematical background as the focus of the school is quantitative study of collective behaviours. Accommodation will be provided and paid by the organizers. A limited number of travel support will be provided and a registration fee will be due (500 Euros) once the student is admitted to the Konstanz School of Collective Behaviour. The registration fee will be waived to those coming from underrepresented minorities and those in need of financial support. The submission of applications for the fourth Konstanz School of Collective Behaviour is currently open until March 15, 2026. We will inform the applicants during the month of April whether their application was successful For further information about the school and the application procedure , visit our website: _https://www.exc.uni-konstanz.de/kscb/application-procedure/ _ *KSCB 2026 faculty : * ·Anastasia Bizyaeva ( Cornell University, USA) ·Iain Couzin ( University of Konstanz / Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior) ·Einat Couzin-fuchs ( University of Konstanz ) ·David Garcia ( University of Konstanz ) ·Dan Gorbonos ( Holon Institute of Technology, Israel and Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior) ·Stefan Krapitscka ( University of Konstanz ) ·Zachary Kilpatrick ( University of Colorado Boulder, USA) ·Liang Li ( Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior) ·Yonatan Loewenstein ( Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel) ·Ran Nathan ( Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel ) ·Mor Nitzan ( Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel) ·Britta Renner ( University of Konstanz ) ·Allyson Sgro ( Janelia Farm Research Campus, Virginia, USA) ·Joshua Shaevitz ( Princeton University, USA) ·Ariana Strandburg-Peshkin ( Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior) ·Katrin Vogt ( University of Konstanz ) *In case you have any questions, please contact: **ahmed.el-hady(a)uni-konstanz.de <mailto:ahmed.el-hady@uni-konstanz.de>** * All the best regards, Ahmed El Hady On behalf of the KSCB organizational committee Dr. Ahmed El Hady Principal Investigator Cluster for Advanced Study of Collective Behavior, University of Konstanz Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior Universitätsstraße 10, 78464 Konstanz Room ZT 907 Postbox 687 Tel.: +49 7531 88-4742

Dec. 2, 2025

Research Fellow / Postdoc positions in TMS modeling - ICS CAS (Czechia)

by Vincent Chien

* Research Fellow / Postdoc positions in TMS modeling There is an open position for a Research Fellow / Postdoctoral position in Computational Neuroscience within the TMSmodel project, jointly led by Konstantin Weise (HTWK, Leipzig), Thomas R. Knösche (MPI-CBS, Leipzig), and Vincent S.C. Chien (CAS, Prague). The goal of the project is to develop a comprehensive biophysical model that explains the dependence of motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) recorded from hand muscles, as well as D-I-waves measured from the spinal cord, on the parameters of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). The successful candidate will join the Complex Networks and Brain Dynamics group and will focus on (1) transmission of action potential volleys along spinal and peripheral axon bundles, (2) modeling the spinal cord circuitry and muscle activation, and (3) fitting and evaluating the model against electric recordings. * Research Teams COBRA Lab (Czech Academy of Sciences): https://cobra.cs.cas.cz/ Brain Networks Group (Max Planck Institute): https://www.cbs.mpg.de/methods-and-development-groups/brain-networks * Job Details & Application Link https://www.cs.cas.cz/job-offer/Research-fellow-postdoctoral-positions-Chie… Sincerely, Vincent Chien, Ph.D. Department of Complex Systems, Institute of Computer Science, Czech Academy of Sciences

Dec. 2, 2025

Fully-funded PhD positions in Human & Machine Intelligence (Neuro & AI) at Boston College

by Momchil Tomov

How does the brain support adaptive decision making in the real world? Recent advances in AI have provided us with models that rival humans on challenging naturalistic tasks and can serve as starting points for tackling this question head-on. At the same time, as frontier AI labs push the limits of scaling laws, many doubt whether more data and compute alone will lead to human-level learning, planning, and generalization. The new *Human & Machine Intelligence Lab* at *Boston College* is recruiting *1-2 PhD students* to work on reverse-engineering naturalistic learning and decision making in the brain. Specifically, we aim to understand: 1. How the human brain *learns* internal models of complex, naturalistic environments. 2. How it uses these models to *plan* toward distant goals. 3. How it *generalizes* this knowledge to new environments. Building on recent work in theory-based RL [1], you will tackle these questions by leveraging state-of-the-art AI models (e.g., DDQN, MuZero, LLMs/VLMs) to analyze behavioral, fMRI, and MEG data from human subjects engaging in rich tasks, such as learning to play new video games. You will also have the opportunity to design and conduct experiments (behavior/fMRI/MEG) to test your hypotheses. The lab is led by *Momchil Tomov* (starting in Fall 2026) and is joint between the *Department of Psychology & Neuroscience* and the *Department of Computer Science*. *Why Boston College?* Boston College is an elite R1 research institution in the heart of the Boston metropolitan area. Greater Boston is a powerhouse of innovation, home to over 35 colleges and universities – including Harvard and MIT – and a thriving ecosystem of AI & biotech startups. As a PhD student, you will be immersed in this vibrant research community while enjoying the benefits of living in a diverse, bustling metropolis. For the outdoors-inclined, New England offers scenic opportunities to escape city life: from sailing on the Charles River, to hiking or skiing in the White Mountains, to surfing off the shores of Rhode Island, to enjoying freshly caught oysters on Cape Cod. *Position Details* - Lab: Human & Machine Intelligence - PI: Momchil Tomov - Website: www.momchiltomov.com - Contact: mtomov+compneuro(a)g.harvard.edu - Stipend: $45,000 / year (fully-funded) - Start date: September, 2026 *Application* - Deadline: *December 15, 2025* - Department of Psychology & Neuroscience: [*APPLY HERE <https://www.bc.edu/content/bc-web/schools/morrissey/departments/psychology-…>* ] - Department of Computer Science: [*APPLY HERE <https://www.bc.edu/bc-web/schools/morrissey/departments/computer-science/ac…>* ] *Requirements* The ideal candidate has experience with state-of-the-art RL models/LLMs/VLMs and/or experience analyzing behavioral/neural data. Experience collecting fMRI/MEG data is a plus. Please do not hesitate to reach out with questions! We also encourage you to forward this to anyone who might be interested. *References* [1] Tomov, M. S., Tsividis, P., Pouncy, T., Tenenbaum, J. B., Gershman, S. J. (2023). “The neural architecture of theory-based reinforcement learning.” *Neuron* 111 (2): 454-469. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2023.01.023

Nov. 30, 2025

Call for Registration: Physics and the Self Interdisciplinary Conference at Senate House, London

by Jonathan Emery

Conference theme: “Physics and the Self: Interdisciplinary Perspectives” Dates: Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th December 2025, 09:30-18:00 GMT Venue: Woburn Suite, Ground Floor, Senate House, Malet Street, London, WC1E 7HU Host institution: Institute of Philosophy, School of Advanced Study, University of London This interdisciplinary conference will feature presentations from keynote speakers and early career researchers working within neuroscience, physics, and philosophy departments whose work engages with the theme “Physics and the Self: Interdisciplinary Perspectives”. Speakers will pitch their talks at a level accessible to non-specialists, to promote interdisciplinary collaboration. We invite anyone with an interest in our conference theme to attend the two-day event, participate in the Q&As, and meet the speakers and organisers. Registration is required. Please click here for further information including the programme and the registration link: https://www.sas.ac.uk/news-events/events/physics-self-interdisciplinary-per…

Nov. 29, 2025

Postdoctoral Positions in Decision Neuroscience at Trinity College Dublin

by Konstantinos Tsetsos

The Institute of Neuroscience and the School of Psychology at Trinity College Dublin invite applications for multiple postdoctoral positions based in the Irrationality Lab, led by Prof. Konstantinos Tsetsos. These positions are part of the European Research Council (ERC) Consolidator Grant “The Dynamics of Attribute Weighting in Multiattribute Choice” (DYNATT) awarded to Prof. Tsetsos. The project aims to uncover the neural and computational mechanisms underlying preference variability by asking how the human brain shapes, maintains, and revises preferences for different attributes during decision-making. To achieve the aims of the project, we will combine magnetoencephalography (OPM-MEG), computational modelling, and behavioural paradigms to decode and model multiattribute preferences at high temporal resolution. This approach will provide mechanistic insights on the drivers of preference variability, with potential applications in both clinical and applied behavioural science domains. The successful candidates will design and conduct experiments using MEG, analyse neural and behavioural data, and develop computational models of decision-making. Strong quantitative and programming skills and experience with E/MEG analysis are required. Appointments are available for at least three years, with flexible start dates up to November 2026. Positions will be remunerated according to the IUA salary scales for postdoctoral researchers, commensurate with experience and qualifications. Application deadline: *January 15th 2026*. Informal inquiries are welcome. Information about the lab: https://www.ktsetsoslab.net Further details and how to apply: https://www.ktsetsoslab.net/_files/ugd/01e170_d91c53b13734471d944d528316ea3… >

Nov. 28, 2025

PhD opportunity in computational neuroscience at UPC - BarcelonaTech

by Linus Manubens-Gil

Dear All, I am seeking a candidate interested in applying for an *FPU-UPC PhD fellowship *(see last year's call for reference here <https://talenthub.upc.edu/en/jobs/r1/fpu-upc-2025/fpu-upc-2025>) to work on computational neuroscience. The project can be oriented either toward: 1. *Single-neuron biophysical modeling:* ion-channel dynamics, dendritic and axonal morphology, calcium-dependent plasticity, and large-scale simulations of human and mouse neurons. 2. *NeuroAI:* biologically inspired machine-learning models using realistic neuronal network architecture constraints (see: https://biocomsc.upc.edu/en/tfg-and-tfm-with-us/projects/tfe_neuroia_2025-1… ). Candidates should have solid skills in Python and ideally computational neuroscience modeling (NEURON, Arbor, etc.) or AI background (e.g., PyTorch) and a strong motivation for either direction. Interested applicants should send a *CV + brief statement of interest*. Application deadline (early April 2026). Some time may be necessary to arrange documentation and get preliminary acceptance in the PhD program. Start date (October 2026). With best regards, Linus -- Linus Manubens-Gil Investigator BG Jr <https://www.ciencia.gob.es/en/Convocatorias/2024/BeatrizGalindo2024.html> BIOCOM-SC <https://biocomsc.upc.edu/en/> MERIT MSc. Programme <https://epsem.upc.edu/en/graduate/merit> Dept. EMIT <https://emit.upc.edu/en?set_language=en> Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya BarcelonaTech - EPSEM

Nov. 27, 2025

Fwd: [seminar.wwtns] New recording on the VVTNS YouTube channel: Flexible analog computation in low-rank balanced spiking networks by Alfonso Renart

by David Hansel

[image: VVTNS.png] > > <https://84454458.streak-link.com/Cq-mDg07ey98pEfARQH4qidY/https%3A%2F%2Fwww…> > https://www.wwtns.online > <https://streaklinks.com/A9c7PbbpKY7PxB6PaAJWGD3-/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wwtns.on…> > - on twitter: wwtns@TheoreticalWide - on Youtube > New on the VVTNS YouTube Channel https://www.wwtns.online/past-seminars-2025-2026 *Flexible analog computation in low-rank balanced spiking networks* Lecture delivered on November 26, 2025 by Alfonso Renart Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon *Abstract:* Recurrent networks with balanced excitation-inhibition explain a wide range of neurophysiological observations, but can only implement a limited set of transformations on their input. On the other hand networks of firing-rate units with low-rank connectivity have universal computational capabilities, but do not work with spikes or generate noise self-consistently. Although empirical approaches to merge these two computational frameworks have been constructed, there is no established theory describing their unification. Here we develop such a theory. We study analytically and numerically networks with connectivity comprising random “strong”, and low-rank “weak” components. When the low-rank connectivity is slow, a well-defined notion of instantaneous firing rate emerges which implies universal computation as previously shown. However, the fact that such time-varying rates are the result of E-I balance has important implications. We show that internally or externally generated fluctuations along particular latent modes tend to break the E-I balance. Its maintenance is obtained through the emergence of a spontaneous coupling between the mean and the variance of the membrane potential and the norm of the latent state driving these modes. This leads to several predictions, the most counterintuitive of which is that coherent global fluctuations in subthreshold membrane potential (Vm) should coexist with desynchronized activity at constant firing rates when the dynamics of these modes is excited. To test our theory, we show that the coupling between the average Vm and the latent state adds new non-linear dimensions to the low-dimensional manifold of the network, which lead to a frequency doubling when the input to the network is periodic, a prediction that is borne out in population recordings from mouse V1. Our results unify two prevalent frameworks for cortical computation and clarify the relationship between computation, dynamics and geometry in circuits of spiking neurons. *About VVTNS : Launched as the World Wide Theoretical Neuroscience Seminar (WWTNS) in November 2020 and renamed in homage to Carl van Vreeswijk in Memoriam (April 20, 2022), Speakers have the occasion to talk about theoretical aspects of their work which cannot be discussed in a setting where the majority of the audience consists of experimentalists. The seminars, **held on Wednesdays at 11 am ET,** are 45-50 min long followed by a discussion. The talks are recorded with authorization of the speaker and are available to everybody on our YouTube channel.* ᐧ

Nov. 26, 2025

Call for Contributions: Conference on the Simulation of Adaptive Behavior, 19-22 October, at TU Berlin, Germany

by Sprekeler, Henning

From Animals to Animats 18: The 18th International Conference on Simulation of Adaptive Behavior (SAB 2026) Where: TU Berlin, Germany When: 19-22 October 2026 Website: www.sab-conference.org<http://www.sab-conference.org/> Important Dates Submission deadline: 15 May 2026 Notification of acceptance:19 June 2026 Camera-ready paper version due: 17 July 2026 Conference takes place: 19-22 October 2026 Objectives: The interdisciplinary conference on the Simulation of Adaptive Behavior: From Animals to Animats (SAB) 2026 brings together researchers from artificial intelligence, robotics, behavioral biology, psychology, neuroscience, and many other fields. The conference offers a unique opportunity to exchange ideas across disciplinary boundaries. We believe this exchange is necessary to advance our understanding of the mechanisms that enable general and robust behavior in natural animals and artificial agents. The conference focuses on characterizing and comparing organizational principles and architectures underlying adaptive behavior in animals and animats. Animats denote the conceptual connections between animals and synthetic agents. The conference therefore actively seeks submissions that bridge several of the aforementioned disciplines, combining their methodological foundations to arrive at novel insights and approaches. Of particular interest are research projects which connect natural behavior to synthetic agents, including those leveraging modern machine learning and deep learning techniques for behavioral modeling, analysis, and synthesis. Selected papers will be invited to a special issue in the journal Adaptive Behavior and will be published with Springer Nature. SAB accepts submissions in several tracks: * Conference papers are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published in conference proceedings “From Animals to Animats 18: SAB 2026” Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence, Springer Nature. * Conference papers without inclusion in the proceedings. These papers will undergo a light peer-review. Papers will be included on the conference website but they will not be formally published so that your research results can still appear in your disciplinary journals. * Poster abstracts are peer-reviewed for general suitability of the content. Accepted posters will be presented at a poster session and, time permitting, will be able to present a spotlight presentation to the conference attendees. * Position papers are peer reviewed; they offer a novel, visionary perspective on the convergence of different branches of behavior-based research in both artificial and biological systems. These papers are supposed to trigger a lively discussion. * Workshop or Tutorial proposals will be peer reviewed. Workshops and Tutorials will take place on September 20. The event should be relevant to the expected audience of SAB. Topics of interest: * Artificial Intelligence, Artificial Life, and Computational neuroscience * Action selection, behavioral sequencing * Communication and language * Emotion and motivation * Internal models and representations * Reinforcement learning * Sensory-motor coordination, motor control * Software agents and virtual creatures * Philosophical Issues * Consciousness * Ethics * Mind/Body problem * Robotics * Autonomous robotics * Bio-inspired and hybrid robotics * Cognitive robotics * Developmental robotics * Humanoid robotics * Navigation and mapping * Neurorobotics * Self-Organizing Systems * Body and brain co-evolution * Collective and social behavior * Dynamical systems approaches * Evolutionary and co-evolutionary approaches * Self-assembling and self-replication Paper and Abstract Submission: Author Guidelines for All Tracks All submissions must be written in English and formatted in the Springer LNCS style. Please refer to the LNCS Springer style guide<https://www.springer.com/gp/computer-science/lncs/conference-proceedings-gu…> for style templates and formatting instructions. We strongly encourage authors to prepare papers using LaTeX. The LNCS package for LaTeX and the instructions file can be downloaded directly from Springer’s website. Additional Guidelines for Conference and Position Papers All submitted papers (conference papers with and without inclusion in the proceedings, as well as position papers) must not exceed 12 pages, including references. Additional Guidelines for Poster Abstracts All submitted poster abstracts must not exceed 3 pages, including references. How to Submit All submissions will be handled through the CMT (Conference Management Toolkit) system. Authors must create a CMT account before submitting their paper. (For instructions: visit our website<https://sab2026.scioi.de/call-for-contributions/>.) Where to Submit SAB submission website (CMT)<https://cmt3.research.microsoft.com/User/Login?ReturnUrl=%2FSAB2026%2FSubmi…> Paper Review & Acceptance: All submitted full papers will be peer-reviewed based on relevance, originality, quality of presentation, and technical quality. The authors of all accepted papers are kindly requested to revise their papers following the reviewers’ comments. Authors of accepted papers will be invited to present their research work either as an oral presentation or as a poster. Workshop Tutorial Proposals: We will consider proposals for workshops and tutorials. Workshops and tutorials will be held on the first day of the conference (19 October 2025) and must be held in-person. Proposals will be reviewed by the Organizing Committee. To submit a workshop or tutorial, please follow the below template and submit here: CMT Portal<https://cmt3.research.microsoft.com/SAB2026/Track/6/Submission/Create> Template Similar to paper submissions, please follow the LNCS Springer style guide<https://www.springer.com/gp/computer-science/lncs/conference-proceedings-gu…> for templates and formatting instructions. For your workshop or tutorial proposal, please include the following information, as displayed on our website<https://sab2026.scioi.de/call-for-contributions/>. Publication: All accepted papers (oral and poster presentations) will be published by Springer Nature in the Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence series<https://link.springer.com/conference/sab>. Program Committee: Francisco Javier Bellas Bouza – Universidade da Coruña Maren Bennewitz – Universität Bonn Marcel Brass – Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin Lola Cañamero – CY Cergy Paris Université Nikolaus Correll – University of Colorado Boulder Richard José Duro Fernández – Universidade da Coruña Heiko Hamann – Universität Konstanz Alex Kacelnik – University of Oxford Jens Krause – Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin Oliver Kroemer – Carnegie Mellon University Poramate Manoonpong – Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology Justus Piater – Universität Innsbruck Tony Prescott – University of Sheffield Pawel Romanczuk – Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin Gregor Schöner – Ruhr-Universität Bochum Dylan Shell – Texas A&M University Gaurav Sukhatme – University of Southern California Jochen Triesch – Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies Elio Tuci – Université de Namur Myra Wilson – Aberystwyth University Florentin Wörgötter – Universität Göttingen Program Chairs: Oliver Brock – Technische Universität Berlin Jeff Krichmar – University of California, Irvine The conference will be held at Science of Intelligence<https://www.scienceofintelligence.de/>/TU Berlin and the Universität der Künste (UDK), Berlin, Germany. We look forward to welcoming you at SAB 2026! Best regards, SAB Organizing Committee organisers(a)sab-conference.org<mailto:organisers@sab-conference.org> — Prof. Dr. Henning Sprekeler Modelling of Cognitive Processes Technische Universität Berlin Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience www: https://www.sprekelerlab.org

Nov. 26, 2025

23 RTAIM: "Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Traits of Integrated Psychopathy: a Comparative Analysis"

by steven gouveia

rTAIM (Rebuilding Trust in AI Medicine) Monthly Seminars Seminar #23 Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Traits of Integrated Psychopathy: a Comparative Analysis | Mariana Olezza (University of Buenos Aires, Argentina) We are happy to announce the forthcoming 23rd rTAIM Online Seminar, with the participation of Mariana Olezza (University of Buenos Aires, Argentina) on the 25th November 2025, 19h00-20h30 (Lisbon Time Zone), via Microsoft Teams. ONLINE | Link Microsoft Teams<https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/32764207191669?p=CoVDpglNlFU2nuv7PD> #Seminar 23: This talk will address the issues raised in the following structure: Chekley., (1988); Lilienfeld et al., (2015); Mathieu et al., (2014); Persson & Lilienfeld., (2019); Rahman., (2012) argue that some people might have psychopathic traits and still function in society as part of a normal life—that is, the “integrated psychopath.” This is paralleled in Large Language Models (LLMs) (Vaswani et al., 2017) and Reinforcement Learning (RL)–based recommendation systems (Nie, 2025). The behavior has its distinct set of attributes: 1) Promising users all the goods but not living up to any of them—similar to hallucinations in RL–based LLMs (Huang et al., 2023)—Users were cheered up by “flattery” (one type of hallucination). 2) These systems seem devoid of any emotions, but they mimic emotional reactions, especially positive social emotions, similarly to the way human scammers do (Wang et al., 2021), in the absence of guilt and shame 3) Chekley also includes the notion of “semantic aphasia” in this regard, or fluent speech but with no real semantic comprehension—a feature which can still be inferred in LLMs on a deeper level, although inasmuch as they have no consciousness, no moral consciousness can be inferred. Short bio: Mariana Olezza is an Argentinian Computer Engineer (National University of Córdoba), pursuing a PhD in Philosophy (University of Buenos Aires). Some research areas of interest: philosophy of AI/Mind/Psychiatry/Abduction. She recently worked at Infosys in the field of “Semantic entropy and hallucinations in LLMs” theoretically and practically. rTAIM (Rebuilding Trust in AI Medicine) Monthly Seminars are online seminars open to anyone in the world that would like to present her/his current research on topics associated with the main theme of the project. rTAIM Seminars: https://ifilosofia.up.pt/activities/rtaim-seminars https://trustaimedicine.weebly.com/rtaim-seminars.html Organisation: Steven S. Gouveia (MLAG/IF) Mind, Language and Action Group (MLAG) Instituto de Filosofia da Universidade do Porto – UID/00502/2025 Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) ____________________________________________ Instituto de Filosofia (UI&D 502) Faculdade de Letras da Universidade do Porto Via Panorâmica s/n 4150-564 Porto Tel. 22 607 71 80 E-mail: ifilosofia(a)letras.up.pt<mailto:ifilosofia@letras.up.pt> http://ifilosofia.up.pt/

Nov. 24, 2025