Uta Frith

Increased complexity of social category markers leads to diverse rule-based categorizations and reduced intergroup bias | Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences Social categories are key to human social life, often leading to intergroup bias and stereotypes. While traditional studies use binary social markers, real-world markers are more complex. This study e...

Very interesting! Related to works on the importance of diversity of opinions, not just connectivity, in reduction of polarization: diversity leads to increased perceived similarity www.pnas.org/doi/suppl/10...
And our work on complex social markers: royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...

Lottery before peer review is associated with increased female representation and reduced estimated economic cost in a German funding line - Nature Communications The authors show evidence from a German funding line that a lottery-first approach followed by peer review is accompanied by increased female representation both at the submission stage and among fund...

“data show an increase of 10% in submissions & 23% in funded projects from female applicants with the lottery-first approach compared to a previously used procedure. Additionally, the lottery-first approach was estimated to have 68% lower economic costs compared to single-stage peer review approach”

Going against the gut: Q&A with Kevin Mitchell A new review of 15 years of studies on the connection between the microbiome and autism reveals widespread statistical and conceptual errors.

Kevin Mitchell tells it as it is. There nothing there! We're easily captured by a simple narrative for an incredibly complex etiology. www.thetransmitter.org/spectrum/goi...

I found this article super-interesting: Why more social interactions lead to more polarization in societies | PNAS www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

All in the Mind - Are there multiple subtypes of autism, and how vivid are your memories? - BBC Sounds A new study suggests that autism’s genetic profile differs with age at diagnosis.

Brilliant episode of All in the Mind with @claudiahammond.bsky.social, who discusses autism with @utafrith.bsky.social, brain development with @catherineloveday.bsky.social, as well as memory, music and other interesting topics

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Very concerning. Thank you Dorothy, for calling out this folly.

For a thorough dismissal of the acetaminophen scare read this editorial by Eric Fombonne
First published: 17 October 2025
doi.org/10.1111/jcpp...
..."no evidence for a causal association...singling out acetaminophen use to ‘prevent’ autism was unscientific and truly irresponsible".

What could be better to uplift you on a grey day.

<em>Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry</em> | ACAMH Pediatric Journal | Wiley Online Library Increasing awareness of mental health problems, including that of young people, is generally seen as positive, and many interventions to increase awareness are underway internationally. Yet, a princi...

An important analysis and warning.
How spreading mental health information can be (un‐) helpful – a dynamic systems approach - Marcotulli - Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry - Wiley Online Library acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

New research in Rwanda has started ! We continue to try to understand what differs those who participate in a génocide, and those who instead risk their lives to save others.

Here is a picture of our novel and ecological risk-taking task, inspired by the BART.

Making a real difference.

Many congratulations, Masud!!

A brilliant book- can’t recommend it highly enough. Congratulations to Masud Husain!

Autism should not be seen as single condition with one cause, say scientists Those diagnosed as small children typically have distinct genetic profile from those diagnosed later, study finds

Here's a nice clear explainer of the main findings from the new autism study, by @hannahdevlin.bsky.social, including comments from @utafrith.bsky.social.

The best evidence Tylenol causes autism isn't great On Monday, RFK Jr announced Tylenol ‘causes’ autism referencing three studies as evidence. Let's dive in.

If you’ve been following the RFK Jr autism news, then you’ve probably heard that there’s a systematic review “proving” Tylenol causes autism.

Here’s my review of that paper👇🏼

open.substack.com/pub/epiellie...

Here's the key chart from that piece.

Note what's on here with significant risk: genetic inheritance (twin on autism spectrum, sibling), third trimester stress, and factors that can affect maternal/paternal DNA.

What doesn't carry risk? SSRIs. Sonograms. And vaccination. All very well tested.

Is the outgroup is immoral (dishonest, corrupt) by definition?

Marthe Vogt FRS, who was born #OnThisDay in 1903, was one of the 20th century's leading neuroscientists, with a research career spanning 50 years. She is best known for her work to understand the role of neurotransmitters like epinephrine. #WomenInSTEM

Kindly Urania | Royal Society Who is the earliest female author on the shelves of the Royal Society Library? Rupert Baker investigates...

royalsociety.org/blog/2025/08...

Thank you, Mica and Francesca and congratulations to you too.

Thank you, Uri!

Thanks, Jenny! We're planning an outing to vineyards in Kent to celebrate our anniversary.

Many congratulations, Roger. Looking forward to your lecture already.

A review just in time for our 59th Wedding Anniversary on 1st September
Scenes from a Marriage: How We Found Our Way from Experimental Psychology to Social Neuroscience | Annual Reviews - www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...

As Philip K. Dick said, "Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away."

Schwarz-weißes historisches Porträtgemälde von Georg Balthasar Metzger, mit mittellangem Haar und schmalem Schnurrbart. Er trägt einen dunklen Gelehrtenrock mit breitem, hellem Kragen. In der rechten Hand hält er ein Papier, die linke Hand ist leicht erhoben. Oben rechts befinden sich eine Inschrift und ein Wappen. Black-and-white historical portrait painting of Georg Balthasar Metzger, with medium-length hair and a narrow mustache. He wears a dark scholar’s robe with a broad light-colored collar. He holds a paper in his right hand while his left hand is slightly raised. An inscription and a coat of arms appear in the upper right corner.

Gemeinsam mit drei Ärzten wollte der Schweinfurter Mediziner Georg Balthasar Metzger „die Natur erforschen zur Ehre Gottes und zum Wohle der Menschen“. Hierfür gründete das Quartett 1652 die Academia Naturae Curiosorum – die heutige Leopoldina. Mehr zu Metzger:
www.leopoldina.org/mitgliederve...

Mysteries of the past were appreciated in the past.

No empirical support for 'Double Empathy' hypothesis from preregistered study:
doi.org/10.1038/s415...

"We hypothesized that information transfer would deteriorate faster and rapport would be lower in mixed-neurotype compared with single-neurotype chains."
But no difference was found.

Philosophy of Biology Welcome to Cambridge Core

Here's your chance to download not only my book 'Slime Mould and Philosophy' , but download ALL the books in Cambridge Elements Philosophy of Biology series from the 20th to the 25th of July for FREE! I highly recommend Jan Baedke's (2025) book 'The Organism'.
cup.org/4kEgivL
#ISHPSSB #philosophy

Thought provoking and important.