Rebecca Saxe

Professor
Massachussetts Institute of Technology

Rebecca Saxe’s work addresses the human brain’s capacity for abstract thought and the origins of ‘theory of mind,’ the ability to understand the beliefs, hopes and plans of other people.

From this contributor

Spectrum

By Hannah Furfaro

6 February 2018

6 min read

U.S. agency backtracks on broad interpretation of ‘clinical trial’

Autism researchers need no longer worry that their basic research will become entangled in the red tape associated with clinical trials.

Spectrum

U.S. agency backtracks on broad interpretation of ‘clinical trial’

By Hannah Furfaro

6 February 2018 | 6 min read

Spectrum

By Rebecca Saxe

9 May 2008

6 min read

1985 paper on the theory of mind

In 1985, Simon Baron-Cohen, Alan Leslie and Uta Frith reported for the first time that children with autism systematically fail the false belief task.

Spectrum

1985 paper on the theory of mind

By Rebecca Saxe

9 May 2008 | 6 min read

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Modern AI is simply no match for the complexity likely required for harboring consciousness, says Jaan Aru

He argues that our brain’s computations are of a completely different nature than any artificial intelligence because they take place across many spatial and temporal scales and are inextricably entwined with biological materials.