Confused about all this talk of compositionality in neuroscience? Read our new perspective www.nature.com/articles/s41... with authors Reidar Riveland and Alex Pouget.
The compositionality continuum as a principle for studying the neural basis of intelligence - Nature Neuroscience
Compositionality exists on a continuum of increasing complexity rather than as a binary trait. Studying its implementation in simpler biological and artificial systems is the most tractable path towar...
www.nature.com
August 8, 2026 at 9:21 PM
Confused about all this talk of compositionality in neuroscience? Read our new perspective www.nature.com/articles/s41... with authors Reidar Riveland and Alex Pouget.
👶🧠
Pequay, E., & Dautriche, I. (2026). The development of compositionality in language and thought. Annual Review of Developmental Psychology, 8. Advance online publication. doi.org/10.1146/annu...
Pequay, E., & Dautriche, I. (2026). The development of compositionality in language and thought. Annual Review of Developmental Psychology, 8. Advance online publication. doi.org/10.1146/annu...
The Development of Compositionality in Language and Thought
Compositionality is the property of a representational system whereby complex meanings arise from the combination of simpler meaningful elements. Here we take a developmental perspective to…
doi.org
September 21, 2026 at 11:27 AM
👶🧠
Pequay, E., & Dautriche, I. (2026). The development of compositionality in language and thought. Annual Review of Developmental Psychology, 8. Advance online publication. doi.org/10.1146/annu...
Pequay, E., & Dautriche, I. (2026). The development of compositionality in language and thought. Annual Review of Developmental Psychology, 8. Advance online publication. doi.org/10.1146/annu...
🚨New in @science.org🚨
With Simon Townsend (@nccrlanguage.bsky.social) and Martin Surbeck, we have investigated whether wild bonobos can combine calls in complex combinations, similar to how humans combine words into sentences 🧪
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
#ScienceResearch #AnimalCommunication
With Simon Townsend (@nccrlanguage.bsky.social) and Martin Surbeck, we have investigated whether wild bonobos can combine calls in complex combinations, similar to how humans combine words into sentences 🧪
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
#ScienceResearch #AnimalCommunication
Extensive compositionality in the vocal system of bonobos
Compositionality, the capacity to combine meaningful elements into larger meaningful structures, is a hallmark of human language. Compositionality can be trivial (the combination’s meaning is the sum ...
www.science.org
April 4, 2025 at 8:22 AM
🚨New in @science.org🚨
With Simon Townsend (@nccrlanguage.bsky.social) and Martin Surbeck, we have investigated whether wild bonobos can combine calls in complex combinations, similar to how humans combine words into sentences 🧪
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
#ScienceResearch #AnimalCommunication
With Simon Townsend (@nccrlanguage.bsky.social) and Martin Surbeck, we have investigated whether wild bonobos can combine calls in complex combinations, similar to how humans combine words into sentences 🧪
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
#ScienceResearch #AnimalCommunication
Compositionality in the news
Calling it the Donald Trump-Kennedy memorial center implies that Trump is also dead.
I’m currently outside of the Kennedy Center:
December 19, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Compositionality in the news
My Compositionality entry is out at the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: plato.stanford.edu/entries/comp...
Compositionality (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)
plato.stanford.edu
November 4, 2025 at 12:15 PM
My Compositionality entry is out at the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: plato.stanford.edu/entries/comp...
🐸 New position paper on compositionality! 🐸
I synthesize my thoughts about the proper role/interpretation of behavior and mechanism in asking the question "Is this system (mind or machine) exhibiting compositionality?"
I synthesize my thoughts about the proper role/interpretation of behavior and mechanism in asking the question "Is this system (mind or machine) exhibiting compositionality?"
July 1, 2026 at 1:30 PM
🐸 New position paper on compositionality! 🐸
I synthesize my thoughts about the proper role/interpretation of behavior and mechanism in asking the question "Is this system (mind or machine) exhibiting compositionality?"
I synthesize my thoughts about the proper role/interpretation of behavior and mechanism in asking the question "Is this system (mind or machine) exhibiting compositionality?"
Understanding the flexibility of working memory: Compositionality, generative processing, anchors and holistic representations
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
#neuroscience
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
#neuroscience
Understanding the flexibility of working memory: Compositionality, generative processing, anchors and holistic representations
The typical conception of working memory is a mechanism to temporarily hold multiple discrete objects in service of other cognitive tasks in an item-b…
www.sciencedirect.com
October 25, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Understanding the flexibility of working memory: Compositionality, generative processing, anchors and holistic representations
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
#neuroscience
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
#neuroscience
"Findings suggest that compositionality [the capacity to combine meaningful elements into larger meaningful structures] is a prominent feature of the bonobo vocal system revealing stronger parallels with human language than previously thought." Fascinating work by @berthetmelissa.bsky.social et al.🧪
Extensive compositionality in the vocal system of bonobos
Compositionality, the capacity to combine meaningful elements into larger meaningful structures, is a hallmark of human language. Compositionality can be trivial (the combination’s meaning is the sum ...
www.science.org
April 3, 2025 at 6:45 PM
"Findings suggest that compositionality [the capacity to combine meaningful elements into larger meaningful structures] is a prominent feature of the bonobo vocal system revealing stronger parallels with human language than previously thought." Fascinating work by @berthetmelissa.bsky.social et al.🧪
Understanding the flexibility of working memory: compositionality, generative processing, anchors and holistic representations
doi.org/10.1016/j.ne...
#neuroscience
doi.org/10.1016/j.ne...
#neuroscience
Redirecting
doi.org
October 5, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Understanding the flexibility of working memory: compositionality, generative processing, anchors and holistic representations
doi.org/10.1016/j.ne...
#neuroscience
doi.org/10.1016/j.ne...
#neuroscience
One of the best features of a language is failures of compositionality
‘Booty’ and ‘butt’ are synonyms.
‘Call’ and ‘dial’ are synonyms.
But, a ‘booty call’ and a ‘butt dial’ are VERY different things.
‘Call’ and ‘dial’ are synonyms.
But, a ‘booty call’ and a ‘butt dial’ are VERY different things.
September 12, 2025 at 5:17 PM
One of the best features of a language is failures of compositionality
The study can be found here: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Extensive compositionality in the vocal system of bonobos
Compositionality, the capacity to combine meaningful elements into larger meaningful structures, is a hallmark of human language. Compositionality can be trivial (the combination’s meaning is the sum ...
www.science.org
April 3, 2025 at 8:24 PM
The study can be found here: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Important study yielding new insights into the deep roots of aspects of our communication system/#language— @berthetmelissa.bsky.social M. Surbeck and S. Townsend did great work to reveal semantic composition in vocal combinations in bonobos. 🧪 Out in @science.org :
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Extensive compositionality in the vocal system of bonobos
Compositionality, the capacity to combine meaningful elements into larger meaningful structures, is a hallmark of human language. Compositionality can be trivial (the combination’s meaning is the sum ...
www.science.org
April 3, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Important study yielding new insights into the deep roots of aspects of our communication system/#language— @berthetmelissa.bsky.social M. Surbeck and S. Townsend did great work to reveal semantic composition in vocal combinations in bonobos. 🧪 Out in @science.org :
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
I think Fodor & Pylyshyn's 1988 paper is possibly the most mischaracterized paper in the history of cognitive science. It's often cited as arguing that neural networks cannot achieve systematicity, compositionality, and productivity. But that's not what they actually argue...
March 14, 2026 at 11:30 AM
I think Fodor & Pylyshyn's 1988 paper is possibly the most mischaracterized paper in the history of cognitive science. It's often cited as arguing that neural networks cannot achieve systematicity, compositionality, and productivity. But that's not what they actually argue...
Game changing study in @science.org by @berthetmelissa.bsky.social and co.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Extensive compositionality in the vocal system of bonobos
Compositionality, the capacity to combine meaningful elements into larger meaningful structures, is a hallmark of human language. Compositionality can be trivial (the combination’s meaning is the sum ...
www.science.org
April 3, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Game changing study in @science.org by @berthetmelissa.bsky.social and co.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
I really like the idea that compositionality is not binary but actually a continuum!
Confused about all this talk of compositionality in neuroscience? Read our new perspective www.nature.com/articles/s41... with authors Reidar Riveland and Alex Pouget.
The compositionality continuum as a principle for studying the neural basis of intelligence - Nature Neuroscience
Compositionality exists on a continuum of increasing complexity rather than as a binary trait. Studying its implementation in simpler biological and artificial systems is the most tractable path towar...
www.nature.com
August 10, 2026 at 2:14 PM
I really like the idea that compositionality is not binary but actually a continuum!
"Categories and Compositionality with a view to Applications"
z7-stage-act4e-book.zuper.ai/sync/ACT4E/A...
z7-stage-act4e-book.zuper.ai/sync/ACT4E/A...
November 26, 2024 at 9:42 AM
"Categories and Compositionality with a view to Applications"
z7-stage-act4e-book.zuper.ai/sync/ACT4E/A...
z7-stage-act4e-book.zuper.ai/sync/ACT4E/A...
Today I wrote about compositionality--a foundation of human language. Is it also in the calls of apes? Gift link: nyti.ms/4iO0zct
In the Calls of Bonobos, Scientists Hear Hints of Language (Gift Article)
Hundreds of hours of recordings suggest that the apes can generate meaning by stringing sounds together in pairs. But some scholars are skeptical.
nyti.ms
April 3, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Today I wrote about compositionality--a foundation of human language. Is it also in the calls of apes? Gift link: nyti.ms/4iO0zct
Super cool work! The method used here is very exciting and suggests that some form of compositionality could potentially be widespread outside of language! How similar (in form and origins) this type of compositionality is to what we find in language remains I think an open question.
🚨New in @science.org🚨
With Simon Townsend (@nccrlanguage.bsky.social) and Martin Surbeck, we have investigated whether wild bonobos can combine calls in complex combinations, similar to how humans combine words into sentences 🧪
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
#ScienceResearch #AnimalCommunication
With Simon Townsend (@nccrlanguage.bsky.social) and Martin Surbeck, we have investigated whether wild bonobos can combine calls in complex combinations, similar to how humans combine words into sentences 🧪
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
#ScienceResearch #AnimalCommunication
Extensive compositionality in the vocal system of bonobos
Compositionality, the capacity to combine meaningful elements into larger meaningful structures, is a hallmark of human language. Compositionality can be trivial (the combination’s meaning is the sum ...
www.science.org
April 6, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Super cool work! The method used here is very exciting and suggests that some form of compositionality could potentially be widespread outside of language! How similar (in form and origins) this type of compositionality is to what we find in language remains I think an open question.
A weird thing they don’t tell you about taking Latin is that once you have all those roots in your head & you begin to understand the compositionality of Latin words, you automatically understand the gist of probably 80% of technical terms in English without needing them explained to you.
March 8, 2025 at 3:40 PM
A weird thing they don’t tell you about taking Latin is that once you have all those roots in your head & you begin to understand the compositionality of Latin words, you automatically understand the gist of probably 80% of technical terms in English without needing them explained to you.
Hi #CogSci2026 folks! Anyone into #compositionality #geometry and/or babies' minds?
Karthika, an amazing PhD student from the lab is presenting some cool preliminary results. We use geometry as a case study for compositionality and program induction in babies.
Do stop by her (virtual) flash talk!
Karthika, an amazing PhD student from the lab is presenting some cool preliminary results. We use geometry as a case study for compositionality and program induction in babies.
Do stop by her (virtual) flash talk!
Can babies understand different geometrical shapes?👶🏼Join my Flash talk 41.1 at #cogsci2026 to find more on July 24th,17:30(Rio)
@bpomie.bsky.social @mathiassablemeyer.bsky.social @sarahruthbeck.bsky.social @paulm-k.bsky.social
@cogscisociety.bsky.social
@bbabylab.bsky.social
@thechbh.bsky.social
@bpomie.bsky.social @mathiassablemeyer.bsky.social @sarahruthbeck.bsky.social @paulm-k.bsky.social
@cogscisociety.bsky.social
@bbabylab.bsky.social
@thechbh.bsky.social
July 22, 2026 at 5:24 PM
Hi #CogSci2026 folks! Anyone into #compositionality #geometry and/or babies' minds?
Karthika, an amazing PhD student from the lab is presenting some cool preliminary results. We use geometry as a case study for compositionality and program induction in babies.
Do stop by her (virtual) flash talk!
Karthika, an amazing PhD student from the lab is presenting some cool preliminary results. We use geometry as a case study for compositionality and program induction in babies.
Do stop by her (virtual) flash talk!
Great and detailed blog post on compositionality, written by Eric Elmoznino:
ericelmoznino.github.io/blog/2025/08...
#compneuro #neuroai #neuroscience
ericelmoznino.github.io/blog/2025/08...
#compneuro #neuroai #neuroscience
Defining and quantifying compositional structure
What is compositionality? For those of us working in AI or cognitive neuroscience this question can appear easy at first, but becomes increasingly perplexing the more we think about it. We aren’t shor...
ericelmoznino.github.io
August 20, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Great and detailed blog post on compositionality, written by Eric Elmoznino:
ericelmoznino.github.io/blog/2025/08...
#compneuro #neuroai #neuroscience
ericelmoznino.github.io/blog/2025/08...
#compneuro #neuroai #neuroscience
Each day I learn that I never really knew what a ceasefire was—having been seduced by compositionality.
May 5, 2026 at 2:33 PM
Each day I learn that I never really knew what a ceasefire was—having been seduced by compositionality.
We have a new Element in our Series! Very proud to host Giulia Rambelli with a fantastic discussion of Constructions and Compositionality. Free download for the next couple of weeks. Come and get it while it's hot!!! DOI: doi.org/10.1017/9781...
Constructions and Compositionality
Cambridge Core - Grammar and Syntax - Constructions and Compositionality
doi.org
December 17, 2024 at 6:36 PM
We have a new Element in our Series! Very proud to host Giulia Rambelli with a fantastic discussion of Constructions and Compositionality. Free download for the next couple of weeks. Come and get it while it's hot!!! DOI: doi.org/10.1017/9781...
Article on compositionality with @cgpotts.bsky.social in the new MIT Open encyclopedia of cognitive science! Check it out here: oecs.mit.edu/pub/e222wyjy.... Thanks to @asifamajid.bsky.social and Michael Frank for the opportunity!
Compositionality
oecs.mit.edu
December 4, 2024 at 2:32 PM
Article on compositionality with @cgpotts.bsky.social in the new MIT Open encyclopedia of cognitive science! Check it out here: oecs.mit.edu/pub/e222wyjy.... Thanks to @asifamajid.bsky.social and Michael Frank for the opportunity!