Ido Ben-Artzi

Ido Ben-Artzi

He/him

Neuroscience PhD student and an International chess master.

CV

Education

10/2022 – Present
Ph.D. in Neuroscience, Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University
09/2025 – 11/2025
Visiting Scholar in Prof. Tom Griffiths' lab, Princeton University, USA
08/2024 – 10/2024
Visiting Scholar in Prof. Peter Dayan's lab, Max Planck Institute of Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
10/2020 – 09/2022
Experimental Psychology, Psychology Department, Tel Aviv University
M.A. Summa Cum Laude – GPA 99
08/2019 – 03/2021
NA-MBA Business School Program – Jolt
10/2017 – 08/2020
Biology & Psychology with an emphasis on Neuroscience, Sagol School of Neuroscience
BSc. Magna Cum Laude – GPA 94

Publications

Ben-Artzi, I., Rozenkrantz, L., Shahar, N. (2026). Autism-associated learning patterns show reduced credit assignment to outcome-irrelevant features. Translational Psychiatry (JCR 2024: IF=6.2, Q1 21/288 in Psychiatry)
Ben-Artzi, I., Kessler, Y., Nicenboim, B., & Shahar, N. (2023). Computational mechanisms underlying latent value updating of unchosen actions. Science Advances (JCR 2022: IF=13.6, Q1 7/73 in Multidisciplinary Sciences)
Ben-Artzi, I., Luria, R., & Shahar, N. (2022). Working memory capacity estimates moderate value learning for outcome-irrelevant features. Scientific Reports (JCR 2021: IF=4.997, Q2 19/74 in Multidisciplinary Sciences)
Ben-Artzi, I., & Shahar, N. (2024). Outcome-Irrelevant and State-Independent Learning Mechanisms in Human Reinforcement Learning. NeurIPS 2024 Workshop on Behavioral Machine Learning.
Pereg, M., Hertz, U., Ben-Artzi, I., & Shahar, N. (2024). Disentangling the contribution of individual and social learning processes in human advice-taking behavior. Npj Science of Learning (JCR 2022: IF=4.2, Q1 41/269 in Educational Research)
Ben-Artzi, I., Pereg, M., Luria, R., Moran, R., Shahar, N. (2026). Automatic value learning results in counterproductive human behavior. (Under review – Nature Communications)
Ben-Artzi, I., Russek, E., Kuperwajs, I., Shahar, N., Mattar, M., Ma, W.J., Griffiths, T. (2026). People make history-dependent decisions in Markovian environments. (Under review – PNAS)
Ben-Artzi, I., Braem, S., Lamy, D., Shahar, N. The generality of outcome-irrelevant credit assignment in human learning. (Registered report under review – Psychonomic Bulletin & Review)
Ben-Artzi, I., Kagan, A., Shir, Y., Mudrik, L., Shahar, N. Automatic outcome-irrelevant value learning facilitates picking. (Registered report under review – Communications Psychology)
Ben-Artzi, I., Erdinast, T., Swissa, K., Marcus, M., Eldar, E., Shahar, N. Computational reinforcement learning processes underlying the onset and maintenance of compulsive behavior. (In preparation)
Ben-Artzi, I., Wolpe, N., Shahar, N. Examining the cost of control over automatic credit assignment processes. (In preparation)
Ben-Artzi, I., Wurm, F., Shahar, N. Latent neural signature of automatic credit assignment. (In preparation)

Invited Talks

10/2025
Ben-Artzi, I., Russek, E., Griffiths, T. People make history-dependent decisions in Markovian environments. Wei Ji Ma & Marcelo Mattar lab meeting, NYU (60-min talk)
10/2025
Ben-Artzi, I., Pereg, M., Luria, R., Moran, R., Shahar, N. Automatic value learning results in counterproductive human behavior. Concats Seminar, NYU (90-min talk)
09/2025
Ben-Artzi, I., Pereg, M., Luria, R., Moran, R., Shahar, N. Automatic value learning results in counterproductive human behavior. Tom Griffiths' lab meeting, Princeton University (60-min talk)
10/2024
Ben-Artzi, I. & Shahar, N. Cognitive Mechanisms Underlying Outcome-Irrelevant Learning in Human Choice Behavior. Dynamic Cognition Lab, Tübingen, Germany (90-min talk)
09/2024
Ben-Artzi, I. & Shahar, N. Cognitive Mechanisms Underlying Outcome-Irrelevant Learning in Human Choice Behavior. Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany (90-min talk)

Public Speaking

01/2025
Ben-Artzi, I. Chess, Autism, and the Hidden Strengths of Neurodiversity. TEDx event, Tel Aviv University

Workshops

07/2024
Ben-Artzi, I., Marcus, M., Elchayani, S., Katabi, G., Shahar, N. Reinforcement learning modeling for human choice behavior. 57th Annual Meeting of the Society for Mathematical Psychology (45-min session)

Conference Presentations – Oral

05/2026
Ben-Artzi, I., Rozenkrantz, L., Shahar, N. Autism-associated learning patterns show reduced credit assignment to outcome-irrelevant features. Israeli Biological Psychiatry Conference, Hagoshrim, Israel.
02/2026
Ben-Artzi, I., Pereg, M., Luria, R., Moran, R., Shahar, N. Automatic value learning results in counterproductive human behavior. Israeli Cognitive Psychology Conference, Akko, Israel.
06/2025
Ben-Artzi, I., Rozenkrantz, L., Shahar, N. Autism-associated learning patterns show reduced credit assignment to outcome-irrelevant features. Israeli Computational Psychiatry Conference 2025, Tel Aviv, Israel.
05/2025
Ben-Artzi, I., Pereg, M., Luria, R., Moran, R., Shahar, N. Automatic and implicit outcome-irrelevant model-free learning in human behavior. Tel Aviv School of Psychology Conference.
04/2025
Ben-Artzi, I., Swissa, K., Marcus, M., Eldar, E., Shahar, N. Computational reinforcement learning processes underlying the onset and maintenance of compulsive behavior. Israeli Biological Psychiatry Conference, Jerusalem, Israel.
02/2025
Ben-Artzi, I., Pereg, M., Luria, R., Shahar, N. Automatic and implicit outcome-irrelevant model-free learning in human behavior. Israeli Cognitive Psychology Conference 2025, Akko, Israel.
09/2024
Ben-Artzi, I. & Shahar, N. Cognitive Mechanisms Underlying Outcome-Irrelevant Learning in Human Choice Behavior. European Mathematical Psychology Conference, Tübingen, Germany.
07/2024
Ben-Artzi, I., Kessler, Y., Nicenboim, B., & Shahar, N. Computational mechanisms underlying latent inverse value updating of unchosen actions. 57th Annual Meeting of the Society for Mathematical Psychology.
03/2024
Ben-Artzi, I., Swissa, K., Marcus, M., Shahar, N. Value-based mechanisms underlying compulsive rituals. Israeli Society for Computational Psychiatry.
07/2023
Ben-Artzi, I. & Shahar, N. Cognitive Overfitting — A Novel Theoretical Mechanism for Compulsive Rituals. International OCD Foundation Conference, San Francisco, USA.
02/2023
Ben-Artzi, I., Kessler, Y., Nicenboim, B., & Shahar, N. Computational mechanisms underlying latent inverse value updating of unchosen actions. Israeli Society for Cognitive Psychology 2023, Akko, Israel.
02/2023
Ben-Artzi, I., Kessler, Y., Nicenboim, B., & Shahar, N. Computational mechanisms underlying latent inverse value updating of unchosen actions. Sagol School of Neuroscience Retreat 2023, Nazareth, Israel.
09/2022
Ben-Artzi, I., Kessler, Y., Nicenboim, B., & Shahar, N. Computational mechanisms underlying latent inverse value updating of unchosen actions. Neuromatch Computational Neuroscience Conference 2022.
12/2021
Ben-Artzi, I., Luria, R., & Shahar, N. Cognitive resources predict value learning for outcome-irrelevant features. Neuromatch Computational Neuroscience Conference 2021.

Conference Presentations – Poster

10/2025
Ben-Artzi, I., Pereg, M., Luria, R., Shahar, N. Automatic value learning results in counterproductive human behavior. Society for Neuroeconomics 2025, Boston, USA.
07/2025
Ben-Artzi, I., Swissa, K., Marcus, M., Eldar, E., Shahar, N. Computational reinforcement learning processes underlying the onset and maintenance of compulsive behavior. Computational Psychiatry Conference 2025, Tübingen, Germany.
06/2025
Ben-Artzi, I., Pereg, M., Luria, R., Shahar, N. Automatic and implicit outcome-irrelevant model-free learning in human behavior. RLDM 2025, Dublin, Ireland.
03/2025
Ben-Artzi, I., Shahar, N., Rozenkrantz, L. Reduced Outcome-Irrelevant Learning in Autistic Spectrum Disorder. Israeli Society for Autism Research, Beer Sheva, Israel.
12/2024
Ben-Artzi, I., & Shahar, N. Outcome-Irrelevant and State-Independent Learning Mechanisms in Human Reinforcement Learning. NeurIPS Workshop on Behavioral Machine Learning, Vancouver, Canada.
09/2024
Ben-Artzi, I. & Shahar, N. Cognitive Mechanisms Underlying Outcome-Irrelevant Learning in Human Choice Behavior. Systems Neuroscience Symposium, Tübingen, Germany.
07/2024
Ben-Artzi, I., Swissa, K., Marcus, M., Shahar, N. Value-based mechanisms underlying compulsive rituals. Tel Aviv University Clinical Psychology Poster Fair.
10/2023
Ben-Artzi, I., Kessler, Y., Nicenboim, B., & Shahar, N. Computational mechanisms underlying latent inverse value updating of unchosen action. Society of Neuroeconomics 2023, Vancouver, Canada.
10/2023
Ben-Artzi, I., Kessler, Y., Nicenboim, B., & Shahar, N. Computational mechanisms underlying latent inverse value updating of unchosen action. Consumer Neuroscience Satellite Event, Society of Neuroeconomics 2023, Vancouver, Canada.
07/2023
Ben-Artzi, I., Kessler, Y., Nicenboim, B., & Shahar, N. Computational mechanisms underlying latent inverse value updating of unchosen action. Collaborative Research in Computational Neuroscience Conference, Tel Aviv, Israel.
07/2023
Ben-Artzi, I., & Shahar, N. Outcome-irrelevant learning and its theoretical and empirical association with compulsive human behavior. Computational Psychiatry Conference, Dublin, Ireland.
05/2023
Ben-Artzi, I., & Shahar, N. Controlling outcome-irrelevant learning in complex environments. Minducate Poster Fair, Tel Aviv, Israel.
02/2023
Ben-Artzi, I., Kessler, Y., Nicenboim, B., & Shahar, N. Computational mechanisms underlying latent inverse value updating of unchosen action. Sagol School of Neuroscience Retreat 2023, Nazareth, Israel. (Best poster award)
12/2022
Ben-Artzi, I., Kessler, Y., Nicenboim, B., & Shahar, N. Computational mechanisms underlying latent inverse value updating of unchosen action. ELSC Brainy Days Conference, Jerusalem, Israel.
12/2022
Ben-Artzi, I., Luria, R. & Shahar, N. Cognitive resources predict value learning for outcome-irrelevant features. Israeli Society for Neuroscience, Eilat, Israel.
09/2022
Ben-Artzi, I., Luria, R. & Shahar, N. Cognitive resources predict value learning for outcome-irrelevant features. European Society for Cognitive Psychology, Lille, France.
02/2022
Ben-Artzi, I., Luria, R. & Shahar, N. Cognitive resources predict value learning for outcome-irrelevant features. Israeli Society for Cognitive Psychology, Akko, Israel.
02/2021
Ben-Artzi, I., Luria, R. & Shahar, N. Cognitive resources predict value learning for outcome-irrelevant features. Israeli Society for Cognitive Psychology, Akko, Israel.

Prizes & Awards

  1. Chess International Master – 1st quarter Presidential Board Meeting, 26–29 April 2015, China
  2. Princeton University funding for a 2-month visit to Prof. Griffiths' lab ($5,000)
  3. 4-year scholarship for outstanding PhD students – Milner Foundation, October 2023 ($100,000)
  4. Minducate Science of Learning Research and Innovation Center Fellow Grant 2024 ($10,000)
  5. Minducate Science of Learning Research and Innovation Center Fellow Grant 2023 ($6,500)
  6. Max Planck Institute funding for a 2-month visit to Prof. Dayan's lab ($5,000)
  7. Dean's list excellence grant – GPA 99 – School of Psychological Sciences, 2021 ($1,400)
  8. Travel grant – RLDM conference ($1,200)
  9. Faculty Dean paper excellence award – Ben-Artzi et al., 2023 Science Advances ($700)
  10. Faculty Dean paper excellence award – Ben-Artzi et al., 2022 Scientific Reports ($400)
  11. Best poster award – Sagol School of Neuroscience Retreat 2023 ($150)
  12. Best talk award – Tel Aviv School of Psychology Conference 2025 ($100)
  13. Dean's list BSc. – Sagol School of Neuroscience – 2018, 2019, 2020
  14. Israeli under-18 chess champion 2012
  15. Personal chess trainer of two Israeli youth chess champions (one from beginner to Grandmaster)

Employment

2022 – Present
Teaching Assistant, Tel Aviv University
Teaching "Statistics and Research Methods" and "Basics of Programming in R" for Psychology and Neuroscience graduate students.
2014 – Present
Chess Mentor
Guided and motivated children to develop their chess skills through structured instruction and emotional support.
2022
Teaching Assistant, Neuromatch Academy
Delivered a 3-week course on Computational Neuroscience; mentored students through research projects on methodology, data analysis, and interpretation of results.
2020
Teacher – XTRA Student, Tel Aviv University
Taught "Physiological Psychology B" and built the curriculum based on Prof. Shamgar Ben Eliyahu's course.
2004 – 2017
Professional Chess Player
International master, two-time Israeli youth chess champion, six-time representative of Israel in European and World championships.
2013 – 2016
Israeli Defense Forces – Special Sportsman Status
Led integration initiatives for adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Intellectual Disabilities; developed outreach strategies for teenagers from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Volunteering

2021 – 2025
Member, Anti-Cheating Committee, Israeli Chess Federation
2021 – 2024
Member, Gifted Children Committee, Israeli Chess Federation
2020 – 2023
Community Leader, Brainstorm IL – Neurotech student community connecting neuroscience researchers with the Israeli Neurotech industry
2020 – 2021
Member, Women's Advancement Committee, Israeli Chess Federation
2022
Children Playing Chess (CPC) – Promoting Chess in the Periphery: guided 13-year-olds from Beer Sheva, Lod, and Southern Tel Aviv in holiday seminars covering chess, agriculture, biology, finance, and dog training

Ad Hoc Reviewer

  • Cerebral Cortex
  • Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry
  • CogSci Conference

Other

Hobbies: Improvisation Theater, Running, Philosophy
Languages: Hebrew (native), English (fluent), Spanish (basic)
Programming: Python, R, MATLAB, JavaScript, Stan, PyTorch
Research mentoring: Amit Rosen, Romy Shufman, Maya Marcus (2023); Sapir Nachmias, Hillel Banai, Amir Golan (2024); Sapir Nachmias, Hillel Banai, Lior Raymond, Shir Davidovich (2025); Liran Krupnik, Danielle Catalogna, Maya Oberhard (2026)