Neuron features Hanna and Antonio Damasio

The journal Neuron recently spoke with Hanna and Antonio Damasio, neuroscientists at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. The renowned scholars gave their perspective on the intricate world of neuroscience, shedding light on their groundbreaking work.

The piece highlights their significant contributions and offers insights into their personal journeys in the realm of neuroscience. The Damasios discuss their neuroscience beginnings in Lisbon, Portugal, their thoughts on single-case studies, and their work and expertise on artificial intelligence, consciousness, and the confluence of art and brain research.

When asked what keeps them up at night, Antonio Damasio said, “Yes, there are things that can delay my sleep. One of them concerns our assumptions regarding the stability and immutability of the universe. Here is the issue: We study biology in general and brains and minds in particular as if the standard model of cosmology will be forever the same. …

“But what if the standard model is not forever fixed? Or even more plausibly, what if we are wrong about the idea that all those invisible physical undergirdings play no role in the biological phenomena we study? … These are the sort of worries … that could become a nightmare for us, hopefully in another life!”

See the entire Q&A in Neuron >>

Featured USC Dornsife scholars:

Hanna Damasio, University Professor, professor of psychology and neurology, Dana Dornsife Chair in Neuroscience at USC Dornsife, and director of USC Dornsife’s Dana and David Dornsife Cognitive Neuroscience Imaging Center.

Antonio Damasio, University Professor, professor of psychology, philosophy and neurology, David Dornsife Chair in Neuroscience and director of USC Dornsife’s Brain and Creativity Institute.