António Damásio

About the author

Born in Lisbon in 1944, António Damásio is widely regarded as one of the most influential neuroscientists of his generation. His research has demonstrated that emotions play a central role in social cognition and decision-making — a finding that reshaped how scientists understand the relationship between feeling and rational thought. He holds the David Dornsife Chair in Neuroscience at the University of Southern California, where he also teaches psychology, philosophy, and neurology, and heads the Brain and Creativity Institute.

He previously chaired neurology at the University of Iowa for two decades.