António Damásio

António Damásio is a renowned Portuguese-American neurologist and Professor of Neuroscience at the University of Southern California (USC), affiliated with the Dana and David Dornsife College. He directs the Brain and Creativity Institute and has been a leading figure in bridging neuroscience, cognition, and behavior since the 1970s. Born in Lisbon (1944), he earned his medical degree and doctorate from the University of Lisbon before moving to the US in 1975.

His research dismantles the mind-body dichotomy, integrating molecular, cellular, circuit-level, and social-environmental perspectives to study consciousness, emotion, and decision-making. Key contributions include work on somatic-marker theory and the neurobiological basis of self-awareness. Notable publications include Descartes' Error (1994) and The Feeling of What Happens (1999).

• Awards: Multiple international honors including the Grawemeyer Award (2014) and Prince of Asturias Prize (2005)
• Labs/Initiatives: Brain and Creativity Institute