Camillo Padoa-Schioppa

Camillo Padoa-Schioppa is a Professor of Neuroscience at Washington University School of Medicine, specializing in the neural mechanisms of economic decision-making. His work integrates behavioral, neurophysiological, and computational approaches, focusing on single-neuron recordings in non-human primates. He investigates how values are represented in the brain, particularly in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), and how these representations influence choices.

Education:

• PhD in Brain and Cognitive Sciences, MIT (2002)
• Laurea (MS) in Statistical Physics, Università La Sapienza, Rome (1996)
• Postdoctoral training in Neurobiology at Harvard Medical School (2008)

Research Interests: His work bridges neuroscience and economics, exploring how the brain encodes subjective values, the role of OFC in preference formation, and neural adaptations in decision-making. Key topics include menu invariance, neuronal remapping, and circuit-level mechanisms underlying economic choices.

Key Contributions: Discovered that OFC neurons encode subjective value invariant to context, demonstrated causal links between OFC activity and choices, and advanced neuroeconomic models of decision variability. His lab uses cutting-edge techniques like optogenetics and computational modeling.

Awards:

• 2011 Society for Neuroeconomics Young Investigator Award
• 2015 Washington University Distinguished Faculty Award
• National Institute of Mental Health Pathway to Independence Award (2007-2011)

Lab & Collaborations: The Padoa-Schioppa Lab focuses on primate models and translational research, collaborating with institutions worldwide. Current projects address neuronal circuit dynamics and applications to neurological disorders like addiction and frontal lobe injuries.