Hanna Damasio

Hanna Damasio is the Dana Dornsife Professor of Neuroscience and Director of the Dana and David Dornsife Cognitive Neuroscience Imaging Center at the University of Southern California. She also holds an Adjunct Professor position at the Salk Institute in La Jolla, California.

• Education:
  • M.D., University of Lisbon Medical School (1969)
  • Doctorate, University of Aachen (honorary)
  • Doctorate, University of Lisbon (honorary)

Research Focus: Hanna Damasio's work centers on neuroscience and medical imaging, particularly pioneering the use of brain imaging methods such as computerized tomography (CT) and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the study of brain lesions. Her research has significantly advanced the modern lesion method, which is crucial for understanding the neural substrates of higher brain functions using structural and functional MR techniques and fMRI.

Contributions: She is renowned for her detailed atlas, Human Brain Anatomy in Computerized Images, a standard reference in the field. Additionally, her book Lesion Analysis in Neuropsychology has received awards and is widely used by professionals including neurologists, neurosurgeons, psychiatrists, and neuroscientists.

Labs and Teams: As the director of the Dana and David Dornsife Cognitive Neuroscience Imaging Center, she leads cutting-edge research in cognitive neuroscience and imaging.