معرفی
Prof. Vittorio Gallese is a Full Professor of Psychobiology at the Department of Medicine and Surgery (Neuroscience Unit) of the University of Parma, Italy. He is renowned for co-discovering mirror neurons and developing the Embodied Simulation Theory, which explains perception, intersubjectivity, and empathy through neurobiological mechanisms. His work bridges neuroscience, philosophy, and art, focusing on social cognition, psychopathology (e.g., schizophrenia, autism), and aesthetics.
Education: Born in Parma (1959), he earned a Medical Degree from the University of Parma in 1984, specializing in Neurology (1989). He held postdoctoral positions at the University of Helsinki (1983) and Nihon University, Tokyo (1992–1994). He has been a visiting scholar at institutions like Columbia University and the University of London.
Research Interests: His lab investigates social cognition through EEG, fMRI, and behavioral paradigms, exploring mechanisms underlying intersubjectivity, empathy, and disorders like schizophrenia. He collaborates with philosophers, artists, and clinicians to study embodiment in aesthetics and mental health.
Awards: Recipient of the Grawemeyer Award (2007), Humboldt Research Prize (2019), and multiple honorary degrees. His work is highly cited (h-index: 108).
Grants & Labs: Director of the Social Cognitive Neuroscience Lab and the Doctoral Program in Neuroscience at Parma. He coordinates interdisciplinary projects on embodied cognition and neuroaesthetics.
