Dr Uta Noppeney’s research has made decisive contributions to our understanding of how humans perceive, understand, and interact with the multisensory world around us. Effective interactions necessitate the integration of multiple sensory inputs in a way that respects both the structure of the physical world and the brain’s limited computational capabilities. This immediately raises fundamental questions for neural processing, notably decision-making, perceptual inference, learning, attention, and probabilistic computations. Noppeney’s research addresses these questions through a unique multisensory lens by combining psychophysics, computational modelling (Bayesian, neural networks), and neuroimaging (fMRI, MEG, EEG).

Dr Giacomo Rizzolatti is renowned for discovering the mirror-neuron system, a neural mechanism that translates observed behaviours into motor representations. This pivotal finding has transformed our understanding of the motor system and social cognition. His work has inspired extensive research across Europe and beyond, with significant implications for action recognition, empathy, and social cognition. Rizzolatti’s studies have also uncovered key insights into the premotor cortex, including the concept of peripersonal space in area F4, the role of area F6 in action initiation, the 'vocabulary' of motor acts in area F5, and the discovery of canonical neurons that respond to 3D objects. Currently, Prof. Rizzolatti’s research is focused on extending mirror neuron studies to humans, exploring the mirror mechanism in emotional centres and its role in understanding others' emotions and actions. His innovative work continues to shape our knowledge of the neural foundations of social cognition and motor function.

Dr Marta Garrido's work combines cutting-edge neuroimaging techniques, including EEG and MEG, with computational modelling to investigate how the brain processes and predicts sensory information, and integrates it into decision-making. Her groundbreaking research on auditory prediction error has shed light on the brain networks involved in predictive coding, demonstrating that perception is an active process shaped by past experiences. Currently, Professor Garrido is exploring the neurocircuitry underpinning belief updating in addiction and investigating how differences in processing uncertainty may contribute to the development of positive symptoms in schizophrenia. Her innovative approach to studying brain function, bridging engineering, physics, and psychology, has earned her recognition as a Chief Investigator in the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function.

Dr Todd S. Braver is a Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences, at Washington University in St. Louis, with additional appointments in Neuroscience and Radiology. His work primarily focuses on the brain mechanisms underlying cognitive control, attention, and working memory. His work has pushed the boundaries of our understanding of how individuals maintain and use information, such as goals or instructions, to guide their behaviour and how this control can break down. To that end, Dr Braver employs various methods, including behavioural analysis, neuroimaging, and computational modelling, while exploring individual differences in cognitive abilities and their interaction with motivation and affect. His current research explores how mindfulness training affects cognitive control and psychological function and how individuals manage their attention in complex, real-world environments.

Dr Gustavo Deco is Research Professor at ICREA and Pompeu Fabra University, where he leads the Computational Neuroscience group. Celebrated for his pioneering work on the computational principles of brain function and dysfunction, his research integrates experimental and theoretical approaches to unravel neural dynamics across levels that span from single neurons to behaviour. His work has advanced understanding in areas such as whole-brain computational modeling, brain state dynamics, and computational neuropsychiatry, with projects like ‘Non-equilibrium Dynamical Analysis of Brain Functions in Health and Disease’ (NODYN) providing groundbreaking insights into brain mechanisms. His ‘Thermodynamics of Mind’ theory further combines advanced modeling with precise spatial-temporal measures, driving innovation in understanding consciousness, brain organization, and neuropsychiatric conditions.