I am a Researcher at the Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies (ISTC) of the Italian National Research Council (CNR). I hold a PhD in Cognitive Sciences (University of Siena, 2006), an MA in Mindfulness, (Sapienza University of Rome, 2017), and a Degree in Philosophy (University of Siena, 2001).
I study brain and behaviour through theory, computational modeling, and experimental research.
In particular, I have been working on: the evolution of communication and language, the role of language as a cognitive tool, the role of the concept of representation in (Embodied) Cognitive Science, the biological bases of motivations and emotions, the role of intrinsic motivations in cumulative learning, stress and its neural mechanisms, goal-directed vs habitual behavior, and the psychological benefits of Mindfulness. Currently, my primary areas of interest are Mindfulness, the relationships between the mind and the body (Psychoneuroendocrinoimmunology), and the role of science in analyzing and addressing the Difficult Problems that humanity faces today.
