Antonio Damasio

"A conscious mind is a mind with a self in it. "

Antonio Damasio is a Portuguese-American neuroscientist.

He is currently the David Dornsife Chair in Neuroscience, as well as Professor of Psychology, Philosophy, and Neurology, at the University of Southern California, and, additionally, an adjunct professor at the Salk Institute.

He was previously the chair of neurology at the University of Iowa for 20 years. Damasio heads the Brain and Creativity Institute, and has authored several books. Damasio's research in neuroscience has shown that emotions play a central role in social cognition and decision-making.

What topics and themes does Antonio Damasio write about?

Damasio writes about neuroscience with a focus on consciousness, emotion, feeling, decision-making, social cognition and how these processes relate to mind, self and culture.

What genre are his books?

His books are non-fiction works at the intersection of neuroscience, psychology and philosophy, blending empirical research with theoretical discussion.

Which book is a good place to start reading Damasio?

Popular entry points listed on the author page include Descartes' Error (emotion and reason), The Feeling of What Happens (consciousness and feeling) and Self Comes to Mind (constructing the conscious brain); any can be read first depending on whether you prefer decision-making, consciousness or theoretical synthesis.

Are his books part of a series or do they need to be read in order?

They are standalone books. You can read them in any order, though reading them roughly chronologically shows the development of his ideas over time.

What are his academic roles or credentials?

He is a Portuguese-American neuroscientist, currently the David Dornsife Chair in Neuroscience and Professor of Psychology, Philosophy and Neurology at the University of Southern California, adjunct professor at the Salk Institute, former chair of neurology at the University of Iowa, and heads the Brain and Creativity Institute.