The present project aims to consolidate a unified international, EU-based network for allowing the next generation of Neuroscientists to deal with the important challenge of understanding the inherent links between the neuro-psycho-physiological basis of individual behavior and societal dynamics. The project builds on the established agreement between Sapienza and City University (London) for the delivery of a Joint-PhD degree. The project aims to: i) train young researchers (ESRs) in performing innovative, cutting-edge research in the field of social, cognitive and affective neuroscience; ii) promote the understanding of social phenomena at brain and behavioral levels and steer technological innovations that may improve interpersonal and intergroup processes. More specifically, the project will explore the bi-directional link between individual brain-body systems and the context in which different social groups interact with the ultimate goal to reduce interindividual and inter-group conflicts. The research/training program will be conducted by testing a large variety of populations including neurotypical, autistic, and neurologically damaged people from different social groups including ethnic minorities. ESRs will be trained in state-of-the-art neuroscientific methods (EEG, Brain Stimulation, Movement Kinematics, Thermal Imaging, Eye-Tracking, Virtual Reality). We foresee that hiring two Post-Docs (co-funding one of them) who supervise ESRs¿ scientific and technological development and contribute to the interaction between Sapienza and City University (the two Post-Docs will move between the different institutions involved in the EU proposal) in the framework of the joint agreement will greatly increase the chances to attract EU ITN large-scale funding in the near future.
There is an urgent need at the European level to utilize the possibilities of modern brain research in the domain of social and educational policies. Social neuroscience aims to move from the notion that the brain works as a solitary computer to the notion that the brain is influences by social interactions. Experimental, theoretical and methodological advancements will have a great impact in the near future society by changing our understanding of interpersonal attitudes and behaviors in the context of inter- and intra-group processes (e.g. empathy, coalition, exclusion). European researchers, and fundings, have made a major contribution to research on social and interpersonal neuroscience and it is therefore timely to translate this knowledge into technological and educational interventions. Young researchers need to be trained in an interdisciplinary and intersectoral manner to face these challenges. The topic is of special relevance for both basic and applied research. The next generation of young researchers will need to have expertise not only in classical approaches of experimental psychology (such as experiments on single individuals), but also in approaching human mind, its perceptual emotional and cognitive capacities in the framework of social interactions.
The project aims at moving from the study of individual actions sensations and emotions neural representations to embodied forms of shared social cognition. Contemporary social neuroscience has achieved the goal to place single individuals in realistic social contexts. The central scientific innovative aim of the project is to elevate the current status of experimental paradigms in the area of social neuroscience to the level of groups of minds and bodies interacting in realistic settings (see Figure 1 above).
The research focus of the project has fundamental societal implications: reduce interindividual and inter-group derogation and conflict, facilitate interpersonal sharing and understanding, promote individual and societal wellbeing, advance technology in the field of immersive virtual reality for training young individuals to understand interpersonal and inter-group processes. The awareness of these implications will: i) guide the training of ESRs in developing translational research that may concern large scale phenomena like inter-group emotional and cognitive interactions; and ii) strengthen brain-based knowledge on the human ability to connect in social activities and share experiences in many different ways (sharing sensations, emotions, cognitive states) and settings (hospital, politics, artistic performance).
The project will create a scientific/training frame where ESRs will be immersed in a highly diversified environment where excellent academic laboratories will integrate their effort with 1 hospital to foster the interaction between neuroscience, technology development for society. Indeed, the project will provide an exceptional environment for training ESRs in state-of-the-art theories and methods of cognitive neuroscience applied to the field of social neuroscience.
The training and transfer of knowledge objectives for the ESRs are:
1. To provide a strong background in experimental research;
2. To provide specialized knowledge in cognitive neuroscience techniques, as detailed below (e.g. EEG, Eye-tracking, Brain Stimulation, Virtual Reality, Thermal imaging);
3. To develop their communication, presentation, management, and linguistic skills;
4. To strengthen the transfer of scientifically grounded knowledge to industry and companies;
5. To allow more experienced researchers to make and maintain contacts with more than one lab and explore career options;
6. To promote awareness of gender equity in science;
7. To foster the development of independent research interests.