ABOUT US: OUR PARTNERS
The Brain and Belief Center is formed by a collaboration among three leading laboratories whose complementary expertise drives innovation in the neuroscience and psychology of values and beliefs.
Neuroscience of Values and Beliefs (IDOR – Pioneer Science)
The Neuroscience of Values and Beliefs is a transdisciplinary research program funded by the IDOR – Pioneer Science that investigates how the human brain forms, maintains, and represents values and beliefs, integrating cognitive, social, psychological, and transcendental perspectives. Using advanced methods — such as functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), neurofeedback, and both experimental and field-based approaches — the team explores understudied yet fundamental aspects of the human mind, including non-ordinary experiences (NOEs) and the neurobiology of transcendence to build new theoretical frameworks and evidence-based approaches that contribute to developing novel strategies for mental health.
Translational Cognitive Neuroscience of Affective Disorders Lab (King's College London)
Led by Prof Roland Zahn, the group investigates the cognitive and neural mechanisms of mood disorders and social behavior in neuropsychiatric disorders. The research focuses on the neurocognitive architecture of social knowledge, moral motivation and self- and other-directed emotions such as guilt, indignation, pride and gratitude by examining fronto-temporo-mesolimbic networks and their associated cognitive components. The goal is to identify neurocognitive treatment targets and predictive models that can inform clinical decisions. Current projects build on our previous work on blame-related moral sentiments to identify neurocognitive predictors, treatment targets and to develop novel digital therapeutics, neuromodulation, and personalised pharmacological approaches for mood disorders.
SRALab (Northwestern University)
The Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, led by Dr. Jordan Grafman, investigates the neural mechanisms that support complex human thought and behavior. The lab focuses on how brain networks are organized to enable functions such as memory, social cognition, moral reasoning, and decision-making, and how these processes are affected by brain injury, disease, or aging. Using neuroimaging, behavioral testing, and computational modeling, the team seeks to understand both healthy brain function and patterns of recovery. This knowledge informs the development of innovative rehabilitation strategies, bridging neuroscience and clinical care to improve the quality of life for individuals with neurological conditions.