Alessia Pannese

Columbia University

Neural bases of musical experience

2010-2011

Alessia Pannese studied music theory (Conservatorio di musica di Roma "Santa Cecilia"), law (Università degli studi di Roma "La Sapienza"), veterinary medicine (Università degli studi di Perugia), veterinary neuroscience (University of Cambridge, UK), and neurobiology (Columbia University). Her research interests span across medical (anaesthesia, natural and induced altered states of consciousness), cognitive (self-awareness, learning, brain laterality and plasticity), philosophical (philosophy of science), and art-related fields (creativity, esthetic resonance). For her doctoral work, she investigated the neural correlates of self-face perception and self-consciousness. During her appointment as "Art & Neuroscience Fellow" she plans to explore the neuronal response to sound in musicians and non-musicians. Her long-term goal is to contribute to the development of cross-cultural discourse between artistic and scientific thought, as a way to achieve synthesis of knowledge and generation of common understanding.