Aggression is a multidimensional phenomenon arising from the interplay of neural circuits involved in threat detection, emotional arousal, cognitive control, and social evaluation. Contemporary neuroscience distinguishes reactive aggression, a rapid defensive response to perceived threat, from proactive aggression, a goal-directed and instrumental form of violence. This distinction has far-reaching consequences for ethics, responsibility, and legal decision-making. This session brings together perspectives from cognitive neuroscience, evolutionary anthropology, philosophy, and clinical/forensic science to reconsider the roots and implications of human aggression.
- Raffaella Rumiati
- Gianluca Sadun Bordoni
- Andrea Lavazza
- Hugo Meijer
Agenda
- Introduction / 5 mins
- Neurocognitive models of aggression / 12 mins
- Evolutionary and anthropological perspectives / 12 mins
- Comparative aggression and ethical implications / 12 mins
- Clinical/forensic neuroscience / 7 mins
- Moderated discussion / 6 mins
- Audience Q&A / 6 mins
Attend
IMT School for Advanced Studies
Guinigi Room
Friday, April 17, 2026
15:00-16:00 CEST
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Neuroethics 2026
Building Bridges and Cultivating Community
This session is part of the Neuroethics 2026 conference organized by INS and SINe, and hosted by the IMT School for Advanced Studies. Register for the conference to attend in-person at IMT School for Advanced Studies in Lucca, Tuscany, Italy, or to participate virtually.
Description
Aggression is a multidimensional phenomenon arising from the interplay of neural circuits involved in threat detection, emotional arousal, cognitive control, and social evaluation. Contemporary neuroscience distinguishes reactive aggression, a rapid defensive response to perceived threat, from proactive aggression, a goal-directed and instrumental form of violence. This distinction has far-reaching consequences for ethics, responsibility, and legal decision-making, yet remains underexamined in current neuroethical debates.
This session brings together perspectives from cognitive neuroscience, evolutionary anthropology, philosophy, and clinical/forensic science to reconsider the roots and implications of human aggression. In a period marked by geopolitical instability, increasing polarization, and heightened public attention to antisocial and violent behavior, it is essential to clarify which aspects of aggression reflect conserved biological mechanisms and which emerge from cultural, environmental, and social pressures. An international neuroethics conference offers a unique forum for advancing this conversation, as questions about agency, culpability, and moral responsibility increasingly intersect with neuroscientific evidence and with emerging neurotechnologies capable of assessing or influencing aggressive tendencies.
Recording
A recording of this session will be made available to registered attendees.