Summer School on Affective Neuroscience 2025. Summer Course on Mood, Aggression and Attraction.

Details of the course

📅 Date: 7 – 11 July 2025

📍 Place: Università di Firenze, Florence, Italy

🔗 More information and registration: click here

1. Topic of the course

Disorders characterized by affective dysfunctions, such as depression and anxiety, are

a major cause of morbidity and health-related costs worldwide. These disorders are

characterized by emotions such as lowered or elated mood, aggression, frustration, or

attraction. They have debilitating effects on further neurocognitive development,

regarding school and academic achievement, social functioning, and social integration.

Hence, it is of utmost importance to gain better insight into the neural and molecular

control of these emotional functions.

The Summer Course on Mood, Aggression & Attraction aims at expanding and

spreading knowledge on the key neural and molecular mechanisms underlying affected

emotional processing. The course covers current insights on and discusses research

methods to explore how these emotions and their associated behavior can become

dysfunctional and how they can be targeted effectively by drug or other therapies. As

such, the course opens broader perspectives to gain understanding of a wide range of

mental health conditions.

Affective dysfunctions, such as depression and anxiety, in mental health disorders

represent a significant global challenge, contributing to substantial morbidity and

economic burden. These conditions are often marked by intense emotional

experiences, including low or elevated mood, aggression, frustration, and hightened

attraction. This can severely disrupt neurocognitive development, academic success,

social integration, and overall well-being.

To address these pressing issues, the Summer School on Affective Neuroscience brings

together diverse disciplines to advance our understanding of the neural and molecular

mechanisms governing emotional processes. The program delves into cutting-edge

research on how emotions and related behaviors can become dysregulated and

explores how this can be translated into effective therapeutic interventions, ranging

from pharmacological treatments to alternative approaches. By fostering

interdisciplinary collaboration, the course aims to contribute to improved mental

health care and a deeper comprehension of psychopathology, opening doors to

innovative solutions for complex mental health challenges.

The Summer Course is a combination of lectures, ‘problem-based learning (PBL)’-style

small group sessions with assignments, and workshops. Every day is dedicated to a

different hot topic in the field of affective neuroscience.

The topics of the current course are the following:

- Computational Affective Neuroscience: This day will explore how cutting-edge

computational methods can enhance our understanding of emotional processes

and their underlying neural mechanisms. We will delve into how behavioral

experiments rooted in ethology can be combined with computational models to

examine the dynamics of certain emotions. Participants will gain insights into

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FENS and IBRO-PERC Support for Courses in 2025 Summer School on Affective Neuroscience

the integration of computational frameworks with real-world behavior,

shedding light on the mechanisms driving emotional dysfunctions and their

relevance to mental health conditions. This session offers a unique opportunity

to engage with innovative approaches that bridge theory, experimentation, and

application in the study of affective neuroscience.

- Aggression is an evolutionary behaviour important for an individual’s survival as

well as reproductive potential. However, in today's society it is often

maladaptive and inappropriate, and may arise as a result of stressful life events.

Participants will explore how morphological features of brain architecture

contribute to aggression, alongside insights into the neurodevelopmental and

environmental factors that shape antisocial behavior. This session will highlight

the interplay between biology and behavior, providing a comprehensive

understanding of how neural differences can manifest in disruptive or harmful

actions. By integrating research on aggression and antisocial behavior, the day

aims to foster a deeper appreciation of the complexities underlying these

phenomena and their implications for mental health and societal well-being.

- Neuromodulation: This session will explore the role of neuromodulation

techniques, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), in addressing

conditions like depression and behavioral addiction. Participants will examine

how state dependency influences the efficacy of neuromodulation, offering

insights into tailoring treatments to individual needs. By integrating

perspectives on emotional dysregulation, addiction, and the neurobiological

mechanisms underlying these challenges, this day will provide a comprehensive

overview of how targeted neuromodulation can enhance therapeutic outcomes

and deepen our understanding of the brain's adaptability in psychopathology.

- From bench to bedside: This day will focus on the transformative potential of

precision psychiatry, highlighting how advancements in neuroscience can

inform tailored approaches to mental health care. Precision psychiatry seeks to

move beyond a one-size-fits-all approach, leveraging neurobiological insights to

develop personalized treatment plans that account for the unique genetic,

neural, and environmental factors influencing each individual. We will further

explore how neurobiological research into mental health conditions informs the

design of integrated care systems. Through a dedicated workshop, participants

will explore how these neurobiological principles influence systemic challenges,

such as securing funding for mental health care reforms and implementing

evidence-based changes in service delivery. This exercise will emphasize the

importance of strategic planning, clinical governance, and advocacy to bring

neuroscientific insights into real-world practice and policy.