Dr. Franca Parianen

Dr Franca Parianen worked as a brain researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig in the Social Neuroscience research group from 2014 to 2017. From 2017 to 2021, the bestselling author researched the origin and structure of human coexistence at the level of neurons and hormones at the Helmholtz Institute at Utrecht University. Since 2014, the Berliner-by-choice has been active as a science slammer and has performed on stage at medical congresses, theatres and trade fairs.

In 2017, she won the Neuro Slam organised by the German Society of Neurology. She is interested in questions of coexistence, especially whether it can be done better. She speaks German, English, French and Dutch.

During her Bachelor's degree in Public Administration (politics, economics, sociology, law), she focussed on fair trade, conducted a field study in Mauritius and formulated business plans. Accordingly, she also completed her minor in Social Entrepreneurship and worked as a fundraising coordinator at "Eine Welt Netz NRW".

In her Master's degree in Neuroscience and Cognition at the University of Utrecht, she went into greater depth. Since then, she has been investigating emotions, compassion, theory of mind, neuroplasticity and the neuroscientific basis of economic decisions in various research projects. To this end, she has conducted research at the Helmholtz Institute in Utrecht, the Jacobs Centre for Lifelong Learning in Bremen and the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences. Communication is close to her heart. During her studies she was a (culinary) city guide, today she explains research results not only in scientific publications, but also in science slams, lectures and as a book author.

Whether laughter or anger: emotions are contagious, says Dr Parianen. What is our brain thinking? "It's partly to do with mirror neurones, but also with many other mechanisms," she explains. The discovery of mirror neurons in the 1990s, which are said to play an important role in our ability to develop empathy, provided a major impetus for the topic of the social brain: This is because researchers had recognised that when we observe another's action, this is partially reflected on the observer's motor cortex.
The brain stores everything we need to live together. "What has been important for our species for millions of years, as well as what our parents and experiences have given us along the way." Brains invented our society. "That's why it's always worth including them in the design - at least far more than a fictitious homo economicus."
Dr Parianen gives an entertaining and informative account of the state of neuroscience as it relates to questions of social coexistence. She is certain that if we want to learn to understand ourselves, our feelings and our fellow human beings better, we need to understand our brain better. After all, our feelings are primarily coordinated by our brain. However, accumulated experiences, moral concepts and memories are always involved.