Giandomenico Iannetti

The ability to move spontaneously and independently in the world is the hallmark of organisms belonging to the animal kingdom. The unique property of locomotion profoundly changes the way in which animals cope with environmental threats that constantly imperil their survival. Appropriate defence from environmental threats strongly relies on two key functions of the nervous system: the ability to (1) estimate the potential of environmental events to harm the body, and (2) deploy a motor repertoire that actually defends the organism from the potential injuries caused by environmental threats. Given that the potential damage caused by an environmental threat increases with proximity to the body, animals perform more effective defensive responses when threatening stimuli occur in a portion of space termed the defensive peripersonal space.
I plan to do theoretical work on the concept of peripersonal space and defensive responses, and investigate how these are shaped by pain and previous experiences. The concepts of peripersonal space and defence are closely related to some of the most human characteristics, including social interactions, cultural differences, and the use of tools.