Antonio Damasio
Neuroscientist and author; University Professor and David Dornsife Chair in Neuroscience at USC; director of the Brain and Creativity Institute
Antonio Damasio — Neuroscientist and author; University Professor and David Dornsife Chair in Neuroscience at USC; director of the Brain and Creativity Institute — is named in connection with the Jeffrey Epstein files. DOJ-released Epstein files document that Damasio — University Professor and Dornsife Chair in Neuroscience at the University of Southern California and director of its Brain and Creativity Institute, known for his foundational work on the neurological basis of emotion and decision-making and for popular books including Descartes' Error (1994) and The Feeling of What Happens (1999) — had at least two phases of documented contact with Epstein. First, a 2009 email from Harvard psychology professor Marc Hauser to Epstein references Damasio as "key" to a joint research project and "keen to talk," and Damasio is reported to have attended at least one dinner party at Epstein's Manhattan townhouse in 2009 at which scientists from several universities were present. Second, in early 2013 Damasio emailed Epstein directly with a proposal for funding a new line of neuroscience and robotics research into the scientific origins of emotion; Damasio told USC's student newspaper that he sought private funding rather than conventional grants in order to retain control over the research direction. On February 28, 2013, Damasio met with Epstein in person at the financier's Manhattan townhouse to discuss the proposal. Epstein declined to fund the research and instead suggested that Damasio seek support from California-based philanthropists. Damasio has stated that he was unaware of Epstein's 2008 criminal conviction at the time of their contact and said: "I was looking for a prestigious philanthropist, not a criminal." No wrongdoing is alleged against him. This profile is auto-generated from public reporting and is pending editorial review; inclusion does not imply guilt or wrongdoing.
Auto-generated profile pending review. This entry was compiled from public reporting because Antonio Damasio is named in connection with the Epstein files. It has not yet been editorially expanded.
Is Antonio Damasio in the Epstein files?
Yes. Antonio Damasio (Neuroscientist and author; University Professor and David Dornsife Chair in Neuroscience at USC; director of the Brain and Creativity Institute) is named in connection with the Jeffrey Epstein files. DOJ-released Epstein files document that Damasio — University Professor and Dornsife Chair in Neuroscience at the University of Southern California and director of its Brain and Creativity Institute, known for his foundational work on the neurological basis of emotion and decision-making and for popular books including Descartes’ Error (1994) and The Feeling of What Happens (1999) — had at least two phases of documented contact with Epstein. First, a 2009 email from Harvard psychology professor Marc Hauser to Epstein references Damasio as “key” to a joint research project and “keen to talk,” and Damasio is reported to have attended at least one dinner party at Epstein’s Manhattan townhouse in 2009 at which scientists from several universities were present. Second, in early 2013 Damasio emailed Epstein directly with a proposal for funding a new line of neuroscience and robotics research into the scientific origins of emotion; Damasio told USC’s student newspaper that he sought private funding rather than conventional grants in order to retain control over the research direction. On February 28, 2013, Damasio met with Epstein in person at the financier’s Manhattan townhouse to discuss the proposal. Epstein declined to fund the research and instead suggested that Damasio seek support from California-based philanthropists. Damasio has stated that he was unaware of Epstein’s 2008 criminal conviction at the time of their contact and said: “I was looking for a prestigious philanthropist, not a criminal.” No wrongdoing is alleged against him.
Being named in the files is not evidence of any crime or wrongdoing. People appear in these documents in many contexts — correspondence, flight logs, contact books, scheduling, photographs, or passing references. See the sources below for the specific, documented context, and the note at the bottom of this page.
Connections
View in network →People most often named alongside Antonio Damasio in coverage, plus documented connections. Counts reflect shared articles, not verified relationships.