Abstract

We interviewed Carlo Arrigo Umiltà, professor emeritus in Neuropsychology at the University of Padua. We asked him to illustrate his research field, i.e. the neural bases of mental processes and in particular the selective attention. A specific attention focused on neuro-images both as an extraordinary source of knowledge and as potential danger and source of misunderstanding. The interview tries to highlight the aspects where scientific research and personal dimension intertwine as it happens between religious dimension and human freedom. Finally the practical and biographical aspects of a life dedicated to research are analyzed, stressing the harmony between scientific and family needs and the unavoidable role of human and academic cooperation.