Neuroscience and Humanities: a conversation with Nazareth Castellanos

IE School of Humanities, in collaboration with Ediciones Siruela, hosted a conversation at the IE University Segovia campus exploring the dialogue between neuroscience and the humanities. The event was presented by Catalina Tejero, Dean of IE School of Humanities.

The session brought together theoretical physicist and neuroscientist Nazareth Castellanos, cognitive neuroscientist and Adjunct Professor Samantha Hernández García, and Ofelia Grande de Andrés, General Director of Ediciones Siruela and IE Alumni, in a three-way conversation connecting scientific research, humanistic reflection and science communication.

Drawing on more than two decades of research, Nazareth Castellanos shared insights from her work on the neuroscience of meditation and the growing scientific understanding of the mind–body connection, focusing on how breathing influences neural dynamics, emotional regulation and mental wellbeing. The conversation explored the scientific, cultural and humanistic implications of this research, highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary dialogue and public engagement with science.

By hosting the event in Segovia, the School reinforced its commitment to opening academic spaces to the wider community and fostering conversations that connect science, culture and society.