Most of my research focuses on the way in which memory and imagination interact. So far, I have explored ways in which episodic memory both guides and constrains episodic counterfactual thinking (i.e., thoughts about alternative ways in which past personal events could have occurred), and how this interaction affects the perceived plausibility of imagined counterfactual events. I also explore the differential contribution of episodic and semantic memory in the generation of different kinds of counterfactual simulations, as well as the effect of counterfactual thinking on the memories they derive from. In addition, my research attempts to understand how prior experience helps to constrain the way in which we reconstruct episodic memories. Finally, I am also interested in the role of internal attention during conscious recollection. To address these issues I use behavioral and functional magnetic resonance imaging techniques, as well as the conceptual rigor of philosophical analysis.

Office Location: 203A West Duke Building
Office Phone: (919) 660-3062
Email Address:
Web Page: http://www.felipedebrigard.com

Education:
Ph.D., University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 2011
M.A., University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 2007
M.A., Tufts University, 2005
A.B., Universidad Nacional de Colombia (Colombia), 2002

Specialties:

Cognitive Science
Philosophy of Mind

Research Interests: Philosophy of Mind, Cognitive Science and Neuroscience; Neurophilosophy; Moral Psychology

Most of my research focuses on the way in which memory and imagination interact. So far, I have explored ways in which episodic memory both guides and constrains episodic counterfactual thinking (i.e., thoughts about alternative ways in which past personal events could have occurred), and how this interaction affects the perceived plausibility of imagined counterfactual events. I also explore the differential contribution of episodic and semantic memory in the generation of different kinds of counterfactual simulations, as well as the effect of counterfactual thinking on the memories they derive from. In addition, my research attempts to understand how prior experience helps to constrain the way in which we reconstruct episodic memories. Finally, I am also interested in the role of internal attention during conscious recollection. To address these issues I use behavioral and functional magnetic resonance imaging techniques, as well as the conceptual rigor of philosophical analysis.

Areas of Interest:

Memory, Imagination, Attention, Consciousness, Counterfactual Thinking

• PHIL 252.01, Philosophy and neuroscience Synopsis

  East Duke 108, TuTh 08:30 AM-09:45 AM

• PHIL 640S.01, Philosophical psychology Synopsis

  Crowell 107, Th 01:40 PM-04:10 PM

• PSY 758S.01, Cog neuro presentation ii Synopsis

  LSRC B240, MF 11:45 AM-01:00 PM

Recent Publications   (More Publications)

• Smith, AP; De Brigard, F; Marsh, EJ. "Aesthetic experience is supported by spontaneous autobiographical memory recollection.." Memory & cognition (November, 2025). [doi]  [abs]
• Yang, BW; Park, JS; De Brigard, F; Marsh, EJ. "Imagine this: Memories of fiction are used in mental simulations in the absence of lived experience.." Memory & cognition (October, 2025). [doi]  [abs]
• De Brigard, F; Huang, S; Cabeza, R; Davis, S. "Beyond task-based connectivity in fMRI: Reply to comments on "Connectivity analyses for task-based fMRI" by Shenyang Huang, Felipe De Brigard, Roberto Cabeza, Simon W. Davis.." Phys Life Rev 54 (September, 2025): 211-214. [doi]
• Morales-Torres, R; Miceli, K; Huang, S; Szpunar, K; De Brigard, F. "Episodic details are better remembered in plausible relative to implausible counterfactual simulations.." Psychonomic bulletin & review 32.4 (August, 2025): 1852-1859. [doi]  [abs]
• Fernández-Miranda, G; Stanley, M; Murray, S; Faul, L; De Brigard, F. "The emotional impact of forgiveness on autobiographical memories of past wrongdoings.." Journal of experimental psychology. General 154.8 (August, 2025): 2179-2200. [doi]  [abs]