Website:

https://sites.google.com/a/fulbrightmail.org/fernandocam/home

Fernando Bravo is a clinical psychologist, neuroscience researcher, classical guitar performer and composer from Argentina. He is currently a Post-Doctoral Researcher affiliated to the Cognition and Consciousness Imaging Group (Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, UK) funded by an Andrea von Braun Stiftung Fellowship (Germany), and a Research Associate at Wolfson College (University of Cambridge, UK) linked to the Centre for Music and Science.

Fernando holds a PhD in Music Cognition and Computational Neuroscience from the University of Cambridge (UK) and has experience in cross-disciplinary research and teaching in the domains of music cognition, music technology, sound computing, cognitive neuroscience and clinical psychology. By training Fernando is a psychologist (BA), graduated with honours from the Argentine Catholic University in Buenos Aires (Argentina). He holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology (with specialized residence training in severe psychopathology) and a MSc in Music Technology from Iowa State University (USA). He is also a classical guitarist and composer, who underwent training in classical guitar performance and music theory at Buenos Aires Conservatory of Music “Manuel de Falla”.

Fernando’s research work is directed at understanding the brain underpinnings of emotion processing through the use of systematically controlled audiovisual fMRI (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging) paradigms. In particular, his research is focused on analysing how alterations of specific aspects within the musical structure may shape the emotional interpretation of visual information and impact on mental state inferences (Theory of Mind).

To date, Fernando has acquired third-party research funding from the National Science and Technology Ministry of Argentina; the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State; the Society for Education, Music and Psychology Research (SEMPRE); Cambridge Overseas Trust and the British Academy. He has been the recipient of several awards, including: Honours prize for the highest-ranking first class degree in Psychology (UCA, Argentina), Fulbright Grant (United States-Argentina), Interdisciplinary Post-graduate Studies Award (ISU, United States), Queens’ College Walker Cambridge Award (University of Cambridge, UK), “Best paper award” at the 10th International Symposium on Computer Music Multidisciplinary Research, “Arnold Bentley New Initiatives Award” supporting interdisciplinary initiatives concerned with the advancement of research in the psychology of music (UK) and “Cambridge Society for the Application of Research Award” in recognition of outstanding research with real world application in the fields of Music Cognition and Cognitive Neuroscience (University of Cambridge, UK).
Key Publications.

PEER-REVIEWED NEUROSCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
Bravo, F., Cross, I., Hawkins, S., Gonzalez, N., Docampo, J., Bruno, C., & Andreas Stamatakis, E. (2017). Neural Mechanisms underlying Valence Inferences to Sound: the Role of the right Angular Gyrus. Neuropsychologia. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2017.05.029.

Bravo, F., Cross, I., Stamatakis, E. A., & Rohrmeier, M. (2017). Sensory cortical response to uncertainty and low salience during recognition of affective cues in musical intervals. PLOS ONE, 12(4), e0175991. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0175991.

Docampo, J., Gonzalez, N., Muñoz, A., Bravo, F., Sarroca, D., & Morales, C. (2015). Neurovascular study of the trigeminal nerve at 3 t MRI. The Neuroradiology Journal, 28(1), 28–35. https://doi.org/10.15274/NRJ-2014- 10116.

Docampo, J., Gonzalez N., Bravo F., Sarroca D., Morales C., Bruno C. (2013). Susceptibility-Weighted Angiography of Intracranial Blood Products and Calcifications Compared to Gradient Echo Sequence. The Neuroradiology Journal. 26(5), 493-500.

PEER-REVIEWED MUSICOLOGY RESEARCH
Bravo, F. (2017) ‘Neural Systems Underlying Music’s Affective Impact in Film’ in Music on Screen: From Cinema Screens to Touchscreens. Musicology Research (online) (Autumn 2017, Vol. 3, pp. 5-26). ISSN 2515- 981X.

PEER-REVIEWED COMPUTER SCIENCE RESEARCH
Bravo, F. (2014). Changing the interval content of algorithmically generated music changes the emotional interpretation of visual images. [Best Paper Award]. In M. Aramaki, M. Derrien, R. Kronland-Martinet & S. Ystad (EDs.), Sound, Music and Motion. 10th International Symposium on Computer Music Multidisciplinary Research 2013 (Revised Selected Papers). Marseille, France, October, 2013. Berlin: Springer.

Bravo, F. (2012). The influence of music on the emotional interpretation of visual contexts. Designing Interactive Multimedia Tools for Psychological Research. In M. Aramaki, M. Barthet, R. Kronland-Martinet & S. Ystad (Eds.), From Sounds to Music and Emotions. 9th International Symposium on Computer Music Modeling and Retrieval 2012 (Revised Selected Papers). London, UK, June, 2012. (pp. 366-377). Berlin: Springer.

Bravo, F. (2011). The influence of music on the emotional interpretation of visual contexts. Graduate Theses and Dissertations. Iowa State University of Science and Technology, United States. Online library access through: (http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd/12094/).