Rebecca D. Saxe

Rebecca D. Saxe is a cognitive scientist specializing in understanding how humans perceive and interpret others' thoughts, beliefs, and intentions—a concept known as “theory of mind.” Her research explores how the brain develops these social understanding skills, particularly during childhood, and how they influence social interactions. Using techniques like brain imaging, she investigates the neural basis of empathy, morality, and social reasoning. Her work helps explain how we make sense of the intentions behind people's actions, which is fundamental to social functioning and communication.