Purpose

Despite the huge progress in the molecular and cellular neuroscience fields, our ability to understand the brain and to develop effective treatments for mental disorders is still rather limited. This limitation arises from the predominant approach of investigating mental disorders as a direct consequence of specific disruptions of the brain molecular machinery.

We believe that advancing mental health research requires a conceptual shift—from a reductionist, deterministic, and mechanistic framework to a complexity-based perspective. This approach, aligned with Aristotle’s idea that the whole is more than the sum of its parts, acknowledges the brain and the entire individual as a complex system with emergent properties. Embracing this paradigm has profound theoretical and practical implications for neuroscience and psychiatry, opening new avenues for innovative therapeutic strategies in mental health.

Within the School's framework, we will exploit an interdisciplinary perspective, spanning from neuroscience to psychology, philosophy, and complexity science, to provide innovative tools to advance our understanding of brain and behavior. This will be accomplished by harnessing theoretical models that transcend the boundaries between fields and disciplines, beyond the mainstream. Special attention will be paid to identifying the “right” questions, based on a proper balance between theoretical soundness and technological progress. Effective on-site training to experimentally approach complex issues in mental health will be provided to the students.

This six-day advanced course is designed as an immersive and intellectually stimulating experience that brings together students and postdocs with established experts in the field of mental health, neuroscience, psychology, and related disciplines. The school aims to provide students with a platform to discuss, in both formal and informal ways, their research projects and to learn new approaches.

Thematic Focus

The thematic core of the school revolves around four interrelated topics:

- Embracing the complexity of mental health: integrating the brain, body, and context to promote wellbeing

- Risk and resilience: predicting transitions to and from psychopathology

- Causality and specificity: the intricate link between neural substrates and mental states

- Precision: how to deal with the uniqueness of each individual

Practical Components and Activities

A central feature of the school is its highly interactive and participatory format, designed to foster critical thinking, open dialogue, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Activities throughout the course aim to engage participants not only as learners but as active contributors to the scientific conversation.

Plenary Talks and Guided Discussions

Each day will start with morning plenary lectures delivered by leading researchers. These talks will go beyond the presentation of empirical findings to delve into the speakers’ underlying theoretical frameworks. Particular emphasis will be placed on critically examining the assumptions, strengths, and unresolved questions of each approach. Following each lecture, interactive discussion sessions—facilitated by senior and junior experts—will provide space for deeper exploration, debate, and student engagement.

Hands-On Training

In the afternoons, participants will take part in hands-on sessions designed to build practical skills to approach the complexity of mental health. These training sessions will focus on the application of computational and statistical techniques—such as network analysis—using R programming language, which is freely available and currently one of the standards in data analysis. Participants will be guided through real-world examples and simulation exercises that reflect the types of analyses used in cutting-edge mental health research. No prior experience with R is mandatory, and support will be provided for learners at all levels.

Daily Highlights and General Discussion

Each day, at the end of the presentations, participants will be organized into small working groups tasked with synthesizing key insights proposed by the lecturers. These groups will identify central themes, challenge assumptions, and propose novel theoretical integrations, in order to formulate a set of discussion points and questions, which will be shared during a dedicated "Highlights and General Discussion" session. This collaborative format will culminate in a one-hour collective discussion with the day’s speakers, encouraging dynamic exchange between students and faculty.

Training in Soft Skills

Complementing the theoretical content, workshops will focus on building essential soft skills for academic success, such as science communication, interdisciplinary collaboration, and effective teamwork. In addition, a special session will be led by a scientific editor, offering insights into the peer review process, manuscript preparation, and strategies for successful scientific publishing.

Poster and Oral Presentations

Participants will be invited to present their research through poster sessions and selected oral presentations. This component offers a valuable platform to share ongoing work, receive feedback from peers and faculties, and practice scientific communication in an interdisciplinary setting.

Lunch with Experts

To promote informal interactions and mentorship, participants will have the opportunity to join "Lunch with Experts" sessions. These small-group meals will provide a relaxed setting for students to engage with faculty members, discuss ideas, and seek advice on academic and professional development.

Excursion

To further encourage networking and informal exchange among participants and speakers, the school will include an afternoon group excursion. This social event will provide a chance to relax, explore the local environment, and strengthen connections formed during the course.

Goals and Takeaways

The primary goal of the school is to provide participants with innovative, critical tools to navigate and contribute to interdisciplinary research on mental health. By the end of the course, participants will have:

- A refined understanding of the complex interactions between biological, psychological, and contextual factors in mental health

- Practical experience in theoretical reasoning and scientific debate

- Enhanced ability to evaluate and construct interdisciplinary models

- Improved soft skills to support collaborative and independent research endeavors

- A starter toolkit to approach mental health complexity in a formal and rigorous experimental perspective through the use of R software