Rebecca Saxe is a cognitive neuroscientist and a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Her research addresses the human brain’s astonishing capacity for complex abstract thought.

She is especially known for her work on Theory of Mind, people’s ability to think about the thoughts, beliefs, plans, hopes and emotions of other people. Central questions in this research include: What makes infants’ brains more resilient than adult brains? What makes them more vulnerable? And how do children actively engage with their environment to guide learning?

Saxe has authored over 100 peer-reviewed articles and is proud to have mentored more than a dozen talented graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. She is also a recognized teacher; her 2009 TED talk has been watched 2.5 million times.