Professor Chris Frith FBA FMedSci FRS

Chris Frith is a neuropsychologist whose experiments have helped us to understand the major symptoms of schizophrenia — hallucinations and delusions — in terms of the cognitive mechanisms that underlie conscious experience. A pioneer in the application of non-invasive neuroimaging techniques, he used these to study the relationship between the mind and the brain, and in particular the neural basis of consciousness and free will.

He has also been exploring the uniquely human ability to attribute mental states to one’s self and to others and to share conscious experiences. This ability to reflect on and report our experiences is crucial for learning from others and developing culture.

A Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences from 1999, Chris was elected a Fellow of the British Academy in 2008 and an Honorary Fellow of the British Science Association in 2010. He has won numerous medals and awards for his significant contributions to neuroscience, including the 2009 European Latsis Prize alongside his wife, the developmental psychologist Uta Frith — also a Fellow of the Royal Society.

Professional position

  • Professorial Fellow, Institute of Philosophy, University of London
  • Emeritus Professor of Neuropsychology, Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, University College London (UCL)
  • Visiting Professor, Interacting Minds Centre, University of Aarhaus

Subject groups

  • Multicellular Organisms

    Behavioural neuroscience, Experimental psychology

  • Health and Human Sciences

    Clinical neuroscience

Committees

Participated Role
Summer Science Exhibition Committee January 2001 - December 2004 Member
Sectional Committee 10: Health and human sciences December 2000 - November 2003 Member
Sectional Committee 8: Multicellular organisms December 2013 - November 2016 Member
APEX Award Committee January 2017 - December 2022 Chair
Human Transformation November 2019 - November 2025 Member