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Laura-Ann Petitto

@lauraann.petitto

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A fascinating article was published in the Transmitter (July 24, 2026) by Alissa de Chassey (Photo by Christopher Wahl).
"In memoriam: Kevin Dunbar, who traced the neural basis of human reasoning.
Using imaging technologies, he transformed our understanding of how creativity and scientific discovery arise in the brain."
See: https://www.thetransmitter.org/brain-imaging/in-memoriam-kevin-dunbar-who-traced-the-neural-basis-of-human-reasoning/ by @lauraann.petitto

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3 months ago

Hello dear friends. Following up on my previous post about Kevin Niall Dunbar, I am writing to share that a short obituary for Kevin was published in The Washington Post this past Saturday, June 27, 2026. The online obituary includes many lovely photographs, which can be viewed by scrolling down from the top. The Washington Post link is: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/washingtonpost/name/kevin-dunbar-obituary?id=61845161

For those also interested in Kevin’s science, Jonah Lehrer’s wonderful article in WIRED offers one window into Kevin’s many rich scientific contributions. The article focuses on Kevin’s work on the neuroscience of failure and its role in success, and was published as the cover story in the December 21, 2009 issue of WIRED under the title “Accept Defeat: The Neuroscience of Screwing Up”: https://www.wired.com/2009/12/fail-accept-defeat/

I thought these links might be of interest to those who wrote to me to learn more about Kevin’s life and work. by @lauraann.petitto

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3 months ago

It is with profound sorrow and deep love that the Dunbar-Petitto family announces the passing of Kevin Niall Dunbar, age 70 (January 4, 1956-May 20, 2026).

Kevin is missed and lovingly cherished by his wife Laura-Ann Petitto; daughters, Eva-Molly, Annafaye, and Maaraluisa, and by his family in Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland, including his brother Rory, sister-in-law Ann, niece Sinead, nephew Robert, and their families; by his brother Michael and sister-in-law Aurelia, Paris, France, and his extended family and friends. His memory will live in his fellow students at Presentation College, Bray, U. College Dublin, and among his colleagues around the world: McGill, Dartmouth, U of Toronto, U of Maryland, U of Hong Kong, Carnegie Mellon, U di Chieti, Italy.

Kevin was a beloved husband and father, a man known for his profound kindness, curiosity, and generosity; a devoted friend; and a brilliant scientist.

As Darwin wrote, the story of human evolution is a story of adaptation — of the mind’s power to adapt, change and stretch beyond itself in the face of changes in the environment. Over nearly four decades as a university professor and cognitive neuroscientist, Kevin devoted his life to understanding that power: advancing new knowledge about the brain’s mechanisms by which we think, reason analogically, remember, attend, and imagine new possibilities beyond what lies in our immediate world.

Kevin is admired for revealing how we build new concepts — how the mind gathers information, achieves new insights, and ultimately, makes discoveries. He expanded our understanding of the foundations of creativity and innovation and showed how those capacities can be enhanced across different aspects of life.

Among his exciting contributions is his articulation of the role of failure in success, and how creativity may be nurtured in children and beyond.

Beloved Kevin, though we shared many years together, it was still not enough. You will be remembered for your grace, gentleness, impish chuckles, your passion for life and life's simple pleasures, and your love for us, community, and our world.

https://rip.ie/death-notice/kevin-niall-dunbar-wicklow-bray-632948

* by @lauraann.petitto

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4 months ago

Congratulations to the brilliant musical artist Maara! (Ancient Records) by @lauraann.petitto

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a year ago

Attempting to restore a smile in the soul with a walk by nature's beauty--her gift of the sea. So needed after reading our dear world's news. by @lauraann.petitto

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2 years ago

Happy to be back home again! Sono felice! Sono contenta! 🌷 by @lauraann.petitto

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2 years ago

Congratulations to daughter “Maara” for being named in “The Best Albums of 2023!” by @lauraann.petitto

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3 years ago

Happy Birthday dear daughter Eva-Molly. You were always with that magical smile and light. Even in today's rain your light shines bright. by @lauraann.petitto

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3 years ago

Silvi, Italia. Contenta! by @lauraann.petitto

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3 years ago

On this misty-rainy evening, June 23, 2023, a man with a most wonderful, shinning, and uplifted spirit left our earth. I miss you already my dear father. Thank you for your love, your kindness, your hilarious jokes, and side-splitting stories. Thank you for sharing your passionately inquiring mind, your courage, and your “never give up” strength. Like water to a seed, I could not have grown to who I am without you. May the brilliant light of your amazing and inspiring spirit shine in peace with the collective light of the universe. (Shown here with his happy smile and eternal love for my 3 daughters when they were younger.) by @lauraann.petitto

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3 years ago

The wonderful (brilliant) team of Cognitive Neuroscientists in my “Brain & Language Center for Neuroimaging (BL2)” in the PhD in Educational Neuroscience (PEN) Program at Gallaudet University, Washington, DC. What a lovely Happy Birthday surprise that you all gave me! Thank you. (—and thank you to those BL2 team members who could not be present.) Your kindness will always be cherished. (Left to Right: Cryss Padilla, MA; Dr. Bradley White, and Joseph Palagano, grad student in the PhD in Educational Neuroscience (PEN) program). by @lauraann.petitto

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3 years ago

So moving was Eva-Molly’s Mother’s Day card as well! Every part of this journey has had its surprises, learning, and enormous joy. Thank you to my 3 girls for it all! by @lauraann.petitto

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3 years ago