Her primary research interest is in the neural bases and cognitive processes underlying episodic memory, one’s ability to remember and 're-live' past events and experiences. Elisa also investigates how the episodic memory system supports related activities such as imagination of future events, mind-wandering, empathy, and economic and moral decision-making. Another line of research involves the rehabilitation of episodic memory deficits in patients with acquired brain damage. Elisa uses behavioral, neuropsychological and functional neuroimaging research methods.