Research interests
· Face Perception and the effect of social traits inferences on memory and decisions.
My research has been mainly focused on how trait inferences
from facial appearance, especially judgement of trustworthiness
(i.e. hedonic valence), interact with emotional processing in
modulating learning, memory processes, decisions and pain perception. At the moment,
together with Alexander Todorov (University of
Princeton; http://webscript.princeton.edu/~tlab/),
we have a project running to the the follow main questions: What
happens when trait inferences from facial appearance are in
conflict with information subsequently acquired from the
environment? To what extent do these inferences affect the
processing of new information? Are the automatic inferences
extinguished or does the misjudgement involve a cost?
· Doctor/patient
communication and patient expectations : effects on clinical outcomes. Placebo and Nocebo Mechanisms and Effects. Social Modulation of Pain.
·
Learning, memory and attention (studied in normal
subjects, in patients with metabolic disorders or with brain
lesions and in reversible forms of cognitive deterioration).
