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About

Alessandro Mioli’s research lies at the intersection of human-robot interaction, neuroprosthetics, and sensorimotor neuroscience, with a particular focus on how the brain perceives and embodies artificial limbs and avatars. His most influential work investigates the phenomenon of embodiment—the sense that an external object becomes part of one’s own body. In a landmark 2020 study (52 citations), Mioli demonstrated that neurally-interfaced robotic hand prostheses can induce both sensory- and action-oriented embodiment in amputees, offering a pathway to improve prosthesis acceptance and counteract distorted body image. He further explored how varying levels of sensory virtualization affect avatar self-attribution, identifying a “uncanny valley” for hand embodiment (38 citations), a finding with profound implications for virtual reality and teleoperation. Beyond embodiment, Mioli has made significant technical contributions to robotic transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), developing and validating a novel calibration and control system (36 citations) that enhances precision in non-invasive brain stimulation. His work bridges fundamental neuroscience and applied engineering, advancing both our understanding of body representation and the design of more intuitive, accepted prosthetic and robotic systems.