Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Charles Spence is a multidisciplinary researcher whose work spans cognitive neuroscience, consumer psychology, gastronomy, and the emerging intersections of technology with human experience. His research explores how individuals perceive, interact with, and respond to their environments — from the neuroscience of bodily self-awareness to the psychological dimensions of food systems and retail innovation. Among his notable contributions, Spence has investigated the sense of body ownership and agency, demonstrating through electromyographically controlled robotic arms how conscious bodily experience can be altered — work that has garnered 25 citations and carries significant implications for neuroprosthetics and rehabilitation. His forward-looking research on robots in gastronomy (29 citations) critically examines the psychological and economic realities behind the much-hyped integration of service robots into food environments. Meanwhile, his work on digital disruption in retailing (20 citations) positions him as a valuable voice on technology-driven transformation in commercial settings. More recently, Spence has turned attention to consumer attitudes toward sustainable food production, exploring preferences for urban farming and hydroponics. Collectively, his diverse portfolio reflects a rare ability to bridge laboratory science and real-world consumer behavior, making his work highly relevant to researchers across psychology, food science, and human-computer interaction.