Francesco Pavani

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About

Francesco Pavani is a cognitive neuroscientist whose research lies at the intersection of multisensory perception, body representation, and social cognition. His work explores how the brain integrates sensory information to construct the experience of one’s own body and how this sense of embodiment influences social attitudes and behaviors toward others. A key contribution is his demonstration that embodying a robot through multisensory stimulation can increase its perceived acceptability—a finding with profound implications for human-robot interaction and assistive technologies. This influential 2019 study has already garnered 44 citations, reflecting its growing impact. Pavani’s research elegantly bridges fundamental neuroscience and applied technology, showing that simple, neuroscience-inspired procedures can reshape how we relate to artificial agents. His broader body of work, with papers accumulating hundreds of citations, has advanced our understanding of how bodily self-consciousness is constructed and how it can be manipulated to foster positive social change. For students and researchers, Pavani offers a compelling model of how rigorous experimental science can address pressing societal questions about identity, empathy, and our relationship with technology.