Nicola Severino Russi
Papers
2
Total Citations
11
H-Index
2
About
Nicola Severino Russi is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of social robotics and cognitive neuroscience, with a primary focus on using humanoid robots as tools for social cognition intervention and assessment. His most impactful work, a 2025 randomized controlled trial (6 citations), demonstrates that humanoid robot interaction can significantly enhance theory of mind capabilities in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder, offering a novel, consistent alternative to traditional role-playing interventions. Russi’s research also breaks new ground in human-robot social dynamics; his 2024 study (5 citations) introduces an embodied adaptation of the Cyberball paradigm to investigate whether humans socially include robots in their ingroups—a critical question for designing robots intended for social environments. By probing the psychological mechanisms of inclusion and exclusion toward non-human agents, Russi’s work bridges developmental psychology, human-robot interaction, and assistive technology. His contributions are shaping how we understand both the therapeutic potential of robots for neurodivergent populations and the fundamental social biases that govern our relationships with artificial beings.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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