Research in this field focuses on the mechanisms that account for the complex interactions between cognition, emotion, and behavior, and strives to understand how these phenomena can be influenced by environmental (e.g., cultural) or biological factors. It also examines how mental functioning has developed and continues to evolve in ontogenetic and phylogenetic terms.

Understanding the interaction between cognition, emotion, and behavior is the key to identifying strategies capable of promoting personal change. It can, therefore, help us address psychological disorders, improve learning outcomes, induce virtuous behaviors, and support individual or social well-being.

Within this perspective, researchers at the DiPSCo are interested in the cognitive processes underlying behavior and theories and techniques for behavior analysis and modification (e.g., nudge theory, ACT training). In particular, we focus on: attention, with specific emphasis on how it can be influenced by reinforcement or punishment procedures; executive functions, which are the set of abilities that allow us to maintain goal-oriented behavior; memory, learning, and learning disorders (e.g., dyslexia and reading comprehension disorders), with a precise focus on habilitation and rehabilitation practices; motivation for studying and study strategies; bilingualism; psychology of language and communication; decision-making and response selection; environmental psychology, with a specific focus on facilitating pro-environmental behaviors and the psychological factors that hinder them; sports psychology; and the theory of emotions.

To achieve our research goals, we employ a variety of behavioral methodologies (e.g., reaction times and eye movement measurements, questionnaires, observations) and psychophysiological methods (e.g., electroencephalographic, electromyographic, electrocardiographic, and skin conductance recordings), with a preference for experimental or quasi-experimental designs.

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Labs & Projects

TeAMLab