Lauri Nummenmaa
Papers
1
Total Citations
35
H-Index
1
About
Lauri Nummenmaa is a leading cognitive neuroscientist whose research bridges psychology, neuroscience, and sociology to understand how the human brain navigates social interaction. His work centers on the neural mechanisms of social cognition, emotion, and bodily awareness, with a particular focus on how context shapes human behavior. Nummenmaa is best known for mapping the "body maps" of emotions—showing how different feelings manifest as distinct patterns of bodily sensation—and for his pioneering use of naturalistic, dynamic stimuli to study social processes. His most-cited paper, "Attending to and neglecting people" (2016, 35 citations), argues that human behavior is fundamentally context-dependent, driven by predictions shaped by the social environment. This work has influenced fields from social neuroscience to psychiatry. Nummenmaa’s research is highly impactful, with his studies on emotional body maps and social touch accumulating thousands of citations. He has also contributed to understanding how the brain processes pain, empathy, and social rejection. A professor at the University of Turku, Nummenmaa’s innovative use of real-world stimuli continues to push the boundaries of social neuroscience, making his work essential reading for students and researchers interested in the embodied, predictive nature of social life.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1