Barbara La Scaleia

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About

Barbara La Scaleia is a leading researcher in cognitive robotics and human-robot interaction, with a particular focus on how humans perceive time and action. Her work bridges experimental psychology and robotics, exploring how temporal perception shapes human behavior and how this understanding can be applied to create more intuitive, socially aware robots. Her most-cited paper, “How long did it last? You would better ask a human” (2014, 20 citations), challenges conventional approaches to time perception in artificial systems, arguing that human-like robots must grasp the subjective, context-dependent nature of time to interact naturally with people. This contribution is foundational for designing robots that can cooperate with humans in shared tasks, from domestic assistance to collaborative work environments. La Scaleia’s research demonstrates that effective human-robot interaction requires more than action recognition—it demands an understanding of how humans experience duration, sequence, and timing. Her work has influenced both cognitive science and robotics, offering a human-centered perspective that is increasingly vital as robots become everyday companions. For students and researchers, La Scaleia’s insights highlight the importance of integrating perceptual psychology into artificial intelligence to build machines that truly understand us.