Papers
4
Total Citations
88
H-Index
3
About
Birgit Rauchbauer is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of social neuroscience and human-robot interaction. Her work fundamentally advances our understanding of how the human brain processes reciprocal social engagement, particularly when comparing interactions with other people versus conversational robots. Rauchbauer’s key contribution is the development of novel functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) paradigms that enable real-time, second-person neuroscience—allowing brain activity to be measured during genuine, bidirectional conversation rather than passive observation. Her most cited paper (2019, 74 citations) introduced a groundbreaking approach using conversational robots as a control condition to isolate the neural signatures of human social interaction. This work, along with her multimodal corpus of bidirectional conversation during fMRI scanning, provides an objective, neurophysiological framework for assessing the social competence of artificial agents. By directly comparing human-human and human-robot interaction at the brain level, Rauchbauer’s research offers critical insights for designing more socially adept AI and deepens our understanding of the neural basis of social connection. Her innovative methodology positions her at the forefront of efforts to objectify and measure social intelligence in both humans and machines.
Research Focus
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