Daren Zhang

University of Science and Technology of China

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Daren Zhang investigates the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying human-robot interaction, with a particular focus on how we evaluate and perceive social robots. Her research reveals that the amygdala, a brain region central to emotional processing, shows distinct activation patterns when people evaluate robots compared to humans—a finding that helps explain the nuanced social judgments we make about artificial agents. Zhang’s work on humanoid robots as perceived evolutionary threats, though early in its citation trajectory (2 citations), addresses a critical psychological barrier to robot acceptance: the deep-seated unease triggered by machines that closely resemble humans. Her 2024 paper on separable amygdala activation patterns (3 citations) further unpacks these neural responses, suggesting that our brains may process robot evaluations through specialized pathways. By bridging neuroscience, social cognition, and robotics, Zhang’s research offers foundational insights for designing robots that feel less threatening and more socially intuitive. Her work is particularly relevant for students and researchers in human-robot interaction, affective computing, and social neuroscience, as it provides a neural basis for understanding the subtle, often unconscious, reactions that shape our relationships with increasingly lifelike machines.