Ludovic Ferrand

About

Ludovic Ferrand is a leading researcher in the intersection of social robotics and cognitive psychology, focusing on how humanoid robots influence human attention, performance, and social perception. His work demonstrates that robots can act as social catalysts, with key studies showing that the mere presence of a robot—even one perceived as threatening—can enhance human cognitive control and selective attention, mirroring effects typically seen with human co-actors. Ferrand’s most-cited paper, “Improved Cognitive Control in Presence of Anthropomorphized Robots” (2019, 64 citations), established that anthropomorphism is a critical driver of this boost. He further explored how national stereotypes shape robot perception in the “Made in” effect study (2019, 37 citations), revealing that social categorization influences how we evaluate robotic agents. His research has profound implications for human-robot collaboration, suggesting that robots can be designed to optimize human performance in educational and professional settings. With over 190 citations across his top works, Ferrand is a key voice in understanding how social presence and perceived competence of robots reshape human cognition and behavior.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Improved Cognitive Control in Presence of Anthropomorphized Robots

   64 citations · 2019
2. 2
   Not as bad as it seems: When the presence of a threatening humanoid robot improves human performance

   49 citations · 2018
3. 3
   Cognitive Impact of Social Robots: How Anthropomorphism Boosts Performances

   43 citations · 2019
4. 4
   National Stereotypes and Robots' Perception: The “Made in” Effect

   37 citations · 2019
5. 5
   Impact of Social Presence of Humanoid Robots: Does Competence Matter?

   3 citations · 2021

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links