Mario Guazzelli
Papers
1
Total Citations
117
H-Index
1
About
Mario Guazzelli is a leading cognitive neuroscientist whose research lies at the intersection of social cognition, affective neuroscience, and the neural basis of agency. His most influential work, the 2010 fMRI study "Distinct Neural Systems Involved in Agency and Animacy Detection" (117 citations), fundamentally advanced our understanding of how the human brain distinguishes between animate and inanimate agents. By comparing neural responses to human and robotic faces expressing emotions, Guazzelli demonstrated that distinct neural circuits—particularly within the social brain network—are recruited when we perceive agency versus mere animacy. This seminal finding has profound implications for social robotics, artificial intelligence, and our understanding of autism spectrum disorders, where such distinctions may be impaired. Guazzelli’s work bridges cognitive neuroscience and robotics, exploring how the brain processes intentionality and emotional expression from both biological and artificial agents. His contributions continue to shape debates on consciousness, theory of mind, and human-robot interaction, making him a pivotal figure in the emerging field of social neuroscience.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Distinct Neural Systems Involved in Agency and Animacy Detection117 citations · 2010