Tina Iachini
Papers
1
Total Citations
215
H-Index
1
About
Tina Iachini is a leading cognitive psychologist whose research bridges spatial cognition, social neuroscience, and virtual reality. Her work primarily explores how humans represent and interact with space, particularly the mechanisms underlying peripersonal space (the area for acting on objects) and interpersonal space (the comfort zone for social interactions). Her most cited study, "Body Space in Social Interactions" (2014, 215 citations), used immersive virtual reality to demonstrate that these two spatial systems share common mechanisms and are modulated by social valence—showing that people maintain greater distance from negative stimuli. This foundational work has shaped understanding of how social factors influence spatial behavior. Iachini’s broader contributions include investigating the neural bases of spatial memory, the role of emotions in distance perception, and the impact of social anxiety on interpersonal boundaries. Her innovative use of VR has made her a pioneer in ecological spatial cognition research, with her work cited extensively in psychology, neuroscience, and human-computer interaction. Her findings have practical implications for designing socially aware virtual environments and understanding spatial disorders in clinical populations.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1