Dr Ruben Azevedo is a Lecturer in Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Kent. His research research focuses on understanding the mechanisms underlying brain-body communication.
Key publications
Azevedo, R.T., Von Mohr, M., & Tsakiris, M. (2022). From viscera to first impressions: Phase dependent cardio-visual signals bias the perceived trustworthiness of faces. Psychological Science. 09567976221131519
Villani, V., Finotti, G., Di Lernia, D., Tsakiris, M., & Azevedo, R. T. (2022). Event-related transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation modulates behaviour and pupillary responses during an auditory oddball task. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 140. doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105719
Azevedo, R.T., Macaluso, E., Avenanti, A., Santangelo, V., Cazzato, V., Aglioti, S.M. (2013). Their pain is not our pain: Brain and autonomic correlates of empathic resonance with the pain of same and different race individuals. Human Brain Mapping, 34(12), 3168-8. doi:10.1002/hbm.22133
Research interests
Ruben is particularly interested in studying how afferent interoceptive information (i.e. physiological signals arising from internal body organs such as the heart) influences the perception of social stimuli and modulate social attitudes and behaviour. Other interests include self-awareness, empathy and visual politics. To carry out his research he uses behavioural measurements, psychophysiology, fMRI and non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation.
Supervision
Ruben welcomes applications from (prospective) students who wish to carry out research on topics related to interoception and body-brain interactions.
Current PhD students:
Vasileios Kotsaris
Professional
Grants and awards
Oct 2017-Oct 2018
The Interoceptive Self: Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation as a new tool to investigate heart-brain interactions Principal investigator BIAL
€45,000
Oct 2009-Oct 2013
Independent PhD studentship Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT)
Sept 2023- July 2025
From the body to visual awareness: Interoceptive
influences on the processing of consciously and non-consciously perceived emotional visual stimuli
Principal investigator
BIAL Foundation
€57,000
Publications
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