Francesca Morganti, PhD

Francesca Morganti works on the relationship between emerging technologies and cognitive science.  Her main research interests are on Cognitive Science, Neuropsychology and Technology-enhanced communication.

 

At present at the University of Lugano she teaches “Workplace Studies – Analisys of cooperative work” and “Human interaction and Virtual Reality” whithin the Master program of Technologies.for Communication”. and "Psychology of New Media" as seminarial course at the BAchelor and Master level.

 

At the Applied Technology for Neuro-Psychology Lab – Istituto Auxologico Italiano she has been involved in several EU funded projects in the IST/FET area, within the FP5 and FP6.

 

She received her MS degree in General-Experimental Psychology from the University of Padova and in a.y. 1999-2000 she holds a post-graduate degree in Neuropsychology and Clinical Psychophisiology from the same University. In 2003 she achieved the PhD degree in Cognitive Science at the University of Torino working on knowledge acquisition in virtual reality. 

 

Francesca Morganti's research interest concerns the study of situated knowledge representation in cognition and communication. Within this theoretical framework she is investigating the sense of presence in Natural, Virtual and Ambient-Intelligence environments. The application field of her research is on neuropsychological assessment/rehabilitation and on computer-based communication.

 Foundation of Cognitive Science, Computer-based Communication, Human Spatial Cognition in natural and virtual environments; Neuropsychology assessment and rehabilitation.

Francesca Morganti is actually Invited Professor at the Faculty of Communication Science, University of Lugano (Switzerland). She is teaching about experience and communication enhanced through advanced technologies, such as Virtual Reality and Ambient Intelligence

For the academic year 2003-2004 she was Assistant Professor in “Social and Media Psychology” and Lecturer in “Methods of Psychological Assessment” at the Catholic University of Milan (Italy) – Faculty of Psychology. She also was Course assistant in “Neuropsychology” within the project Didactical Innovation of the University of Torino – Faculty of Psychology.

In the academic year 2001-2002 she was Course assistant in “Theories and Systems of Artificial Intelligence” at University of Padova - Faculty of Psychology

Books
Morganti F. , Riva G. (2006) CONOSCENZA, COMUNICAZIONE e TECNOLOGIA: Aspetti cognitivi della Realtà Virtuale [KNOWLEDGE, COMMUNICATION and TECHNOLOGY: Cognitive Aspects of Virtual Reality]. LED Edizioni, Milano http://www.ledonline.it/ledonline/index.html?/ledonline/m...

Book Chapters

Rusconi M.L., Ricci R., Morganti F. (2006) Differential contributions of viewer-centered and environment-centered representations in unilateral neglect.  In J.R.Dupri (Ed.) Focus in Neuropsychology Research., Nova Science Publishers, New York.

 

Morganti F., Riva G. (2004) Ambient Intelligence in rehabilitation. In G. Riva, F. Vatalaro, F. Davide, M. Alcaniz (Eds.) Ambient Intelligence: The evolution of technology, communication and cognition towards the future of the human-computer interaction. IOS Press. Amsterdam, p.283-295 (download: 15_ami_morganti.pdf)

Peer reviewed papers

Morganti F., Carassa A., Geminiani G. (2006) Planning optimal paths: a simple assessment of survey spatial knowledge in virtual environments. In Press on Computers in Human Behavior.

 

Gaggioli A.,Meneghini A., Morganti F., Alcaniz M., Riva G. (2006) A strategy for computer-assisted mental practice in stroke rehabilitation. In press on Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair

 

Carassa A. , Morganti F. , Tirassa M  (2005) A situaed cognition perspective on presence. In B.G.Bara, L.Barsalou, M. Bucciarelli (Eds.) Cogsci 05, XXVII Annual conference of the Cognitive Science Society. Lawrence Erlbraum Ed.,  p.384-389. (download: cogsci05.pdf)

 

Morganti F., Goulene k., Gaggioli A., Stramba-Badiale M., Riva G. (2006). Grasping virtual objects: a feasibility study for an enactive interface application in stroke. PsychNology Journal, 4(2), 181-197 http://www.psychnology.org/364.php 

 

Gaggioli A., Morganti F., Meneghini A., Alcaniz Raya M., Lozano J.A., Montesa J., Martinez Sàez J.M., Walker R., Lorusso I. & Riva G. (2005) The virtual mirror: Mental practice with augmented reality for post-stroke rehabilitation. Annual Review of CyberTherapy and Telemedicine, 3, 199-205. (download: gaggioli-morganti_2005_vr_mirror_annual_rev_of_cyberthera...)

 

Carassa A. , Morganti F. , Tirassa M (2004) Movement, Action, and Situation: Presence in Virtual Environments, M.Alcaniz & B. Rey (Eds) Presence 2004, UPV Edition, Valencia, p. 3-10 (download: 2004-presence.pdf)

 

Morganti F. (2004) Virtual interaction in cognitive neuropsychology. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, vol.99,p. 55-70 (download: morganti_studies_in_health_2004.pdf)

 

Gaggioli A., Morganti F., Walker R., Meneghini A., Alcaniz M., Lozano J.A., Montesa J., Gil J.A. & Riva G. (2004) Training with Computer-Supported Motor Imagery in Post-Stroke Rehabilitation. Cyberpsychology & Behavior, 7(3) p. 327-332 (download: gaggioli_et_al._2004.pdf)

 

Riva G., Morganti F., Villamira M. (2004) Immersive Virtual Telepresence: Virtual Reality meets mHealth. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, vol.99, p 255-262 (download: cyberth_13_riva.pdf)

 

Morganti F. (2003) Spatial cognition and virtual environments: how the interaction with 3D computer based environments could support the study of spatial abilities. Ricerche di Psicologia , vol 26(4) p. 105- 149 (download: morganti_per_ricerche.pdf)

 

Morganti F., Carassa A., Geminiani G., (2003) Virtual interaction in spatial knowledge acquisition. ISchmalhofer, R.M. Young & G. Katz (Eds.), EuroCogSci03, Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum (download: morganti_eurocogsci03.pdf)

 

Morganti F., Gaggioli A., Castelnuovo G., Bulla D., Vettorello M., Riva G. (2003) The use of technology supported mental imagery in neurological rehabilitation: a research protocol. Cyberpsychology & Behavior, vol 6 p. 421-427 (download: morganti2003_c_b.pdf)

 

Carassa A., Geminiani G., Morganti F., Varotto D. (2002) Active and passive spatial learning in a complex virtual environment: the effect of the efficient exploration. Cognitive Processing – International Quarterly of Cognitive Sciences, vol. 3-4, p. 65-81 (download: cp_carassa_et_al.pdf)

 

Carassa A., Geminiani G., Morganti F., Bussolon S. (2000) Spatial Knowledge Acquisition in Virtual Enviroment.. Cognitive Processing – International Quarterly of Cognitive Sciences Vol 1 (Special Supplement on Spatial Cognition) , p. 87 (download: roma-_spatial_knovledge_acquisition_in_ve-_carassageminia...)

 

Conference Proceedings

Morganti F., Rusconi M.L., Paladino A., Zago S. (2005) Anterograde Amnesia for Spatial Relationships in Topographical Disorientation. In EBBS 2005, 37th Annual General Meeting of the European Brain and Behaviour Society, p.68.

 

Morganti F., Carassa A., Geminiani G. (2004) Abilita’ spaziali in ambiente virtuale: il ruolo dell’organizzazione survey nelle differenze individuali. [Spatial abilities in virtual environment: the role of survey organization in individual differences] Proceedings of the 2004 Italian Psychology Association (AIP) Experimental Area, Sciacca (AG) ITALY (download: aip04_morganti.pdf)

Gaggioli A., Di Carlo S., Mantovani F., Castelnuovo G., Mauri M., Morganti F., Villani D. & Riva G. (2004) Telemedicine in Italy. Proceedings of 2004 CyberTherapy Conference, San Diego CA - USA

Morganti F., (2003) La realtà virtuale nella riabilitazione dei deficit spaziali. [Virtual reality in spatial deficits rehabilitation] Proceedings of the 3rd National Congress “Disabilità Trattamento Integrazione” University of Padova ITALY, Keynote speaking

Carassa A., Geminiani G., Morganti F., Bussolon S., Valentini E. (2001) Evaluating the effect of active/passive exploration on spatial learning in a virtual environment. Proceedings of VIIth European Congress of Psychology 2001, London UK

Carassa A., Geminiani G., Morganti F. (2000) L’Acquisizione di Conoscenze Spaziali in Ambiente Virtuale. [Spatial acquisition in virtual environments] Proceedings of the 2000 Italian Psychology Association (AIP) Experimental Area, Algero (SS) ITALY

PERSONAL INFORMATIONS

Date of Birth: June 11, 1973
Place of Birth: S.Benedetto del Tronto (AP) - Italy


EDUCATION

November 2003
University of Torino
DOCTORAL DEGREE in Cognitive Science
Thesis: « Spatial Cognition in Virtual Reality: An Analysis of Interaction Modalities & Exploration Goals»


1999-2000
University of Padova - Faculty of Psychology
POST GRADUATE DEGREE in
Neuropsychology and Clinical Psychophysiology
Thesis: “Biofeedback: Clinical applications”
Supervisor: Prof. Niels Birbaumer


1992-1997
University of Padova - Faculty of Psychology
MASTER DEGREE in
Experimental Psychology (5-year course)
Thesis: “A study of attention and executive functions in schizophrenia”
Supervisor: Prof. Carlo Arrigo Umiltà


GRANT SUPPORT

October 2002- today
Research Grant from the IRCCS - Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan (Italy)

1995-1996
Exchange Scholar (Socrates-Erasmus Program), Faculty of Psychology – University of Lisboa (Portugal)

ACCADEMIC EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

Actually
1.  Associate Researcher at the Applied Technology for Neuro-Psycology Lab (ATN-P Lab) - Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan
2.  Invited Professor at the Faculty of Communication Science University of Lugano, Research Assistant for the Institute of Psychology and Sociology of Communication

 

2002-2005    Researcher on the EU-funded IST Projects:
a.        “I-Learning – Imaginative Enhanced Learning” (FP5 IST/FET 2001-38861) http://www.tils.com/i-learning/default.htm.
b.      “Emma – Engaging Media for mental health Applications (FP5 IST/FET 2001-39192) http://www.emma.upv.es

 

a.a 2003-2004   

-  Assistant Professor in “Social and Media Psychology” at the Catholic University of Milan (Italy) –  Faculty of Psychology

- Lecturer in “Methods of Psychological Assessment” at the Catholic University of Milan (Italy) – Faculty of Psychology

- Course assistant in “Neuropsychology” within the project Didactical Innovation of the University of Torino – Faculty of Psychology

 

2002-2004       

Rearcher on the National Research Project “Perceptual and Cognitive Factors in Spatial Navigation Tasks within Virtual Reality Environments” (Cofin. MURST 2003, prot. 2003119035) coordinator Prof. Giuliano Geminiani - University of Torino.

 

2001–2003       Doctoral Studentship in Cognitive Science at the Psychology
                       Department – University of Torino.

 

2001-2002       Course assistant in “Theories and Systems of Artificial Intelligence” at  University of  Padova - Faculty of Psychology

 

July 2000          Licensed Psychologist,  Italian Board of Registration of Psychologists

 

1999-2001        Researcher on the National Research Project “Reasoning processes and mental models: an analysis of the  spatial inferences” (Cofin MURST ’99, prot. 9911314534)

 

1999-2000        Internship in Clinical Psychology, Psychiatry Unit n.12 Venice