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Prof Elisa Raffaella Ferr猫

Positions held:
  • Head of School - School of Psychological Sciences, School of Psychological Sciences
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  • Overview

    Overview

    Biography

    I am Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience and Head of the School of Psychological Sciences at 糖心logo入口, University of London.

    I completed my BSc, MSc, and PhD in Psychology at the Universit脿 degli Studi di Pavia, Italy. A visiting period at the UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience during my PhD led me to move there as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow (2012鈥2015). I subsequently held faculty positions at Royal Holloway, University of London, before joining 糖心logo入口 in 2021, where I established the Lab. I was appointed Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience in October 2023.

    My work sits at the intersection of cognitive neuroscience, experimental psychology, and space science - asking what happens to the human brain when gravity, its most constant reference point, changes.

    I hold the position of Vice President of the (ELGRA).

    Highlights

    • 鈥This is your brain on space: how gravity influences your mental abilities鈥 鈥 featuring my research.

    • "The next small step" - my comment on听the importance of understanding听human psychology and cognition for the success of space exploration.

    • 鈥What does art mean outside planet Earth?鈥 鈥 Our artistic and scientific project, , aims to reflect and theorize on how artistic production and aesthetic perception are influenced by gravity.

    • Recent Research听Highlights:

      - in Current Biology.

      - 听in听Journal of Experimental Psychology: General.

      - 听in Biology Letters.

    Office hours

    Please email to听book an appointment.

    Web profiles

    Administrative responsibilities

    • Head of School of Psychological Sciences

    Professional memberships

    • British Neuroscience Association (BNA).

    • Experimental Psychology Society (EPS).

    • European Low Gravity Research Association (ELGRA).

    • UK Space Life and Biomedical Sciences Association (UKSpaceLABS).

    • International Society for Gravitational Physiology (ISGP).

    • Space Academic Network (SPAN).

    Honours and awards

    • Research Prize European Low Gravity Research Association, August 2017

    ORCID

  • Research

    Research

    Research interests

    • Vestibular Neuroscience
    • Gravity & Cognition
    • Space Adaptation

    Research overview

    At the core of my work is a fundamental question: how does gravity shape human cognition?

    The vestibular system originates in a sophisticated set of sensory organs in the inner ear. Three orthogonal semicircular canals sense rotational acceleration of the head in three-dimensional space, while the听vestibular otoliths sense translational acceleration, including the orientation of the head relative to gravity. Traditionally, this system was considered relevant only to low-level reflex behaviours such as eye movement control, postural control, balance, and orientation. My research has challenged that view, demonstrating that vestibular signals play a crucial role across a surprisingly broad range of functions - from sensorimotor control to the highest levels of perception and conscious awareness.

    That insight drives my work in space. By studying how the brain responds to non-terrestrial gravities, I aim to understand - and ultimately predict - how cognition change during long-duration spaceflight.

    My approach is integrative and interdisciplinary, combining experimental psychology, cognitive neuroscience, vestibular physiology, computational modelling, and space science. Using behavioural paradigms alongside neuroimaging techniques including EEG and fMRI, I map the neural mechanisms through which gravity shapes human experience.

    My research is funded by the British Academy, the Royal Society, the Leverhulme Trust, the Meni猫re's Society, the BIAL Foundation, the European Low Gravity Research Association (ELGRA), the Japan National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, UKRI, and the European Space Agency (ESA).

  • Supervision and teaching

    Supervision and teaching

    Supervision

    Supervisions external to 糖心logo入口:
    2
    Supervisions within 糖心logo入口:
    2

    I welcome enquiries from prospective PhD students interested in any of my areas of research. If you are considering applying, please get in touch by email with a brief description of your research interests and your CV.

    Current doctoral researchers

    • HELENE GRANDCHAMP DES RAUX
      Nature of supervision:
      JOINT PRINCIPAL SUPERVISOR,
    • MARYAM HAQ
      Nature of supervision:
      PRINCIPAL SUPERVISOR,

    Teaching

    Teaching modules

    • Neuropsychology
    • Introduction to Neuroscience
    • Project BSc Psychology
    • Methods in Natural Sciences I
    • Behavioural Neuroscience
    • Structure and Measurement of the Human Brain
  • Publications

    Publications

    Article

    • Monsen, S. and Walsh, Eamonn and Cadete, Denise and Garrido, L. and Ferre, Elisa Raffaella and Longo, Matthew (2026) . Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology 79 (3), pp. 630-639. ISSN 1747-0218.
    • Scaramelli, Anna and Seghezzi, Silvia and Ferre, Elisa Raffaella (2026) . Frontiers in Psychology 17, pp. 1748118. ISSN 1664-1078.
    • Cadete, Denise and Morris, Harriet and Readman, M.R. and Linkenauger, S.A. and Ferre, Elisa Raffaella and Longo, Matthew (2026) . Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance ISSN 0096-1523. (In Press)
    • Nezami, A. and Ferre, Elisa Raffaella (2026) . Frontiers in Psychology 17, pp. 1769177. ISSN 1664-1078.
    • Nezami, A. and White, F. and Peterson, D. and Barr, G and Rosen, S. and Crawford, Ian A. and Russell, K and Ferre, Elisa Raffaella (2026) . Frontiers In Space Technologies 7, pp. 1876220. ISSN 2673-5075.
    • Longo, Matthew and Cadete, Denise and Ferre, Elisa Raffaella (2026) . Trends in Cognitive Sciences 30 (9), pp. 780-782. ISSN 1364-6613.
    • Cadete, Denise and Marino, V.P. and Ferre, Elisa Raffaella and Longo, Matthew (2025) . Cognition 254, ISSN 0010-0277.
    • Cadete, Denise and Young, P. and Hallett, B. and Ferre, Elisa Raffaella and Longo, Matthew (2025) . Cortex 189, pp. 140-147. ISSN 0010-9452.
    • Myga, Kasia A. and Aza帽贸n, E. and Ambroziak, K.B. and Ferre, Elisa Raffaella and Longo, Matthew (2024) . Perception 53 (10), pp. 716-729. ISSN 0301-0066.
    • Tucciarelli, Raffaele and Ferre, Elisa Raffaella and Amoruso, Elena and Azanon Gracia, Elena and Longo, Matthew (2023) . Journal of Experimental Psychology: General ISSN 0096-3445.
    • Ferre, Elisa and Joel, Jonathan and Cadete, Denise and Longo, Matthew (2023) . Current Biology 33 (14), pp. R758-R759. ISSN 0960-9822.
    • Bliss, L. and Vasas, V. and Freeland, L. and Roach, R. and Ferre, Elisa Raffaella and Versace, E. (2023) . Biology Letters 19 (2), pp. 20220502. ISSN 1744-957X.
    • Arshad, I. and De Mello, P. and Ender, M. and McEwen, J. and Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella (2022) . Multisensory Research 35 (2), pp. 203-219. ISSN 2213-4808.
    • Pavlidou, A. and Lange, J. and Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella (2022) . European Journal of Neuroscience ISSN 0953-816X.
    • Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella and Alsmith, A.J.T. and Haggard, P. and Longo, Matthew (2021) . Experimental Brain Research 239, pp. 2295-2302. ISSN 0014-4819.
    • Gallagher, M. and Kearney, B. and Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella (2021) . Biology Letters 17 (6), pp. 20210115. ISSN 1744-9561.
    • De Maio, G. and Bottini, G. and Ferr茅, Elisa Raffaella (2021) . Neuropsychologia 160, pp. 107965. ISSN 0028-3932.
    • Longo, Matthew R. and Rajapakse, S.S. and Alsmith, A.J.T. and Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella (2020) . Cognition 204 (104349), ISSN 0010-0277.
    • Beck, B. and Saramandi, A. and Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella and Haggard, P. (2020) . Neuropsychologia 146, pp. 107546. ISSN 0028-3932.
    • Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella and Haggard, P. (2020) . Cognitive Neuropsychology 37 (7-8), pp. 413-420. ISSN 0264-3294.
    • Gallagher, M. and Torok, A. and Klaas, J. and Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella (2020) . Experimental Brain Research 238 (9), pp. 1957-1962. ISSN 0014-4819.
    • Gallagher, M. and Choi, R. and Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella (2020) . Multisensory Research 33 (6), pp. 625-644. ISSN 2213-4808.
    • Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella and Frett, T. and Haggard, P. and Longo, Matthew R. (2019) . Scientific Reports 9 (11448), ISSN 2045-2322.
    • Cataldo, A. and Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella and Haggard, P. (2019) . Journal of Neurophysiology 121 (5), pp. 1798-1808. ISSN 0022-3077.
    • Cataldo, A. and Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella and di Pellegrino, G. and Haggard, P. (2019) . Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology 72 (10), pp. 2509-2526. ISSN 1747-0218.
    • Gallagher, M. and Arshad, I. and Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella (2019) . Experimental Brain Research 237 (4), pp. 989-994. ISSN 0014-4819.
    • Gallagher, M. and Dowsett, R. and Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella (2019) . European Journal of Neuroscience 50 (10), pp. 3557-3565. ISSN 0953-816X.
    • Pavlidou, A. and Gallagher, M. and Lopez, C. and Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella (2019) . Cortex 119, pp. 575-579. ISSN 0010-9452.
    • Torok, A. and Gallagher, M. and Lasbareilles, C. and Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella (2019) . Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology 72 (9), pp. 2342-2349. ISSN 1747-0218.
    • Sadibolova, Renata and Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella and Linkenauger, S.A. and Longo, Matthew R. (2018) . Cortex 111, pp. 74-86. ISSN 0010-9452.
    • Abekawa, N. and Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella and Gallagher, M. and Gomi, H. and Haggard, P. (2018) . Cortex 104, pp. 46-57. ISSN 0010-9452.
    • Cabolis, K. and Steinberg, A. and Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella (2018) . Experimental Brain Research 236 (3), pp. 859-865. ISSN 0014-4819.
    • Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella and Iannetti, G.D. and van Dijk, J.A. and Haggard, P. (2018) . Scientific Reports 8 (1), ISSN 2045-2322.
    • Gallagher, M. and Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella (2018) . Multisensory Research 31 (7), pp. 645-674. ISSN 2213-4808.
    • Gallagher, M. and Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella (2018) . Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology 71 (12), pp. 2655-2664. ISSN 1747-0218.
    • Ganos, C. and Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella and Marotta, A. and Kassavetis, P. and Rothwell, J. and Bhatia, K. and Haggard, P. (2018) . Clinical Neurophysiology 129 (2), pp. 466-472. ISSN 1388-2457.
    • Pavlidou, A. and Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella and Lopez, C. (2018) . Cortex 101, pp. 302-305. ISSN 0010-9452.
    • Alsmith, A.J.T. and Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella and Longo, Matthew R. (2017) . Consciousness and Cognition 53, pp. 105-114. ISSN 1053-8100.
    • Kao, C.-L. and T枚r枚k, 脕. and Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella and Kokkinara, E. and Cs茅pe, V. and Swapp, D. and Haggard, P. (2017) . PLoS One 12 (1), pp. e0169990. ISSN 1932-6203.
    • Cataldo, A. and Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella and di Pellegrino, G. and Haggard, P. (2016) . Scientific Reports 6 (1), ISSN 2045-2322.
    • Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella and Sahani, M. and Haggard, P. (2016) . Acta Psychologica 170, pp. 103-111. ISSN 0001-6918.
    • Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella and Haggard, P. (2016) . Cognitive Neuropsychology 33 (1-2), pp. 67-81. ISSN 0264-3294.
    • Kaliuzhna, M. and Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella and Herbelin, B. and Blanke, O. and Haggard, P. (2016) . Scientific Reports 6 (1), ISSN 2045-2322.
    • Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella and Harris, L. (2015) . Multisensory Research 28 (5-6), pp. 393-396. ISSN 2213-4808.
    • Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella and Haggard, P. (2015) . Multisensory Research 28 (5-6), pp. 559-579. ISSN 2213-4794.
    • Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella and Haggard, P. and Bottini, G. and Iannetti, G.D. (2015) . Experimental Brain Research 233 (12), pp. 3393-3401. ISSN 0014-4819.
    • Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella and Ganos, C. and Bhatia, K. and Haggard, P. (2015) . Parkinsonism & Related Disorders 21 (3), pp. 266-270. ISSN 1353-8020.
    • Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella and Walther, L.E. and Haggard, P. (2015) . PLoS One 10 (4), pp. e0124573. ISSN 1932-6203.
    • Ferre, Elisa Raffaella and Berlot, E. and Haggard, P. (2015) . Neuropsychologia 69, pp. 140-147. ISSN 0028-3932.
    • Marotta, A. and Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella and Haggard, P. (2015) . Current Biology 25 (8), pp. 1069-1073. ISSN 0960-9822.
    • Canzoneri, E. and Ferre, Elisa Raffaella and Haggard, P. (2014) . Experimental Brain Research 232 (4), pp. 1259-1266. ISSN 0014-4819.
    • Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella and Lopez, C. and Haggard, P. (2014) . Psychological Science 25 (11), pp. 2106-2108. ISSN 0956-7976.
    • Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella and Kaliuzhna, M. and Herbelin, B. and Haggard, P. and Blanke, O. (2014) . PLoS One 9 (1), pp. e86379. ISSN 1932-6203.
    • Fiori, F. and Sedda, A. and Ferre, Elisa Raffaella and Toraldo, A. and Querzola, M. and Pasotti, F. and Ovadia, D. and Piroddi, C. and Dell'Aquila, R. and Redaelli, T. and Bottini, G. (2014) . Journal of Neuropsychology 8 (2), pp. 199-215. ISSN 1748-6645.
    • Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella and Vagnoni, Eleonora and Haggard, P. (2013) . Neuropsychologia 51 (8), pp. 1445-1452. ISSN 0028-3932.
    • Bottini, G. and Gandola, M. and Sedda, A. and Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella (2013) . Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience 7, ISSN 1662-5145.
    • Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella and Arthur, K. and Haggard, P. (2013) . Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience 7, ISSN 1662-5145.
    • Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella and Vagnoni, E. and Haggard, P. (2013) . Experimental Brain Research 224 (2), pp. 233-241. ISSN 0014-4819.
    • Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella and Day, B. and Bottini, G. and Haggard, P. (2013) . Neuroscience Letters 550, pp. 35-40. ISSN 0304-3940.
    • Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella and Bottini, G. and Iannetti, G.D. and Haggard, P. (2013) . Cortex 49 (3), pp. 748-758. ISSN 0010-9452.
    • Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella and Longo, M. and Fiori, F. and Haggard, P. (2013) . Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 7, ISSN 1662-5161.
    • Fiori, F. and Sedda, A. and Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella and Toraldo, A. and Querzola, M. and Pasotti, F. and Ovadia, D. and Piroddi, C. and Dell鈥橝quila, R. and Lunetta, C. and Corbo, M. and Bottini, G. (2013) . Experimental Brain Research 226 (4), pp. 537-547. ISSN 0014-4819.
    • Sedda, A. and Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella and Striemer, C. and Bottini, G. (2013) . Experimental Brain Research 227 (4), pp. 487-496. ISSN 0014-4819.
    • Arduino, L.S. and Marinelli, C.V. and Pasotti, F. and Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella and Bottini, G. (2012) . Journal of Neuropsychology 6 (1), pp. 43-64. ISSN 1748-6645.
    • Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella and Bottini, G. and Haggard, P. (2012) . Brain Structure and Function 217 (4), pp. 859-864. ISSN 1863-2653.
    • Gandola, M. and Invernizzi, P. and Sedda, A. and Ferre, Elisa Raffaella and Sterzi, R. and Sberna, M. and Paulesu, E. and Bottini, G. (2012) . Cortex 48 (9), pp. 1165-1178. ISSN 0010-9452.
    • Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella and Sedda, A. and Gandola, M. and Bottini, G. (2011) . Experimental Brain Research 208 (1), pp. 29-38. ISSN 0014-4819.
    • Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella and Bottini, G. and Haggard, P. (2011) . European Journal of Neuroscience 34 (8), pp. 1337-1344. ISSN 0953-816X.
    • Bottini, G. and Sedda, A. and Ferr猫, Elisa Raffaella and Invernizzi, P. and Gandola, M. and Paulesu, E. (2009) . Current Opinion in Neurology 22 (6), pp. 589-593. ISSN 1350-7540.
  • Business and community

    Business and community

    Media

    I am happy to receive enquiries from the media on the following topics:

    • Human Space Exploration.
    • Human brain and behaviour in non-terrestrial gravity.
    • Vestibular System, Vertigo, Balance.

    Outreach

    Education:

    Art/Science Project:

    Art/Science Project:听

    Media:

    Media: This is your brain on space: how gravity influences your mental abilities -

    Media:听The Psychologist ""

    Media: - New Scientist

    Media: What happens to the brain in space? -

    Public Engagement Project:

    Public Engagement Project: 听by听Guerilla Science

    Public Engagement Project:

    Article:

    Public Engagement Project:

    Article:

    Article:

    Article: