MISSION
The mission of the Laboratory for Cognitive Development and Applied Psychology through Immersive Experiences is to evaluate the impact of immersive environments on human beings at a cognitive and emotional level and to understand their basis at a neurophysiological level.
Representing human actions in theatrical manner is an innate ability of humans, based on complex communication tools. Reenacting, transforming and reshaping realities by repetition or rehearsal are made possible through complex cognitive and emotional processes. Theatre offers a unique opportunity to study rehearsed and spontaneous social interaction providing unique experimental set‑ups. Storytelling is at the basis of transmission of emotions and studying film and theatre with a neuroscience approach opens a new path in understanding complex human behavior. The objectives of LDCAPEI are to contribute to an emotionally harmonious society by the use of art and to improve theatre and film practice through interdisciplinary research on the mechanisms involved in their development. LDCAPEI aims to develop an evidence‑based approach in art therapies and art teaching.
RESEARCH DIRECTIONS
- interdisciplinary research between theatre, film, psychology and neuroscience
- EEG and ERP evaluation of effects of theatre and films
- developing tools and methods to asses psycho‑physiological effect
- of immersive experiences
- emotional and cognitive enhancement through
- immersive experience
- experimental investigations in the field of experiential psychotherapies
- through objective measures
- development of psychotherapeutic tools through
- virtual environments
- development of brain‑computer‑interfaces
PROJECTS
- Developing a Methodology of Therapy Through Theatre with an Effect at the Neurochemical and Neurocognitive Levels (MET)
- Social Transmission of Cognitive and Emotional States in the Care of Alzheimer’s Disease Patients (STAD)
FACILITIES & EQUIPMENT
- Research space (140 sqm)
- Experiment Room
- Conference Room
- Room for collecting bio samples
- Scalable portable EEG system (ANT Neuro) with up to 256 Electrodes, also equipped for ERP
- Heart rate, GSR and other electrodermal signals
- Eye tracking system with a stereoscopic module
- —80 degrees Celsius freezer and basic processing bio sample lab
- High-speed video motion tracking system with six cameras
- Analysis software: MATLAB, LabVIEW, SPSS
- Oculus Rift
Selected Research and key findings from the LDCAPEI Lab
1. Berceanu, A. I., Papasteri, C., Sofonea, A., Boldasu, R., Niță, D., Poalelungi, C., Froemke, R., & Carcea, I. (2024). Oxytocin predicts positive affect gains in a role-play interaction. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1258254. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1258254
2. Tomescu, M. I., Papasteri, C., Sofonea, A., Berceanu, A. I., & Carcea, I. (2024). Personality moderates intra-individual variability in EEG microstates and spontaneous thoughts. Brain Topography. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10548-023-01019-x
3. Berceanu, A. I., Papasteri, C. C., Sofonea, A., Boldasu, R., Niță, D., Poalelungi, C., & Carcea, I. (2022). Role-play regulates positive emotions and prosocial attitudes. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/r6cpn
4. Tomescu, M. I., Papasteri, C. C., Sofonea, A., Boldasu, R., Kebets, V., Pistol, C. A. D., Poalelungi, C., Benescu, V., Podina, I. R., Nedelcea, C. I., Berceanu, A. I., & Carcea, I. (2022). Spontaneous thought and microstate activity modulation by social imitation. NeuroImage. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.118878
5. Cîrneci, D., Onu, M., Papasteri, C. C., Georgescu, D., Poalelungi, C., Sofonea, A., Pușcașu, N., Tănase, D., Rădeanu, T., Toader, M., Dogaru, A. L., Podină, I. R., Berceanu, A. I., & Carcea, I. (2022). Neural networks implicated in autobiographical memory training. eNeuro, 9(6), ENEURO.0137-22.2022. https://doi.org/10.1523/ENEURO.0137-22.2022
6. Berceanu, A. I., Macavei, B., & Matu, S. (2020). Emotional and cognitive responses to theatrical representations of aggressive behavior. In Performance in Theatre and Everyday Life: Cognitive, Neuronal, and Applied Aspects of Acting. Frontiers in Psychology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01785
7. Papasteri, C., Sofonea, A. I., Boldasu, R., Poalelungi, C., Tomescu, M., Pistol, C. A. D., Vasilescu, R., Nedelcea, C., Podina, I., Berceanu, A. I., Froemke, R., & Carcea, I. (2020). Social feedback during sensorimotor synchronization changes salivary oxytocin and behavioral states. Frontiers in Psychology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.531046
