Research
Interoception, Body perception, Affective touch, Temperature, Multisensory integration, Mental health
Interests
How do we integrate signals coming from inside our body (i.e., interoception) with signals coming from outside the body (i.e., exteroception) to create a coherent sense of self? And how do we combine signals from different senses to perceive the world around us, that is constantly changing? My research combines behavioural, psychophysiological, and neuroimaging methods to shed new light on the relationship between mind, brain, and body. I am particularly interested in understanding the mechanisms underlying the perception of skin-mediated signals (i.e., touch, temperature, pain) and how these contribute to the perception of our body as our own, and by implication to our sense of self.
To address these research questions, I take advantage of a variety of methods, such as bodily illusions, multisensory integration, somatosensory tasks, interoceptive accuracy tasks, virtual reality, and self-reported questionnaires in both healthy and clinical populations. I also conduct studies with sub-clinical psychiatric populations to identify behavioural biomarkers of people at risk of developing mental health conditions. I am interested in investigating somatosensory and body perception across the lifespan, with a particular focus on infants, children, and adults.
My priority is to conduct fundamental experimental psychology and cognitive neuroscience research with a strong translational potential to tackle mental health and societal challenges (e.g., climate change). Working in both clinical and research environments has provided me with a unique appreciation of the importance of bridging cognitive research and clinical practice, and how they can inform each other giving rise to a fruitful dialogue across disciplines.
Publications

Publications of specific relevance to the Centre for Brain and Behaviour
2024
Blind individuals’ enhanced ability to sense their own heartbeat is related to the thickness of their occipital cortexStroh A-L, Radziun D, Korczyk M,
Crucianelli L, Ehrsson HH and Szwed M
Cerebral Cortex,
Oxford University Press (Oup) vol. 34 (8), bhae324-bhae324.
16-08-2024
Updating Prospective Self-Efficacy Beliefs About Cardiac Interoception in Anorexia Nervosa: An Experimental and Computational StudySaramandi A,
Crucianelli L, Koukoutsakis A, Nisticò V, Mavromara L, Goeta D, Boido G, Gonidakis F, Demartini B, Bertelli S, Gambini O, Jenkinson PM and Fotopoulou A
Computational Psychiatry,
Ubiquity Press vol. 8 (1), 92-118.
26-06-2024
Sudomotor function, thermoregulation and electrodermal control in the human brainCrucianelli L, Salvato G, Nagai Y, Quadt L and Critchley H
In
Reference Module in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Psychology,
Elsevier 357-373.
01-01-20242023
Thermosensation and emotion: Thermosensory accuracy in a dynamic thermal matching task is linked to depression and anxiety symptomatologyCrucianelli L, Radziun D and Ehrsson HH
Physiology & Behavior,
Elsevier vol. 273, 114407-114407.
14-11-2023
Subcortical contributions to the sense of body ownershipCrucianelli L, Reader AT and Ehrsson HH
Brain,
Oxford University Press (Oup) vol. 147 (2), 390-405.
17-10-2023
Changes in self-other boundaries modulate children’s body image attitudesCook C,
Crucianelli L and Filippetti ML
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience,
Frontiers vol. 17, 1181395-1181395.
03-05-2023
Heartbeat Counting Accuracy Is Enhanced in Blind IndividualsRadziun D, Korczyk M,
Crucianelli L, Szwed M and Ehrsson HH
Journal of Experimental Psychology General,
American Psychological Association (Apa) vol. 152 (7), 2026-2039.
23-03-2023
Exploring multisensory integration of non-naturalistic sounds on body perception in young females with eating disorders symptomatology: a study protocolNavas-León S, Morales Márquez L, Sánchez-Martín M,
Crucianelli L, Bianchi-Berthouze N, Borda-Mas M and Tajadura-Jiménez A
Journal of Eating Disorders,
Springer Nature vol. 11 (1), 28-28.
27-02-2023
The perception of affective and discriminative touch in blind individualsRadziun D,
Crucianelli L, Korczyk M, Szwed M and Ehrsson HH
Behavioural Brain Research,
Elsevier vol. 444, 114361-114361.
24-02-2023
Skin-Mediated Interoception: The Perception of Affective Touch and Cutaneous PainCrucianelli L and Morrison I
In
Somatosensory Research Methods,
Springer Nature 199-224.
01-01-20232022
Body weight distortions in an auditory-driven body illusion in subclinical and clinical eating disordersTajadura-Jiménez A,
Crucianelli L, Zheng R, Cheng C, Ley-Flores J, Borda-Más M, Bianchi-Berthouze N and Fotopoulou A
Scientific Reports,
Springer Nature vol. 12 (1), 20031-20031.
21-11-2022
Modeling affective touch pleasantness across skin types at the individual level reveals a reliable and stable basic functionCrucianelli L, Chancel M and Ehrsson HH
Journal of Neurophysiology,
American Physiological Society vol. 128 (6), 1435-1452.
19-10-2022
The Role of the Skin in Interoception: A Neglected Organ?Crucianelli L and Ehrsson HH
Perspectives on Psychological Science,
Sage Publications vol. 18 (1), 224-238.
15-08-2022
Visuo-thermal congruency modulates the sense of body ownershipCrucianelli L and Ehrsson HH
Communications Biology,
Springer Nature vol. 5 (1), 731-731.
22-07-2022
Interoception as independent cardiac, thermosensory, nociceptive, and affective touch perceptual submodalitiesCrucianelli L, Enmalm A and Ehrsson HH
Biological Psychology,
Elsevier vol. 172, 108355-108355.
19-05-2022
Editorial: When the Body Feels Like Mine: Constructing and Deconstructing the Sense of Body Ownership Through the LifespanCrucianelli L, Cascio CJ, Salomon R and Salvato G
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience,
Frontiers vol. 16, 854135-854135.
23-03-20222021
Limits of cross-modal plasticity? Short-term visual deprivation does not enhance cardiac interoception, thermosensation, or tactile spatial acuityRadziun D,
Crucianelli L and Ehrsson HH
Biological Psychology,
Elsevier vol. 168, 108248-108248.
28-12-2021
Identifying with the beautiful: Facial attractiveness effects on unisensory and multisensory self–other distinctionPanagiotopoulou E,
Crucianelli L, Lemma A and Fotopoulou A
Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology,
Sage Publications vol. 75 (7), 1314-1329.
05-10-2021
Exploring three levels of interoception in people with functional motor disordersRicciardi L, Nisticò V, Andrenelli E, Cunha JM, Demartini B, Kirsch LP,
Crucianelli L, Yogarajah M, Morgante F, Fotopoulou A and Edwards MJ
Parkinsonism & Related Disorders,
Elsevier vol. 86, 15-18.
29-03-20212020
The role of affective touch in whole-body embodiment remains equivocalCarey M,
Crucianelli L, Preston C and Fotopoulou A
Consciousness and Cognition,
Elsevier vol. 87, 103059-103059.
07-12-2020
The Anticipation and Perception of Affective Touch in Women with and Recovered from Anorexia NervosaCrucianelli L, Demartini B, Goeta D, Nisticò V, Saramandi A, Bertelli S, Todisco P, Gambini O and Fotopoulou A
Neuroscience,
Elsevier vol. 464, 143-155.
13-09-2020
Welcoming back my arm: affective touch increases body ownership following right-hemisphere strokeJenkinson PM, Papadaki C, Besharati S, Moro V, Gobbetto V,
Crucianelli L, Kirsch LP, Avesani R, Ward NS and Fotopoulou A
Brain Communications,
Oxford University Press (Oup) vol. 2 (1), fcaa034-fcaa034.
28-03-2020
Damage to the right insula disrupts the perception of affective touchKirsch LP, Besharati S, Papadaki C,
Crucianelli L, Bertagnoli S, Ward N, Moro V, Jenkinson PM and Fotopoulou A
Elife,
Elife vol. 9, e47895-e47895.
24-01-20202019
A Multisensory Perspective on the Role of the Amygdala in Body OwnershipReader AT and
Crucianelli L Journal of Neuroscience,
Society For Neuroscience vol. 39 (39), 7645-7647.
25-09-2019
If I were a grown-up: Children’s response to the rubber hand illusion with different hand sizesFilippetti ML and
Crucianelli L Journal of Experimental Child Psychology,
Elsevier vol. 185, 191-205.
04-06-2019
The effect of intranasal oxytocin on the perception of affective touch and multisensory integration in anorexia nervosa: protocol for a double-blind placebo-controlled crossover studyCrucianelli L, Serpell L, Paloyelis Y, Ricciardi L, Robinson P, Jenkinson P and Fotopoulou A
Bmj Open,
Bmj vol. 9 (3), e024913-e024913.
15-03-2019
The Effect of Visual Capture Towards Subjective Embodiment Within the Full Body IllusionCarey M,
Crucianelli L, Preston C and Fotopoulou A
Scientific Reports,
Springer Nature vol. 9 (1), 2889-2889.
27-02-2019
Affective certainty and congruency of touch modulate the experience of the rubber hand illusionFilippetti ML, Kirsch LP,
Crucianelli L and Fotopoulou A
Scientific Reports,
Springer Nature vol. 9 (1), 2635-2635.
22-02-2019
Minimal self-awareness from within: A developmental perspectiveCiaunica A and
Crucianelli L Journal of Consciousness Studies vol. 26 (3-4), 207-226.
01-01-20192018
Embodied Precision: Intranasal Oxytocin Modulates Multisensory IntegrationCrucianelli L, Paloyelis Y, Ricciardi L, Jenkinson PM and Fotopoulou A
Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience,
Mit Press vol. 31 (4), 592-606.
18-12-2018
Developmental Perspectives on Interpersonal Affective TouchCrucianelli L and Filippetti ML
Topoi,
Springer Nature vol. 39 (3), 575-586.
12-05-2018
The mindedness of maternal touch: An investigation of maternal mind-mindedness and mother-infant touch interactionsCrucianelli L, Wheatley L, Filippetti ML, Jenkinson PM, Kirk E and Fotopoulou A
Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience,
Elsevier vol. 35, 47-56.
31-01-20182017
Reading the mind in the touch: Neurophysiological specificity in the communication of emotions by touchKirsch LP, Krahé C, Blom N,
Crucianelli L, Moro V, Jenkinson PM and Fotopoulou A
Neuropsychologia,
Elsevier vol. 116 (Pt A), 136-149.
29-05-2017
Interoceptive ingredients of body ownership: Affective touch and cardiac awareness in the rubber hand illusionCrucianelli L, Krahé C, Jenkinson PM and Fotopoulou A
Cortex,
Elsevier vol. 104, 180-192.
01-05-20172016
The perception of affective touch in anorexia nervosaCrucianelli L, Cardi V, Treasure J, Jenkinson PM and Fotopoulou A
Psychiatry Research,
Elsevier vol. 239, 72-78.
03-03-2016
Interoceptive awareness in patients with functional motor disordersDemartini B, Ricciardi L,
Crucianelli L, Krahé C, Edwards MJ and Photopoulou A
Parkinsonism & Related Disorders,
Elsevier vol. 22, e80-e80.
01-01-2016
The Touched Self: Affective Touch and Body Awareness in Health and DiseaseGentsch A,
Crucianelli L, Jenkinson P and Fotopoulou A
In
Affective Touch and The Neurophysiology of Ct Afferents,
Springer Nature 355-384.
01-01-20162015
Sense of body ownership in patients affected by functional motor symptoms (conversion disorder)Demartini B, Ricciardi L,
Crucianelli L, Fotopoulou A and Edwards MJ
Consciousness and Cognition,
Elsevier vol. 39, 70-76.
17-12-2015
Interoceptive awareness in patients with functional neurological symptomsRicciardi L, Demartini B,
Crucianelli L, Krahé C, Edwards MJ and Fotopoulou A
Biological Psychology,
Elsevier vol. 113, 68-74.
31-10-20152013
Bodily pleasure matters: velocity of touch modulates body ownership during the rubber hand illusionCrucianelli L, Metcalf NK, Fotopoulou A and Jenkinson PM
Frontiers in Psychology,
Frontiers vol. 4, 703-703.
08-10-2013