Body Representations, Pain, and Opioids
Date: Tuesday, December 16th, 2025, 15:30h-16:30h UTC+2 (CEST) Speaker: Axel Vittersø, Kristiania University of Applied Sciences, Norway Title: Body representations, pain, and opioids Abstract: Body representations malleable; they adapt to accommodate tool-use, and they can become distorted after immobilization. Distorted body representations are common in for people with chronic pain conditions and is theorized to be a cause of pain. My research has looked at how body representations might function differently for people with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), a type of chronic pain. I have also looked external factors that might contribute to distorting body representations, such as pain induction and opioid exposure. I have used a range of methods to measure body representations, including questionnaires, cognitive tasks, and psychophysics. The overarching aim of all this work has been to shed light on the role of body representations in chronic pain. Biography: Axel Vittersø is currently an associate professor at Kristiania University of Applied Sciences (Norway), a researcher at Ahus Clinical Research Center (ACR) at Akershus University Hospital (Norway), and a freelance researcher (Dr Vittersø). Dr Vittersø has a PhD from the University of Bath (UK), and he has worked with the AttentionLab at Utrecht University (Netherlands) and the Leknes Affective Brains (LAB) lab at the University of Oslo (Norway). — If you are interested in giving a talk please write an email to: lab.imbody@gmail.com.
Embodied Sketching as Inquiry: Research through Design for Multi-sensory, Movement-Based, Collocated Interaction
Date: Thursday, December 11th, 2025, 14:30h-15:30h UTC+2 (CEST) Speaker: Elena Márquez Segura, UC3M, Spain Title: Embodied Sketching as Inquiry: Research through Design for Multi-sensory, Movement-Based, Collocated Interaction Abstract: In Human–Computer Interaction (HCI), interactive systems increasingly reach beyond screens, engaging bodies, movement, and social presence as core materials of design. This seminar introduces Research through Design (RtD) and embodied design methods as productive approaches for investigating and designing future technologies in general, and in particular those that particularly relate to the body, e.g. multi sensory, and movement-based technologies, and immersive technologies. Drawing from my work at the intersection of HCI, Interaction Design (IxD), Games and Play Design, and several performative and movement-based practices, I will illustrate how designing with—and not merely for—the body can surface tacit knowledge, reveal novel interaction possibilities, and generate theoretically grounded design insights. A particular embodied design approach will be at focus: embodied sketching, a structured yet improvisational method for designing rich embodied interactive experiences. I will unpack three complementary modes of embodied sketching: sensitizing practices that attune designers to bodily perception and experiential qualities; bodystorming a physical implementation of the classical brainstorming for idea generation using collaborative enactment and iteration of design concepts through physical and social improvisation; and participatory embodied sketching approaches that engage stakeholders directly in embodied exploration of design prototypes. Through examples spanning social wearables, social robots, and immersive experiences, I will show how these approaches and techniques can be operationalized in practice, how they support computational design practice, and how they open new pathways for conceptualizing and prototyping multisensory and movement-based collocated social experiences. Biography: Elena Márquez Segura is a scholar in Human–Computer Interaction (HCI) and Interaction Design (IxD) whose research examines how interactive technologies can support, choreograph, mediate, and enrich movement-based collocated social experiences. Her work bridges HCI, IxD, and Games and Play Design, drawing deeply on embodied, performative, and movement-based practices. She is recognized for advancing Research through Design (RtD) as a mode of inquiry and for developing embodied design methods that foreground the body as a primary site of knowledge production and creative exploration. Elena’s research spans domains including wearable technologies, social robots, immersive experiences, and play-oriented systems that foster rich physical and social experiences. Her projects and publications highlight the value of designing with the body to surface tacit experiential insights, generate new interaction vocabularies, and reimagine how computation can support and shape shared physical experiences. She has collaborated with interdisciplinary teams across engineering, design, social sciences, education and pedagogy, dance, and the performing arts, and her work has been featured in leading HCI and design venues worldwide. You can read more about Elena’s publications in GoogleScholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=es&user=EginuQIAAAAJ, and ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Elena-Marquez-Segura-2. You can also follow Elena in Twitter: @in_spiral ( https://twitter.com/in_spiral ) and Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elena-marquez-segura/ — If you are interested in giving a talk please write an email to: lab.imbody@gmail.com.
Stress, Relief and Social Support: the Role of Endogenous Opioids
Date: Monday, November 10th, 2025, 12:00h-13:00h UTC+2 (CEST) Speaker: Guro Løseth, University of Oslo, Norway Title: Stress, relief and social support: the Role of Endogenous Opioids Abstract: Human stress regulation is deeply embodied and often interpersonal: we calm through touch, synchrony, and shared emotion. The endogenous opioid system has been proposed as a key substrate of this co-regulation and the social bonding it fosters – based on animal evidence, yet the role of opioids in human social stress processing has remained uncertain. In this talk, I will present findings from a pre-registered, double-blind, placebo-controlled study testing a neurobiological model that frames social soothing as an opioid-driven “analgesic” process. Real-life friends (N = 258) received either 50 mg naltrexone (an opioid antagonist drug) or placebo before completing three paradigms designed to elicit stress and probe social regulation of emotional and physiological responses: a dyadic stress and support task, an effort-based social motivation task, and horror movie viewing. Across tasks, social support reliably enhanced recovery and buffered stress by increasing positive affect — and these effects were fully intact under opioid blockade. These results challenge the long-standing opioid hypothesis of social attachment and invite a broader view of interpersonal regulation as a dynamic, embodied process that extends beyond any single neurochemical system. Biography: A former science journalist who turned to psychology and cognitive neuroscience after realizing that the really interesting questions are better asked on the other side of the microphone. I started working together with Siri Leknes in 2011 whilst still a student at the clinical psychology program at the University of Oslo. In 2016 I graduated as a Cand.Psychol. In my current work, I investigate the neurochemistry of social reward processing through psychopharmacological studies and psychophysical investigations using self-report and autonomic measures. I have a special interest in the links between social support, positive affect and resilience, and in building bridges between the fields of social affective neuroscience and clinical psychology. Another of my passions is science communication, and you’ll find links to some of my media appearances and popular science talks below. Links: ResearchGate profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Guro_Loseth LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guro-engvig-l%C3%B8seth-21314872 Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.no/citations?user=tgETlHAAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao — If you are interested in giving a talk please write an email to: lab.imbody@gmail.com.
The Neurochemical Basis of Subjective Experience: Insights from Opioid Drug Studies in Humans
Date: Tuesday, October 14th, 2025, 14:00h-15:00h UTC+2 (CEST) Speaker: Siri Leknes, University of Oslo, Norway Title: The neurochemical basis of subjective experience – insights from opioid drug studies in humans Abstract: The Leknes Affective Brains lab (affectivebrains.com) typically uses drug administration in humans to study the neurochemical basis of experiences such as pain, stress, and reward. In this talk, I will report results from some recent laboratory-based investigations in healthy volunteers as well as showcase subjective experiences induced by opioid drugs given to surgery patients on the operating table right before surgery. I will show that contrary to much preclinical evidence and related theories, human subjective experience is only modestly impacted by endogenous opioids, as uncovered by pharmacological blockade of opioid receptors. Our findings challenge the commonly held belief that opioids are the most powerful painkillers, as well as Panksepp’s long-standing theory that opioids are so addictive because they hijack neural circuits underpinning social bonds. Finally, although the evidence points to a minor role for endogenous opioid regulation of mood and affective state, opioid drugs powerfully alter subjective experience, e.g. by inducing strong sedation and dizziness that could preclude mobility during acute recovery after e.g. surgery. Biography: Siri Leknes is a Professor of Social and Affective Neuroscience at the University of Oslo, Norway, and Senior Researcher at Oslo University Hospital. She completed her D.Phil. at Oxford, UK, and postdoctoral research at Gothenburg University, Sweden. Leknes’ work on the benefits of acute pain was awarded The Daniel M. Wegner Theoretical Innovation Prize in Social/Personality Psychology. Leknes has served as associate editor for Social Cognitive Affective Neuroscience and is now associate editor for Pain. She is past-President of the Society for Social Neuroscience.The overarching aim of Leknes’ Affective Brain lab (LAB lab) is to understand how the brain and body give rise to pleasurable and painful feelings. LAB lab specialises in drug studies, charting how the brain’s neurochemical systems shape hedonic feelings, decisions and behaviour. In addition, LAB lab conducts clinical research, studying mood, stress and pain in groups treated with opioid agonists and antagonists. Leknes was awarded an ERC Starting grant to study of state-dependent effects of opioids and their relation to stress and social support. Her recently awarded ERC Consolidator grant will explore variability in responses to endogenous and exogenous opioids, targeting the reasons why people respond so differently to the same thing. You can learn more about Siri’s work at: https://affectivebrains.com — If you are interested in giving a talk please write an email to: lab.imbody@gmail.com.
Animating Virtual Humans to improve trust, co-presence and embodiment
Date: Monday, Septrember 22nd, 2025, 11:00h-12:00h UTC+2 (CEST) Speaker: Nuria Pelechano, Associate Professor at the Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, Spain Title: Animating Virtual Humans to improve trust, co-presence and embodiment Abstract: The metaverse is rapidly evolving as a new playground for interacting and collaborating with other autonomous agents or avatars controlled by other users. In the real world, there are many aspects of nonverbal behavior and appearance, that influence the way we communicate and build trust with others. Since most communication in the metaverse will be through virtual humans, there is a need to understand how different aspects of these virtual avatars can affect the quality of such interactions and allow us to build trust and enhance co-presence. In this talk, I will focus on simulation and animation aspects that play a critical role in creating engaging virtual humans in VR. I will cover both simulation and animation of groups of autonomous agents interacting with the user, as well as self-avatars representing the user. When interacting with with a group of agents, I will show how incorporating collision beliefs, audio, or vibro-tactile feedback can enhance co-presence and the overall plausibility of the virtual experience. When it comes to our self-avatar, animation quality and multi-sensory feedback can affect embodiment, task performance, and even change our own body image. Finally, I will present some motion reconstruction techniques that can take advantage of current AI trends to provide high quality animation even with few tracking sensors. Biography: Nuria Pelechano is an Associate Professor at the Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, Spain, where she is a member of the Research Center for Visualization, Virtual Reality and Graphics Interaction (ViRVIG). She is the president of the Eurographics Spanish Chapter, and member of the Sociedad Científica Española de Informática (SCIE). She has co-authored two books on Crowd Simulation and has published in journals and conferences on computer graphics and animation. She has participated in projects funded by the EU (MSCA ITN-ETN CLIPE, and HORIZON-101093159-XR4ED), Spanish Government (currently SENDA: TED2021-129761B-I00, and PID2021-122136OB-C21), and USA institutions, and also worked on technology transfer projects regarding crowd evacuation, and applications of Virtual Reality for architecture design. Her research interests include simulation, animation and rendering of crowds, generation of navigation meshes, and studying human-avatar interaction in Virtual Reality. You can learn more about Nuria’s work on her personal page: https://www.cs.upc.edu/~npelechano/ Image: Exploring the Role of Expected Collision Feedback in Crowded Virtual Environments H. Yun, J.L. Ponton, A. Beacco, C. Andujar, N. Pelechano, IEEE Conference Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces (IEEE VR). Orlando, USA, March 2024. — If you are interested in giving a talk please write an email to: lab.imbody@gmail.com.
The robot: past, present and future. From the automaton machines to science fiction
Date: 2024-11-20, 14:00h-15:00h UTC+2 (CEST) Speaker: Ricardo Iglesias García, Fine Arts Faculty, Universidad Complutense de Madrid Title: The robot: past, present and future. From the automaton machines to science fiction Abstract: Journey through the imaginary of the robot, from its first babblings as a servant of the gods, to its mechanical dazzling in the new technologies of the XXII century and its future conversion into “being”, into an independent entity of its own, in what science calls the ‘singularity’, glimpsing the predictions of science fiction and attending to the promises of science. “Today’s robots have been largely predetermined by their literary ancestors.” (You robot. Antropologia della vita artificiale. Riccardo Notte, 2005). Biography: Degree in Philosophy and Arts (UAM), PhD Cum Laude in Fine Arts (UB). European rank and Extraordinary Doctorate Award 2011-2012, Master in Video Game Design and Development (UCM). Professor at the Faculty of Fine Arts. UCM. III New Media Art MADATAC Essay Award (2015) publication: Art and robotics: technology as aesthetic experimentation. Working concepts: Interaction understood as open systems of action in public spaces, Communication as experimentation of new forms of aesthetic language, and Control as an agglutinating concept of registration behaviors in today’s societies. Exhibitions (selection): Utopian Towers. Shared Spaces (Madrid 2023) Origens. ISEA2022 (Barcelona 2022) Academia Fachada (Zaragoza 2022) Glitches y modificaciones de la realidad (Madrid 2021) (Al)most life, after all (Barcelona 2019) Estéticas Expandidas (Colombia 2019) El origen de la Magia (Madrid 2019) Noviembre Electrónico (Buenos Aires 2017) HarddiskMuseum (Barcelona, 2017) Electronic Timing. Colección BEEP (Valencia 2017) ArtPlay 1840s (TATE, UK, 2014) Metáforas de la supervivencia (Buenos Aires 2013) Festival VG Vídeo Guerrilla (Sao Paulo 2012) ((.mOv)) Videoarte en mOvimiento (Lima, 2012) FILE | Electronic Language International Festival (Sao Paulo 2011 // Rio de Janeiro 2006) Sónar. Festival Internacional de Música y Arte (Barcelona 2013 // 2010) Les Rencontres Internationales (Paris 2008 // Madrid 2008) Banquete. Nodes and Networks (ZKM – Karlsruhe 2009 // LaBoral-Gijón 2008) Sintopía(s) (Instituto Cervantes – New York 2008 // Beijing, 2007). — If you are interested in giving a talk please write an email to: lab.imbody@gmail.com.
The sense of the body from within and without
Date: 2024-10-07, 13:00h-14:00h UTC+2 (CEST)
Speaker: Carlos Cortés, Grupo de Tratamiento de Imágenes, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid
Title: The Possibilities of Natural Interaction in XR: A Hands-On Approach
Abstract:
This talk will present a comprehensive overview of natural interaction methods developed within the context of XR applications. The focus will be on hand-based interactions and the possibilities and challenges involved in creating a user-centric XR environment while meeting technical requirements.
The presentation will delve into the Epsilon project, a joint initiative between Nokia and the UPM, which aimed to enable XR training for construction measurements using egocentric segmentation and natural interfaces. The challenges and requirements of XR applications in the construction domain will be discussed, along with the results of two QoE experiments conducted within the project.
In addition, the Incluverso Project—a collaboration between Nokia, Fundación Juan XXIII, and UPM—will be presented. This initiative uses XR technology to adapt behavioral and cognitive therapies for individuals with intellectual disabilities. The presentation will cover the project’s progress and initial findings related to therapy outcomes, including the development of a comprehensive tool for monitoring and implementing XR therapy for bathmophobia treatment, as well as a tool designed to adapt cognitive training tasks to an XR environment.
Finally, the talk will discuss the project’s future work, including the development of a training tool that enables users to participate in and follow a cooking lesson using XR technology. The potential practical applications of this tool and its impact on learning, engagement, and independence for individuals with intellectual disabilities will be highlighted.
Biography:
Carlos Cortés is a postdoctoral researcher at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. His research focuses on natural interfaces, particularly hand-based interactions, and how they impact the user experience in Social XR settings, especially considering factors like delay.
The Possibilities of Natural Interaction in XR: A Hands-On Approach
Date: 2024-10-07, 13:00h-14:00h UTC+2 (CEST)
Speaker: Carlos Cortés, Grupo de Tratamiento de Imágenes, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid
Title: The Possibilities of Natural Interaction in XR: A Hands-On Approach
Abstract:
This talk will present a comprehensive overview of natural interaction methods developed within the context of XR applications. The focus will be on hand-based interactions and the possibilities and challenges involved in creating a user-centric XR environment while meeting technical requirements.
The presentation will delve into the Epsilon project, a joint initiative between Nokia and the UPM, which aimed to enable XR training for construction measurements using egocentric segmentation and natural interfaces. The challenges and requirements of XR applications in the construction domain will be discussed, along with the results of two QoE experiments conducted within the project.
In addition, the Incluverso Project—a collaboration between Nokia, Fundación Juan XXIII, and UPM—will be presented. This initiative uses XR technology to adapt behavioral and cognitive therapies for individuals with intellectual disabilities. The presentation will cover the project’s progress and initial findings related to therapy outcomes, including the development of a comprehensive tool for monitoring and implementing XR therapy for bathmophobia treatment, as well as a tool designed to adapt cognitive training tasks to an XR environment.
Finally, the talk will discuss the project’s future work, including the development of a training tool that enables users to participate in and follow a cooking lesson using XR technology. The potential practical applications of this tool and its impact on learning, engagement, and independence for individuals with intellectual disabilities will be highlighted.
Biography:
Carlos Cortés is a postdoctoral researcher at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. His research focuses on natural interfaces, particularly hand-based interactions, and how they impact the user experience in Social XR settings, especially considering factors like delay.
From continuous biosignals to spike trains: LAST opens the door to the effective training of spiking neural networks on continuous signals, Freek Hens, Radboud University and Australian National University
Date: 2024-09-25, 12:00h-13:00h UTC+2 (CEST)
Speaker: Freek Hens, Radboud University and the Australian National University
Title: From continuous biosignals to spike trains: LAST opens the door to the effective training of spiking neural networks on continuous signals
Abstract:
Can we use the brain’s own language to diagnose chronic lower back pain? In this talk, I’ll present our groundbreaking work applying Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs) to classify chronic lower back pain using the EmoPain dataset. This is the first time SNNs have been used for this purpose.
We’ve developed a novel encoding technique called Learning Adaptive Spike Thresholds (LAST) to efficiently convert continuous biosignals into spike trains. Combined with an ensemble of Spiking Recurrent Neural Networks (SRNNs), our approach effectively handles the complexities of multi-stream sEMG and IMU data.
Despite the challenges of limited data and imbalanced classes, we’ve achieved impressive results, outperforming traditional methods and even state-of-the-art deep learning models. Our findings pave the way for energy-efficient, wearable solutions for chronic pain management. Join me to learn more about our innovative approach and its potential impact.
Biography:
Freek Hens holds Bachelor’s and Master of Science degrees in AI from Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. He is currently pursuing additional studies at the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra, Australia. His research interests span efficient neuromorphic computing, particularly Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs), Computer Vision, and Natural Language Processing (NLP).
His Master’s thesis focused on developing energy and time-efficient AI models using SNNs, resulting in a cum laude distinction and a forthcoming journal publication. To broaden his AI expertise, he is exploring Computer Vision at ANU. Additionally, Freek gained experience in NLP during an internship centred on large-scale text classification with limited labelled data.
A journey to re-embodiment, Mohammad (MH) Rahmani, PhD research candidate in Computer Science and Technology, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid
Date: 2024-05-28, 11:00h UTC+2
Speaker: Mohammad (MH) Rahmani, PhD research candidate in Computer Science and Technology at UC3M
Title: A journey to re-embodiment
Abstract:
In this presentation, I will discuss my past, highlighting the relevant experiences and projects that have brought me here today. I will go into parts of my portfolio that showcase my abilities, as well as my thought process and general interests, both historically and moving forward. This will hopefully give you a good picture of what you can expect from me and how I can be helpful in the future.
Biography:
Mohammad (MH) Rahmani is a PhD research candidate in Computer Science and Technology at UC3M, currently focusing on Embodied Perception through Interaction and Sensations.
He was a research fellow at SAIL Lab in University of New Haven focusing on real-time neurofeedback systems, signal processing, and artificial intelligence in Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI); as well as developing Text-to-Speech (TTS) models for low-resource languages. With a background in observational astronomy, computer science, and multi-media production, Rahmani holds a Master’s degree from NYU’s Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP) and a BSc in Computer Science. He has professionally worked in R&D roles on LoRa Chirp based IoT consumer devices, safety surveillance systems, and image processing.
Additionally, he has served as the Vice Chair of Tehran ACM SIGGRAPH, and his creative work has been featured in various galleries, hackathons, and festivals. He is an interactive media artist and new media researcher known for immersive spatial mixed reality experiences. His work has been showcased at Archuwum Art Transparent, TADAEX Festival, SIGGRAPH Conference, and SFA Projects.