Dr Valentina Cazzato
School of Psychology
Faculty of Health
Email: V.Cazzato@ljmu.ac.uk
Telephone: 0151 904 6340
Body Image Lab
Google Scholar
ResearchGate
ORCID
I carried out my Ph.D., titled ‘Reflexive Social Attention modulated by Social Cues: evidence from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies’ at ‘Sapienza’ University of Rome (Italy), which I completed in December 2010. Following this I worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher at University of Udine (Italy) on a project titled ‘Neurofunctional Alterations of body representation in Eating Disorder patients’ (2011-2014). After a a period as Lecturer in Psychology at University of Bradford, I have recently joined the School of Natural Sciences and Psychology as Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Psychology. My research interests span a broad range of topics, focusing on the psychological and neural basis of body representations across the lifespan in healthy populations and in individuals with Eating Disorders and Body Dysmorphic Disorder, investigated by means of neurophysiological techniques (TMS and tDCS) and fMRI.
Languages
Italian
English
French
Degrees
2010, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy, PhD
2007, University of Padova, Italy, Msc in Clinical Neuropsychology
2006, University of Padova, Italy, Msc in Experimental Psychology
2004, University of Padova, Italy, BSc with Honours in Cognitive and Psychological Sciences
Academic appointments
Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, 2016 - present
Lecturer in Psychology, Psychology, University of Bradford, 2014 - 2016
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Udine, 2011 - 2013
Research Fellow, Sapienza University of Rome, 2010 - 2011
Highlighted publications
Cazzato V, Makris S, Urgesi C. 2017. Cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation of the extrastriate visual cortex modulates implicit anti-fat bias in male, but not female, participants. Neuroscience, 359 :92-104 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Cazzato V, Mian E, Serino A, Mele S, Urgesi C. 2015. Distinct contributions of extrastriate body area and temporoparietal junction in perceiving one's own and others' body. Cognitive, Affective and Behavioral Neuroscience, 15 :211-228 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Journal article
Frau L, Bruno D, McGlone F, Cazzato V. 2025. Exploring the impact of gentle stroking touch on psychophysiological regulation of inhibitory control International Journal of Psychophysiology, 210 :1-12 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Swami V, Stieger S, Voracek M, Aavik T, Ranjbar HA, Adebayo SO, Afhami R, Ahmed O, Aimé A, Akel M, Halbusi HA, Alexias G, Ali KF, Alp-Dal N, Alsalhani AB, Álvarez-Solas S, Amaral ACS, Andrianto S, Aspden T, Argyrides M, Aruta JJBR, Atkin S, Ayandele O, Baceviciene M, Bahbouh R, Ballesio A, Barron D, Bellard A, Bender SS, Beydaǧ KD, Birovljević G, Blackburn MÈ, Borja-Alvarez T, Borowiec J, Bozogáňová M, Bratland-Sanda S, Browning MHEM, Brytek-Matera A, Burakova M, Çakır-Koçak Y, Camacho P, Camilleri VE, Cazzato V, Cerea S, Chaiwutikornwanich A, Chaleeraktrakoon T, Chambers T, Chen QW, Chen X, Chien CL, Chobthamkit P, Choompunuch B, Compte EJ, Corrigan J, Cosmas G, Cowden RG, Czepczor-Bernat K, Czub M, da Silva WR, Dadfar M, Dalley SE, Dany L, Datu JAD, de Carvalho PHB, de Holanda Coelho GL, De Jesus AOS, Debbabi SH, Dhakal S, Di Bernardo F, Dimitrova DD, Dion J, Dixson B, Donofrio SM, Drysch M, Du H, Dzhambov AM, El-Jor C, Enea V, Eskin M, Farbod F, Farrugia L, Fian L, Fisher ML, Folwarczny M, Frederick DA, Fuller-Tyszkiewicz M, Furnham A, García AA, Geller S, Ghisi M, Ghorbani A, Martinez MAG, Gradidge S, Graf S, Grano C, Gyene G, Hallit S, Hamdan M, Handelzalts JE, Hanel PHP. 2025. Life satisfaction around the world: Measurement invariance of the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age groups PLoS ONE, 20 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Grano C, Zagaria A, Spinoni M, Singh Solorzano C, Cazzato V, Kirk E, Preston C. 2024. Body understanding measure for pregnancy scale (BUMPS): Psychometric properties and predictive validity with postpartum anxiety, depression and body appreciation among Italian peripartum women Body Image, 52 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Butti N, Urgesi C, Makris S, McGlone FP, Montirosso R, Cazzato V. 2024. Neurophysiological evidence of motor contribution to vicarious affective touch Cerebral Cortex, 34 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Swami V, White MP, Voracek M, Tran US, Aavik T, Ranjbar HA, Adebayo SO, Afhami R, Ahmed O, Aimé A, Akel M, Halbusi HA, Alexias G, Ali KF, Alp-Dal N, Alsalhani AB, Álvarez-Solas S, Amaral ACS, Andrianto S, Aspden T, Argyrides M, Aruta JJBR, Atkin S, Ayandele O, Baceviciene M, Bahbouh R, Ballesio A, Barron D, Bellard A, Bender S, Beydaǧ KD, Birovljević G, Blackburn M-È, Borja-Alvarez T, Borowiec J, Bozogáňová M, Bratland-Sanda S, Browning MEM, Brytek-Matera A, Burakova M, Çakır-Koçak Y, Camacho P, Camilleri VE, Cazzato V, Cerea S, Chaiwutikornwanich A, Chaleeraktrakoon T, Chambers T, Chen Q-W, Chen X, Chien C-L, Chobthamkit P, Choompunuch B, Compte EJ, Corrigan J, Cosmas G, Cowden RG, Czepczor-Bernat K, Czub M, Silva WRD, Dadfar M, Dalley SE, Dany L, Datu JAD, Carvalho PHBD, Coelho GLDH, Jesus AOSD, Debbabi SH, Dhakal S, Bernardo FD, Dimitrova DD, Dion J, Dixson B, Donofrio SM, Drysch M, Du H, Dzhambov AM, El-Jor C, Enea V, Eskin M, Farbod F, Farrugia L, Fian L, Fisher ML, Folwarczny M, Frederick DA, Fuller-Tyszkiewicz M, Furnham A, García AA, Geller S, Ghisi M, Ghorbani A, Martinez MAG, Gradidge S, Graf S, Grano C, Gyene G, Hallit S, Hamdan M, Handelzalts JE, Hanel PP, Hawks SR, Hekmati I, Helmy M, Hill T, Hina F, Holenweger G, Hřebíčková M, Ijabadeniyi OA, Imam A, İnce B, Irrazabal N, Jankauskiene R, Jiang D-Y, Jiménez-Borja M, Jiménez-Borja V, Johnson EM, Jovanović V, Jović M, Jović M, Junqueira ACP, Kahle L-M, Kantanista A, Karakiraz A, Karkin AN, Kasten E, Khatib S, Khieowan N, Kimong PJ, Kiropoulos L, Knittel J, Kohli N, Koprivnik M, Kospakov A, Król-Zielińska M, Krug I, Kuan G, Kueh YC, Kujan O, Kukić M, Kumar S, Kumar V, Lamba N, Lauri MA, Laus MF, LeBlanc LA, Lee HJ, Lipowska M, Lipowski M, Lombardo C, Lukács A, Maïano C, Malik S, Manjary M, Baldó LM, Martinez-Banfi M, Massar K, Matera C, McAnirlin O, Mebarak MR, Mechri A, Meireles JFF, Mesko N, Mills J, Miyairi M, Modi R, Modrzejewska A, Modrzejewska J, Mulgrew KE, Myers TA, Namatame H, Nassani MZ, Nerini A, Neto F, Neto J, Neves AN, Ng S-K, Nithiya D, Jiaqing O, Obeid S, Oda-Montecinos C, Olapegba PO, Olonisakin TT, Omar SS, Örlygsdóttir B, Özsoy E, Otterbring T, Pahl S, Panasiti MS, Park Y, Patwary MM, Pethö T, Petrova N, Pietschnig J, Pourmahmoud S, Prabhu VG, Poštuvan V, Prokop P, Winter VLR, Razmus M, Ru T, Rupar M, Sahlan RN, Hassan MS, Šalov A, Sapkota S, Sarfo JO, Sawamiya Y, Schaefer K, Schulte-Mecklenbeck M, Seekis V, Selvi K, Sharifi M, Shrivastava A, Siddique RF, Sigurdsson V, Silkane V, Šimunić A, Singh G, Slezáčková A, Sundgot-Borgen C, Hoor GT, Tevichapong P, Tipandjan A, Todd J, Togas C, Tonini F, Tovar-Castro JC, Trangsrud LKJ, Tripathi P, Tudorel O, Tylka TL, Uyzbayeva A, Vally Z, Vanags E, Vega LD, Vicente-Arruebarrena A, Vidal-Mollón J, Vilar R, Villegas H, Vintilă M, Wallner C, Whitebridge S, Windhager S, Wong KY, Yau EK, Yamamiya Y, Yeung VWL, Zanetti MC, Zawisza M, Zeeni N, Zvaríková M, Stieger S. 2024. Exposure and connectedness to natural environments: An examination of the measurement invariance of the Nature Exposure Scale (NES) and Connectedness to Nature Scale (CNS) across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age groups Journal of Environmental Psychology, 99 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Culicetto L, Giustiniani A, Lo Buono V, Cazzato V, Falzone A, Vicario CM, Quartarone A, Marino S. 2024. From real to virtual prism adaptation therapy: a systematic review on benefits and challenges of a new potential rehabilitation approach Frontiers in Psychology, 15 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Cazzato V, Ellis C, Makris S. 2024. 'Magic cosmetic fillers': Appearance-enhancement effects on self-face recognition Urgesi C. PloS one, 19 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Butti N, Urgesi C, McGlone FP, Oldrati V, Montirosso R, Cazzato V. 2024. To touch or to be touched? comparing appraisal of vicarious execution and reception of interpersonal touch Aspell JE. PLoS One, 19 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Bellard A, Trotter PD, McGlone F, Cazzato V. 2023. Role of medial prefrontal cortex and primary somatosensory cortex in self and other-directed vicarious social touch: a TMS study Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 18 :1-14 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Bellard AM, Mathew J, Sun W, Denkow L, Najm A, Michael-Grigoriou D, Trotter P, McGlone F, Fairhurst M, Cazzato V. 2023. Topography and relationship-specific social touching in individuals displaying body image disturbances Scientific Reports, 13 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Swami V, Tran US, Stieger S, Aavik T, Ranjbar HA, Adebayo SO, Afhami R, Ahmed O, Aimé A, Akel M, Halbusi HA, Alexias G, Ali KF, Alp-Dal N, Alsalhani AB, Álvares-Solas S, Amaral ACS, Andrianto S, Aspden T, Argyrides M, Aruta JJBR, Atkin S, Ayandele O, Baceviciene M, Bahbouh R, Ballesio A, Barron D, Bellard AM, Bender SS, Beydağ KD, Birovljević G, Blackburn M-È, Borja-Alvarez T, Borowiec J, Bozogáňová M, Bratland-Sanda S, Browning MHEM, Brytek-Matera A, Burakova M, Çakır-Koçak Y, Camacho P, Camilleri VE, Cazzato V, Cerea S, Chaiwutikornwanich A, Chaleeraktrakoon T, Chambers T, Chen Q-W, Chen X, Chien C-L, Chobthamkit P, Choompunuch B, Compte EJ, Corrigan J, Cosmas G, Cowden RG, Czepczor-Bernat K, Czub M, da Silva WR, Dadfar M, Dalley SE, Dany L, Datu JAD, Berbert de Carvalho PH, Coelho GLDH, De Jesus AOS, Debbabi SH, Dhakal S, Di Bernardo F, Dimitrova DD, Dion J, Dixson B, Donofrio SM, Drysch M, Du H, Dzhambov AM, El-Jor C, Enea V, Eskin M, Farbod F, Farrugia L, Fian L, Fisher ML, Folwarczny M, Frederick DA, Fuller-Tyszkiewicz M, Furnham A, García AA, Geller S, Ghisi M, Ghorbani A, Martinez MAG, Gradidge S, Graf S, Grano C, Gyene G, Hallit S, Hamdan M, Handelzalts JE, Hanel PHP, Hawks SR, Hekmati I, Helmy M, Hill T, Hina F, Holenweger G, Hřebíčková M, Ijabadeniyi OA, Imam A, İnce B, Irrazabal N, Jankauskiene R, Jiang D-Y, Jiménez-Borja M, Jiménez-Borja V, Johnson EM, Jovanović V, Jović M, Jović M, Junqueira ACP, Kahle L-M, Kantanista A, Karakiraz A, Karkin AN, Kasten E, Khatib S, Khieowan N, Kimong PJ, Kiropoulos L, Knittel J, Kohli N, Koprivnik M, Kospakov A, Król-Zielińska M, Krug I, Kuan G, Kueh YC, Kujan O, Kukić M, Kumar S, Kumar V, Lamba N, Lauri MA, Laus MF, LeBlanc LA, Lee HJ, Lipowska M, Lipowski M, Lombardo C, Lukács A, Maïano C, Malik S, Manjary M, Baldó LM, Martinez-Banfi M, Massar K, Matera C, McAnirlin O, Mebarak MR, Mechri A, Meireles JFF, Mesko N, Mills J, Miyairi M, Modi R, Modrzejewska A, Modrzejewska J, Mulgrew KE, Myers TA, Namatame H, Nassani MZ, Nerini A, Neto F, Neto J, Neves AN, Ng S-K, Nithiya D, O J, Obeid S, Oda-Montecinos C, Olapegba PO, Olonisakin TT, Omar SS, Örlygsdóttir B, Özsoy E, Otterbring T, Pahl S, Panasiti MS, Park Y, Patwary MM, Pethö T, Petrova N, Pietschnig J, Pourmahmoud S, Prabhu VG, Poštuvan V, Prokop P, Ramseyer Winter VL, Razmus M, Ru T, Rupar M, Sahlan RN, Hassan MS, Šalov A, Sapkota S, Sarfo JO, Sawamiya Y, Schaefer K, Schulte-Mecklenbeck M, Seekis V, Selvi K, Sharifi M, Shrivastava A, Siddique RF, Sigurdsson V, Silkane V, Šimunić A, Singh G, Slezáčková A, Sundgot-Borgen C, Ten Hoor G, Tevichapong P, Tipandjan A, Todd J, Togas C, Tonini F, Tovar-Castro JC, Trangsrud LKJ, Tripathi P, Tudorel O, Tylka TL, Uyzbayeva A, Vally Z, Vanags E, Vega LD, Vicente-Arruebarrena A, Vidal-Mollón J, Vilar R, Villegas H, Vintilă M, Wallner C, White MP, Whitebridge S, Windhager S, Wong KY, Yau EK, Yamamiya Y, Yeung VWL, Zanetti MC, Zawisza M, Zeeni N, Zvaríková M, Voracek M. 2023. Body appreciation around the world: Measurement invariance of the Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2) across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age Body Image, 46 :449-466 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Ricciardi L, Spatari G, Vicario CM, Liotta M, Cazzato V, Gangemi S, Martino G. 2023. Clinical Psychology and Clinical Immunology: is there a link between Alexithymia and severe Asthma? Mediterranean Journal of Clinical Psychology, 11 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Bellard A, Trotter P, McGlone F, Cazzato V. 2022. Vicarious ratings of self vs. other-directed social touch in women with and recovered from Anorexia Nervosa Scientific Reports, 12 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Malvica S, Palumbo L, Cazzato V. 2022. “I feel like I am in that place and I would like to see more”: Aesthetic and embodiment components of tourist destination image. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts, DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Cazzato V, Vicario CM, Urgesi C. 2022. ‘When hunger makes everything better looking!’: The effect of hunger on the aesthetic appreciation of human bodies, faces and objects BMC Psychology, 10 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Frau L, Cazzato V, McGlone FP, Bruno D. 2022. The effects of multimodal training on working memory in younger and older adults The Cognitive Psychology Bullettin, :23-35 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Sacchetti S, McGlone FP, Cazzato V, Mirams LR. 2021. The off-line effect of affective touch on multisensory integration and tactile perceptual accuracy during the somatic signal detection task PLoS One, 16 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Cazzato V, Sacchetti S, Shin S, Makdani A, Trotter PD, McGlone F. 2021. Affective touch topography and body image. PLoS One, 16 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
McNeill AM, Monk RL, Qureshi AW, Makris S, Cazzato V, Heim D. 2021. Elevated ad libitum alcohol consumption following continuous theta burst stimulation to the left-dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is partially mediated by changes in craving Cognitive, Affective and Behavioral Neuroscience, DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Bellard A, Urgesi C, Cazzato V. 2021. Self-body recognition and attitudes towards body image in younger and older women Archives of Women's Mental Health, DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Sacchetti VS, Cazzato V, McGlone F, Mirams L. 2021. In your eyes: vision of the body alters touch perception in women with eating disorder symptoms Psychological Research: an international journal of perception, attention, memory and action, DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Cazzato V, Walters E, Urgesi C. 2021. Associations of observer’s gender, Body Mass Index and internalization of societal beauty ideals to visual body processing Psychological Research: an international journal of perception, attention, memory and action, DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Makris S, Cazzato V. 2020. Implicit visual sensitivity towards slim versus overweight bodies modulates motor resonance in the primary motor cortex: A tDCS study Cognitive, Affective and Behavioral Neuroscience, DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Sacchetti S, Mirams LR, McGlone FP, Cazzato V. 2020. Self-focused attention enhances tactile sensitivity in women at risk from eating disorders Scientific Reports, 10 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Bellard AM, Cornelissen PL, Mian E, Cazzato V. 2020. The ageing body: contributing attitudinal factors towards perceptual body size estimates in younger and middle-aged women Archives of Women's Mental Health, DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Cazzato V, Sacchetti S, Shin S, Makdani A, Trotter PD, McGlone F. 2020. Topical heterogeneity in affective touch: Does it impact body image? DOI Publisher Url
Cazzato V, Walters E, Urgesi C. 2020. Visual body processing’s associations to Body Mass Index and internalization of societal beauty ideals DOI Publisher Url
Gabriella M, Sardella A, Bellone F, Lasco C, Langher V, Cazzato V, Penna A, Vicario C, Morabito N, Catalano A. 2019. Executive functions and bone health: a focus on cognitive impulsivity and bone mineral density Mediterranean Journal of Clinical Psychology, 7 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Cazzato V, Makris S, Flavell JC, Vicario CM. 2018. Group membership and racial bias modulate the temporal estimation of in-group/out-group body movements Experimental Brain Research, 236 :2427-2437 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Cazzato V, Makris S. 2018. Implicit preference towards slim bodies and weight-stigma modulate the understanding of observed familiar actions Psychological Research, :1-11 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Cazzato V, Makris S, Urgesi C. 2017. Cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation of the extrastriate visual cortex modulates implicit anti-fat bias in male, but not female, participants. Neuroscience, 359 :92-104 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Makris S, Randle J, Cazzato V. 2017. Cathodal tDCS evidence on how perceived body weight similarity and weight stigma can modulate the understanding of observed familiar actions Brain Stimulation, 10 :e27-e27 DOI Publisher Url
Mele S, Cazzato V, Di Taranto F, Maestro S, Fabbro F, Muratori F, Urgesi C. 2016. Altered exposure-related reshaping of body appreciation in adolescent patients with anorexia nervosa Body Image, 19 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Cazzato V, Mele S, Urgesi C. 2016. Different contributions of visual and motor brain areas during liking judgments of same- and different-gender bodies Brain Research, 1646 :98-108 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Cazzato V, Mian E, Mele S, Tognana G, Todisco P, Urgesi C. 2016. The effects of body exposure on self-body image and esthetic appreciation in anorexia nervosa. Experimental brain research, 234 :695-709 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Cazzato V, Liuzza MT, Caprara GV, Macaluso E, Aglioti SM. 2015. The attracting power of the gaze of politicians is modulated by the personality and ideological attitude of their voters: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study. European Journal of Neuroscience, 42 :2534-2545 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Cazzato V, Mian E, Serino A, Mele S, Urgesi C. 2015. Distinct contributions of extrastriate body area and temporoparietal junction in perceiving one's own and others' body. Cognitive, Affective and Behavioral Neuroscience, 15 :211-228 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Cazzato V, Mele S, Urgesi C. 2014. Gender differences in the neural underpinning of perceiving and appreciating the beauty of the body. BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH, 264 :188-196 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Mele S, Cazzato V, Urgesi C. 2013. The importance of perceptual experience in the esthetic appreciation of the body. PLoS One, 8 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Azevedo RT, Macaluso E, Avenanti A, Santangelo V, Cazzato V, Aglioti SM. 2013. Their pain is not our pain: brain and autonomic correlates of empathic resonance with the pain of same and different race individuals. Human Brain Mapping, 34 :3168-3181 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Cazzato V, Siega S, Urgesi C. 2012. "What women like": influence of motion and form on esthetic body perception. Frontiers in Psychology, 3 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Cazzato V, Macaluso E, Crostella F, Aglioti SM. 2012. Mapping reflexive shifts of attention in eye-centered and hand-centered coordinate systems. Human Brain Mapping, 33 :165-178 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Liuzza MT, Cazzato V, Vecchione M, Crostella F, Caprara GV, Aglioti SM. 2011. Follow my eyes: the gaze of politicians reflexively captures the gaze of ingroup voters. PLoS One, 6 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Cazzato V, Basso D, Cutini S, Bisiacchi P. 2010. Gender differences in visuospatial planning: an eye movements study. BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH, 206 :177-183 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Cazzato V, Macaluso E, Aglioti SM. 2009. Is Reflexive Joint Attention mapped according to effector specific rules? An fMRI study NeuroImage, 47 :S65-S65 DOI Publisher Url
preprint
Butti N, Urgesi C, McGlone FP, Oldrati V, Montirosso R, Cazzato V. 2023. To touch or to be touched? Comparing pleasantness of vicarious execution and reception of interpersonal touch Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory DOI Publisher Url
Cazzato V, Vicario CM, Urgesi C. 2022. ‘When Hunger Makes Everything Better Looking!’: The Effect of Hunger on the Aesthetic Appreciation of Human Bodies, Faces and Objects Research Square Platform LLC DOI Publisher Url
Bellard A, Trotter P, McGlone F, Cazzato V. 2021. Vicarious Ratings of Self vs. Other-directed Social Touch in Women with and Recovered from Anorexia Nervosa PsyArXiv DOI Publisher Url
Editorial/letter to the editor
Caputo A, Vicario CM, Cazzato V, Martino G. 2022. Psychological Factors as Determinants of Medical Conditions, Volume II Cazzato V. Frontiers in Psychology, DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Martino G, Langher V, Cazzato V, Vicario CM. 2019. Editorial: Psychological Factors as Determinants of Medical Conditions FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY, 10 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Conference publication
Malvica S, Palumbo L, Cazzato V. 2021. Embodied and Aesthetic Processes in the Evaluation of Tourist Destination Image PERCEPTION, 50 :108-109 Author Url
Cazzato V. 2021. Touch experience of pleasantness across body sites and its link to body awareness and dysmorphic appearance concerns EUROPEAN EATING DISORDERS REVIEW, 29 :E5-E5 Author Url
Sacchett S, Mirams L, McGlone F, Cazzato V. 2021. Eyes on me: The effect of self-focused attention on touch perception and its association with eating disorder symptoms EUROPEAN EATING DISORDERS REVIEW, 29 :E22-E22 Author Url
Cazzato V, Makris S, Urgesi C. 2015. Transcranial direct current stimulation of the extrastriate body area modulates implicit anti-fat bias The Quarterly journal of experimental psychology, Experimental Psychology Society 12 DOI Publisher Url
Cazzato V, Mele S, Urgesi C. 2014. Visual underpinnings of body aesthetics: a TMS study I-PERCEPTION, 5 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Urgesi C, Mele S, Cazzato V. 2012. TMS investigations of the influence of body form and body action representations on body aesthetic perception COGNITIVE PROCESSING, 13 :S29-S29 Author Url
Cazzato V, Makris S. Off-line rTMS of Left Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex Reduces Food Cravings in Females but Not Males Piradov M. https://www.neurology.ru/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2017/10/nibs2017-moscow-proceedings.pdf?download=1, NON-INVASIVE BRAIN STIMULATION AND FUNCTIONAL BRAIN MAPPING DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Frau L, Cazzato V, McGlone F, Bruno D. A novel drug-free intervention to improve cognitive performance in unimpaired older participants: the power of affective touch Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) DOI Publisher Url
Other
McNeill AM, Monk RL, Qureshi AW, Makris S, Cazzato V, Heim D. 2021. Elevated ad libitum alcohol consumption following continuous theta burst stimulation to the left-dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is partially mediated by changes in craving (Aug, 10.3758/s13415-021-00940-7, 2021) COGNITIVE AFFECTIVE & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE, 21 :1319-1319 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Conference organisation:
Dancing with Another - Neuroscience meets Dance in Therapy, Conference organiser, https://neurosciencemeetsdance.net/. 2024
Observing Dance - Neuroscience Meets Dance In Therapy, Conference organiser, https://neurosciencemeetsdance.net/events/observing-dance/. 2023
BRNET 3 - Online event - The changing body Body representations across the lifespan, Conference organiser, https://bodyrepresentation.wixsite.com/brnet/copy-of-2020-colchester-meeting. 2021
BRNet Workshop The changing body: Body Representations across the lifespan. Colchester, Essex, UK, 11th September 2020, Conference Co-organiser, https://bodyrepresentation.wixsite.com/brnet/workshop-instruction. 2020
Cazzato V., Cornelissen P., Gillmeister H., & Preston C. (2019, 7-9 March). International Convention of Psychological Science (ICPS), Symposium: Body Image Representation through Time, from Infancy to Middle Life: Research Advances and Clinical Challenges., Symposium Organiser. 2019
Cazzato, V., Keizer, A., Eshkevari,, E. & Preston, C. (2015, 12-14 March). International Convention of Psychological Science (ICPS). Neurobehavioral account of body misperception: basic and clinical research advances., Symposium Organiser. 2015
Public engagement:
Participatory research, Year 12 students from disadvantaged backgrounds, We designed a series of activities, during which the students were able to understand more about our work as neuroscientists and familiarise with several cognitive neuroscience techniques including also programming a Lab-based study, as well as learning basic knowledge of the brain anatomy., Liverpool John Moores University, In2Science Programme, together with my colleague at LJMU, we have been successful in supporting six Year 12 students from disadvantaged backgrounds to achieve their potential within STEM, by offering them a 1-week placement at LJMU within the initiative of the In2Science programme.. 2023
Public talk or lecture, local adults and family groups, We engaged with the public to partake simple tasks like taking 'Selfies' with a tablet, as well as filling up self-report scales that measure issues around body dissatisfaction and dysmorphic concerns (Liverpool, UK)., Sound City, Liverpool, Going Viral: The Art of the Selfie, With colleagues from Edge Hill University, we delivered a public talk titled ‘Going Viral: The Art of the Selfie’., https://www.soundcity.uk.com/profile/ice-ideas-tent. 2019
Research Grants Awarded:
AHRC Research Networking, Neuroscience meets Dance: Towards a neuroscientific approach to mental health and wellbeing, Prof Vicky Karkou, Edge Hill University, UK, Grant value (£): 35500, Duration of research project: 12 months. 2023
FHE QR Small Project 2023 - Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK, 'Out of Touch with One's Own Inner Sensations': Behavioural and Psychophysiological Correlates of Somatic Interference, Dr Christopher Baker, Grant value (£): 5.175, Duration of research project: 4 months. 2023
Erasmus+ staff mobility – traineeship, University of Padova, Padova, Italy, to update theoretical knowledge of the mechanisms and treatment of eating and weight disorders, including non-pharmacological, non-invasive brain stimulation technique., Grant value (£): 1100. 2023
Erasmus+ staff mobility – traineeship, Johannes-Gutenberg University Medical Center, Mainz, Germany, to update best practice in the use of Non-Invasive Transcranial Brain Stimulation (TMS) protocols, including single pulse, paired pulse, and repetitive TMS., Grant value (£): 1300, Duration of research project: 1 week. 2022
LJMU VC Studentship 2020/21, Effects of Anorexia Nervosa on Somatosensory Processing and Autistic Trait Presentation: A Quantitative Sensory Testing Study, Grant value (£): 49.786. 2021
Guarantors of Brain, “The changing body: body representations across the lifespan”, Dr Maria Laura Filippetti, University of Essex & Dr Dorothy Cowie, Durham University, Grant value (£): 3,000. 2019
The Royal Society - Research Grants, ‘Your touch makes me feel fat’: Brain mechanisms for pleasant touch processing among people at risk of developing Anorexia Nervosa”., Grant value (£): 19,900, Duration of research project: 1 year. 2018
Erasmus+ Staff Teaching Mobility Programme, Faculty of Psychology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain, awarded a teaching fellowship for the delivery of 8 hrs teaching sessions to small group Tutoring session, class demonstration and discussion on my research and the use of non-invasive brain stimulation techniques, Grant value (£): 1200. 2018
Experimental Psychology Society (EPS) - Small Grants Scheme, Mirror, mirror on the wall who is the ‘youngest’ of them all?: a systematic characterization of body shape (mis)perception in midlife women., Grant value (£): 3,500, Duration of research project: 1 year. 2017
Early Career Researcher Seed Award, Liverpool John Moores University, Grant value (£): 30.000. 2017
Strategic Support of Early Career Researchers (ECR) PhD Studentships 2017/18, Faculty of Science, Liverpool John Moores University, UK, 'A neurobehavioral investigation into body misperceptions in eating disorders, Grant value (£): 45.159. 2017
External PGR examinations performed:
Goldsmiths University of London, UK, PhD, Bodily awareness in depersonalization-derealization disorder. 2022
University of Padua, Italy, PhD, Gaze-driven orienting of attention across cultures. 2021
University of Padua, Italy, PhD, TES and its effects on cognitive functions: feasibility and limitations for a broader clinical application. 2018
Media Coverage:
Soapbox Science Sheffield event to inspire women to pursue STEM careers, The Moor, Sheffield city centre - Dr Valentina Cazzato - Mirror, mirror on the wall who is the ‘thinnest' of them all? A lifespan journey into body shape (mis)perception. 2018
soapboxscience.org (opens in a new tab)
www.sheffield.ac.uk (opens in a new tab)
twitter.com (opens in a new tab)
Conference presentation:
Malvica, S., Palumbo, L., Cattaneo, Z., & Cazzato, V. Do presence of people and perspective impact upon aesthetic and tourist judgements of tourist destination images?, The Experimental Psychology Society Meeting (EPS), Keele University, Poster presentation. 2022
Bellard, A., Sun, W., Denkow, L., Najm, A., Michael-Grigoriou, D., Trotter, P., McGlone, F., Fairhurst, M., & Cazzato, V., (2021, November 12). The virtual touch toolkit: Association with body image disturbances and responses to interpersonal touch, as measured by the 'hands on' application [Conference presentation]. BIRD 2021, Online, Australia., BIRD 2021, Online (Australia), Poster presentation. 2021
Ralph-Nearman, C., Arevian, A. C., Cazzato, V., Bellard, A., Davis, G., Khalsa, S. S., & Feusner, J. D (2021, September 17). Somatomap 3-Dimensional visual assessment of body image perceptual accuracy related to eating disorder symptoms in male fashion models [Conference presentation]. EDRS 2021, Online, United States., Eating Disorders Research Society 2021, Online, Poster presentation. 2021
Malvica, S., Palumbo, L. & Cazzato, V. (2021, August 22-27). Embodied and Aesthetic Processes in the Evaluation of Tourist Destination Image., 43rd European Conference on Visual Perception (ECVP), On line, Poster presentation. 2021
Bellard, A., Trotter, P., McGlone, F., & Cazzato. V (2021, July 12). Vicarious ratings of social touch in women with and recovered from Anorexia Nervosa [Conference presentation]. BrNet 2021, Online, United Kingdom., BrNet 2021, Online, Poster presentation. 2021
Guo, J.Y., Moody, T.D., Cazzato, V., Feusner, J.D. (2021, July 12). Estimation accuracy of body image perception and associated brain networks using Somatomap 3D., Body Representation Network (BRNet) 3, On line, Oral presentation. 2021
Cazzato, V., Urgesi, C., Vicario, C.M. (2021, April 14-15). ‘Hunger can make people look better!’: The effect of hunger and satiety on the aesthetic appreciation of the body., The Experimental Psychology Society Meeting (EPS), Online, Oral presentation. 2021
Malvica, S., Palumbo, L. & Cazzato, V. (2021, April 14-15). The beauty of tourist destinations: perceptual and embodiment dimensions of tourist aesthetic judgment., The Experimental Psychology Society Meeting (EPS), Online, Poster presentation. 2021
Cazzato, V., Sacchetti, S., Trotter, P. & McGlone, F. (2021, January 20-21). Touch experience of pleasantness across body sites and its link to body awareness and dysmorphic appearance concerns., Eating Disorders International Conference: EDIC 2021, Online, Oral presentation. 2021
Sacchetti, S., Mirams, L., McGlone, F, & Cazzato, V. (2021, 20-21 Jan). Eyes on me: The effect of self-focused attention on touch perception and its association with eating disorder symptoms., Eating Disorders International Conference: EDIC 2021, On line, Poster presentation. 2021
Bellard, A., Trotter, P., McGlone, F., & Cazzato. V (2021, January 6-7). The impact of COVID-19 restrictions on vicarious ratings of social touch [Poster session]. EPS 2021, Online, United Kingdom., EPS 2021, Online, Poster presentation. 2021
Sacchetti, S., Mirams, L., McGlone, F, & Cazzato, V. (2019, 11-13 Sept). The effects of CT optimal touch on multisensory integration, arousal and mood, using the Somatic Signal Detection., International association for the study of affective touch (IASAT), Sweden, Poster presentation. 2019
Sacchetti, S., Mirams, L., McGlone, F, & Cazzato, V. (2019, 18-20 Jul). Eyes on me: the effect of mirror-image exposure on multisensory integration and its association with eating disorders., The 20th Congress of the International Neuropsychoanalysis Society, Brussels, Belgium, Poster presentation. 2019
Sacchetti, S., Mirams, L., McGlone, F, & Cazzato, V. (2019, 5 Jul). Eyes on me: The effect of self-focused attention on multisensory integration and its association with eating disorder symptoms., Body Representation Network (BRNet) workshop ‘The fuzzy body: stable and dynamic properties of Body Representation’, Milan, Italy, Poster presentation. 2019
Bellard, A., Cornelissen, P., & Cazzato, V. (2019, June 13). Visual self-body recognition abilities in women across youth and midlife [Poster session]. Body-Up Conference, 2019, Manchester, United Kingdom., Body Up Conference, University of Manchester, Poster presentation. 2019
Bellard, A., Cornelissen, P., & Cazzato, V. (2019, April 10). Multidimensional body image assessment in young and middle-aged women [Poster session]. Food for Thought 2019, Liverpool, United Kingdom., Food for thought conference, University of Liverpool, Poster presentation. 2019
Bellard, A., Cornelissen, P., & Cazzato, V. (2019, April 10-12). Multidimensional body image assessment in young and middle-aged women [Poster session]. EPS 2019, Manchester, United Kingdom., EPS conference 2019, University of Manchester, Poster presentation. 2019
Cazzato, V. (2019, 7-9 March). Body Shape (mis)Perception and Self-Identity in Middle-Aged Women., ICPS Paris 2019 - International Convention of Psychological Science, Paris, France, Oral presentation. 2019
Sacchetti, S., Mirams, L., McGlone, F, & Cazzato, V. (2019, 7-9 Mar). Eyes on me: The effect of self-focused attention on touch perception and its association with interoceptive accuracy and eating disorder symptoms., International Conference of Psychological Science (ICPS), Paris, France, Poster presentation. 2019
Cazzato, V., Walters, E. & Urgesi, C. (2018, 29 June). Configural processing of human bodies is influenced by sociocultural influences of attaining muscular or thin ideals of body shape: evidence from the inversion effect., UK Experimental Psychology Society - Body Representation Network BRNet, Edinburgh, Scotland, Poster presentation. 2018
Sacchetti, S., Cazzato, V. McGlone, F, & Mirams, L. (2018, 29 Jun). Inside and outside: Erroneous reports of touch sensation and interoceptive accuracy is linked to body image concerns., Body Representation Network (BRNet) workshop Multi-faceted body: Updates into body representation and embodiment research workshop, Edinburgh, Scotland, Poster presentation. 2018
Cazzato, V., Walters, E. & Urgesi, C. (2018, 24-27 May). Configural processing of human bodies is influenced by sociocultural influences of attaining muscular or thin ideals of body shape: evidence from the inversion effect., 2017 APS Convention - Association for Psychological Science, San Francisco, CA, USA, Poster presentation. 2018
Cazzato, V & Makris, S. (2017, May 25-27). Off-line rTMS of Left Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex Reduces Food Cravings in Females but Not Males., Non-invasive brain stimulation and functional brain mapping, Moscow, Russia, Poster presentation. 2017
Makris, S., Randle, J. & Cazzato, V. (2107, 15-17 May). Cathodal tDCS Evidence on How Perceived Body Weight Similarity and Weight Stigma Can Modulate the Understanding of Observed Familiar Actions., Second Moscow International Conference, Non-invasive brain stimulation and functional brain mapping, Moscow, Russia, Poster presentation. 2017
Makris, S. & Cazzato, V. (2017, 10-12 April). Offline rTMS of the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex reduces food cravings in females but not males., The Experimental Psychology Society, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, Poster presentation. 2017
Cazzato, V., Makris, S., Flavell, J. & Vicario, C.M. (2017, 19 January). Group membership, implicit racial bias and dispositional empathy distort time perception., Modularity in Time Perception and Timed Behaviour, The Experimental Psychology Society, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, Poster presentation. 2017
Cazzato, V. & Urgesi, C. (2016, 6-8 April). Appreciation of body shape and motion in adolescent athletes practicing aesthetic and non-aesthetic sports, The Experimental Psychology Society, Durham University, Oral presentation. 2016
Makris, S. & Cazzato, V. (2016, 6-8 April). Perceived body weight similarity and weight stigma modulate the understanding of observed familiar actions., The Experimental Psychology SOciety, Durham, Oral presentation. 2016
Editorial boards:
Mediterranean Journal of Clinical Psychology, Editorial Board Member, https://cab.unime.it/journals/index.php/MJCP. 2020
Frontiers in Psychology, Section Psychopathology, Guest Editor, https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02502/full#h1. 2019
Award:
Research fellowship - to establish new research collaboration with an international research mentor, Prof Jamie Feusner, MD - University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), USA., Research and Innovation Services, LJMU Collaborative Research Fellowship Scheme 2017-18. 2017
Membership of professional bodies:
Member, American Psychology Society, APS. 2016
Members, Experimental Psychology Society, http://www.eps.ac.uk/. 2016
Member, British Neuroscience Association, http://www.bna.org.uk/. 2015
CPsychol, British Psychological Society. 2014
Fellowships:
Fellow of The Higher Education Academy., The Higher Education Academy. 2016
Teaching qualification:
Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education. 2016
External committees:
Body Representation Network (BRNet) Society, BRNet Society, Co-Chair.
External Adviser for the Arts and Wellbeing Research Centre at Edge Hill University (UK), Edge Hill University (UK), External Adviser.