Research Areas
I have a strong background in cognitive sciences and neuroscience and in particular I have dealt with attention in the temporal dimension and visual working memory.
Currently, my “scientific” goal is to understand the role of the observer’s sensorimotor representations during the processing of facial expressions of others, an open question in the literature, which finds great supporters and equally great detractors.
I am also interested in the neural correlates of conscious processing of faces and facial expressions.
Selected Publications
2021
Quettier, Thomas; Gambarota, Filippo; Tsuchiya, Naotsugu; Sessa, Paola
Blocking facial mimicry during binocular rivalry modulates visual awareness of faces with a neutral expression Journal Article
In: Scientific Reports, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 1–11, 2021.
@article{quettier2021blocking,
title = {Blocking facial mimicry during binocular rivalry modulates visual awareness of faces with a neutral expression},
author = {Thomas Quettier and Filippo Gambarota and Naotsugu Tsuchiya and Paola Sessa},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-01-01},
journal = {Scientific Reports},
volume = {11},
number = {1},
pages = {1--11},
publisher = {Nature Publishing Group},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Maffei, Antonio; Sessa, Paola
Event-related network changes unfold the dynamics of cortical integration during face processing Journal Article
In: Psychophysiology, vol. 58, no. 5, pp. e13786, 2021.
@article{maffei2021event,
title = {Event-related network changes unfold the dynamics of cortical integration during face processing},
author = {Antonio Maffei and Paola Sessa},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-01-01},
journal = {Psychophysiology},
volume = {58},
number = {5},
pages = {e13786},
publisher = {Wiley Online Library},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Maffei, Antonio; Sessa, Paola
Time-resolved connectivity reveals the “how” and “when” of brain networks reconfiguration during face processing Journal Article
In: Neuroimage: Reports, vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 100022, 2021.
@article{maffei2021time,
title = {Time-resolved connectivity reveals the “how” and “when” of brain networks reconfiguration during face processing},
author = {Antonio Maffei and Paola Sessa},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-01-01},
journal = {Neuroimage: Reports},
volume = {1},
number = {2},
pages = {100022},
publisher = {Elsevier},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
2020
Borgomaneri, Sara; Bolloni, Corinna; Sessa, Paola; Avenanti, Alessio
Blocking facial mimicry affects recognition of facial and body expressions Journal Article
In: PloS one, vol. 15, no. 2, pp. e0229364, 2020.
@article{borgomaneri2020blocking,
title = {Blocking facial mimicry affects recognition of facial and body expressions},
author = {Sara Borgomaneri and Corinna Bolloni and Paola Sessa and Alessio Avenanti},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-01-01},
journal = {PloS one},
volume = {15},
number = {2},
pages = {e0229364},
publisher = {Public Library of Science San Francisco, CA USA},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
2018
Sessa, Paola; Lomoriello, Arianna Schiano; Luria, Roy
Neural measures of the causal role of observers’ facial mimicry on visual working memory for facial expressions Journal Article
In: Social cognitive and affective neuroscience, vol. 13, no. 12, pp. 1281–1291, 2018.
@article{sessa2018neural,
title = {Neural measures of the causal role of observers’ facial mimicry on visual working memory for facial expressions},
author = {Paola Sessa and Arianna Schiano Lomoriello and Roy Luria},
year = {2018},
date = {2018-01-01},
journal = {Social cognitive and affective neuroscience},
volume = {13},
number = {12},
pages = {1281--1291},
publisher = {Oxford University Press},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Publications
2025
Lomoriello, Arianna Schiano; Sessa, Paola; Dux, Paul E.; Doro, Mattia; Dell’Acqua, Roberto
The time-course of attention engagement in a single-stream RSVP design Journal Article Forthcoming
In: Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, Forthcoming.
@article{nokey,
title = {The time-course of attention engagement in a single-stream RSVP design},
author = {Arianna Schiano Lomoriello and Paola Sessa and Paul E. Dux and Mattia Doro and Roberto Dell’Acqua},
url = {https://colab.psy.unipd.it/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/jocn_abn2pcb_25.pdf},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-08-30},
journal = {Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience},
abstract = {When two stimuli are presented at the same spatial location in close temporal proximity — typically less than 500 milliseconds apart — the second stimulus is often not perceived, a phenomenon known as attentional blink (AB). This striking failure of visual awareness is thought to reflect limitations in the allocation of attention for the selection and consolidation of visual input. While existing models of the AB differ in their predictions regarding when and why attentional engagement is required, no direct neural correlate has yet been identified to track this process during the AB. Here, we propose that the bilateral N2 posterior contralateral (N2pcb) component of the event-related potential (ERP) time-locked to the second stimulus may serve as such a marker. To test this hypothesis, we reanalyzed data from our prior study (Dell’Acqua et al., 2015, Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience), in which participants identified target letters embedded in rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) streams of distractor digits. Each RSVP stream ended with either an unmasked letter (target- present trials) or a digit (target-absent trials). Subtracting ERPs elicited in target-absent trials from ERPs elicited in target-present trials revealed that the N2pcb component persisted even during the AB. These findings suggest that attentional engagement for the second target is largely preserved during the blink, indicating that a disruption of attention is not necessary for the AB to occur, and that post-attentional processing limitations likely play a major role — a conclusion consistent with a specific subset of current AB models.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {forthcoming},
tppubtype = {article}
}
When two stimuli are presented at the same spatial location in close temporal proximity — typically less than 500 milliseconds apart — the second stimulus is often not perceived, a phenomenon known as attentional blink (AB). This striking failure of visual awareness is thought to reflect limitations in the allocation of attention for the selection and consolidation of visual input. While existing models of the AB differ in their predictions regarding when and why attentional engagement is required, no direct neural correlate has yet been identified to track this process during the AB. Here, we propose that the bilateral N2 posterior contralateral (N2pcb) component of the event-related potential (ERP) time-locked to the second stimulus may serve as such a marker. To test this hypothesis, we reanalyzed data from our prior study (Dell’Acqua et al., 2015, Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience), in which participants identified target letters embedded in rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) streams of distractor digits. Each RSVP stream ended with either an unmasked letter (target- present trials) or a digit (target-absent trials). Subtracting ERPs elicited in target-absent trials from ERPs elicited in target-present trials revealed that the N2pcb component persisted even during the AB. These findings suggest that attentional engagement for the second target is largely preserved during the blink, indicating that a disruption of attention is not necessary for the AB to occur, and that post-attentional processing limitations likely play a major role — a conclusion consistent with a specific subset of current AB models.
Gambarota, Filippo; Luria, Roy; Maffei, Antonio; Dell’Acqua, Roberto; Tsuchiya, Naotsugu; Sessa, Paola
Tracking the unconscious: Neural evidence for the retention of unaware information in visual working memory Journal Article Forthcoming
In: Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, Forthcoming.
@article{Gambarota0000,
title = {Tracking the unconscious: Neural evidence for the retention of unaware information in visual working memory},
author = {Filippo Gambarota and Roy Luria and Antonio Maffei and Roberto Dell’Acqua and Naotsugu Tsuchiya and Paola Sessa},
url = {https://colab.psy.unipd.it/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/jocn_subcda_25.pdf},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-08-27},
journal = {Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience},
abstract = {This study examines the retention of unconscious visual information within visual working memory (VWM). The contralateral delay activity (CDA)—an event-related potential (ERP) component directly linked to VWM maintenance—was recorded as participants performed a change detection task with Gabor patches at a visibility threshold assessed by the perceptual awareness scale (PAS 1–4). Despite subthreshold visibility (PAS 1), participants’ performance exceeded chance, indicating unconscious retention. In a subsample, CDA amplitude was significantly larger for unconscious stimuli linked to correct responses compared to incorrect ones, suggesting active VWM maintenance of unconscious information. These findings challenge the concept of exclusively activity-silent working memory, showing that unconscious information is initially supported by neural firing indexed by the CDA and may transition to silent states over time. This study underscores the active retention of unconscious visual information in VWM, shedding light on the neural mechanisms involved in unconscious memory processes.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {forthcoming},
tppubtype = {article}
}
This study examines the retention of unconscious visual information within visual working memory (VWM). The contralateral delay activity (CDA)—an event-related potential (ERP) component directly linked to VWM maintenance—was recorded as participants performed a change detection task with Gabor patches at a visibility threshold assessed by the perceptual awareness scale (PAS 1–4). Despite subthreshold visibility (PAS 1), participants’ performance exceeded chance, indicating unconscious retention. In a subsample, CDA amplitude was significantly larger for unconscious stimuli linked to correct responses compared to incorrect ones, suggesting active VWM maintenance of unconscious information. These findings challenge the concept of exclusively activity-silent working memory, showing that unconscious information is initially supported by neural firing indexed by the CDA and may transition to silent states over time. This study underscores the active retention of unconscious visual information in VWM, shedding light on the neural mechanisms involved in unconscious memory processes.
Chen, Yanzhang; Sessa, Paola; Brigadoi, Sabrina; Petrin, Alberto; Wang, Suiping; Dell'Acqua, Roberto
Vertical elevation as a key factor for the neural distinction of target selection and distractor suppression in visual search Journal Article
In: Journal of Integrative Neuroscience, vol. 24, iss. 5, no. 36513, 2025.
@article{nokey,
title = {Vertical elevation as a key factor for the neural distinction of target selection and distractor suppression in visual search},
author = {Yanzhang Chen and Paola Sessa and Sabrina Brigadoi and Alberto Petrin and Suiping Wang and Roberto Dell'Acqua},
url = {https://colab.psy.unipd.it/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/jin_pd_25-1.pdf},
doi = {10.31083/JIN36513},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-03-10},
urldate = {2025-03-10},
journal = {Journal of Integrative Neuroscience},
volume = {24},
number = {36513},
issue = {5},
abstract = {Background: Directing attention to relevant visual objects while ignoring distracting stimuli is crucial for effective perception and goal-directed behavior. Event-related potential (ERP) studies using the additional-singleton paradigm have provided valuable insights into how the human brain processes competing salient stimuli by monitoring N2pc and PD, two event-related components thought to reflect target selection and distractor suppression, respectively. However, whether these components reflect the activity of a single or distinct neural mechanisms remains controversial. Here, we investigated the neural substrate of N2pc and PD by manipulating the vertical elevation of target and distractor relative to the visual horizontal meridian using two variants of the additional-singleton paradigm. Methods: In Experiment 1, participants searched for a shape singleton and identified the orientation of an embedded tilted bar while ignoring a color singleton. In Experiment 2, the tilted bars were removed and participants performed a shape search while ignoring a color singleton. EEG recordings at posterior sites (PO7/8) measured N2pc and PD components. Reaction times and ERP amplitudes were analyzed across conditions. Results: The results of both Experiments 1 and 2 showed that N2pc and PD responded in opposite ways to the manipulation of vertical elevation. N2pc was robust for targets in the lower visual hemifield and reversed in polarity (i.e., PNP) for targets in the upper visual hemifield. Conversely, PD was more pronounced for distractors in the upper visual hemifield and nil for those in the lower visual hemifield. Critically, vertical elevation did not influence psychophysical estimates of search efficiency in either experiment, suggesting that the relationship between these components and their functional significance is less straightforward than previously thought. Conclusions: These results provide empirical support for the idea that N2pc and PD are influenced by the retinotopic organization of the visual cortex in a manner consistent with the neural and functional dissociation of target selection and distractor suppression in visual search.
},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Background: Directing attention to relevant visual objects while ignoring distracting stimuli is crucial for effective perception and goal-directed behavior. Event-related potential (ERP) studies using the additional-singleton paradigm have provided valuable insights into how the human brain processes competing salient stimuli by monitoring N2pc and PD, two event-related components thought to reflect target selection and distractor suppression, respectively. However, whether these components reflect the activity of a single or distinct neural mechanisms remains controversial. Here, we investigated the neural substrate of N2pc and PD by manipulating the vertical elevation of target and distractor relative to the visual horizontal meridian using two variants of the additional-singleton paradigm. Methods: In Experiment 1, participants searched for a shape singleton and identified the orientation of an embedded tilted bar while ignoring a color singleton. In Experiment 2, the tilted bars were removed and participants performed a shape search while ignoring a color singleton. EEG recordings at posterior sites (PO7/8) measured N2pc and PD components. Reaction times and ERP amplitudes were analyzed across conditions. Results: The results of both Experiments 1 and 2 showed that N2pc and PD responded in opposite ways to the manipulation of vertical elevation. N2pc was robust for targets in the lower visual hemifield and reversed in polarity (i.e., PNP) for targets in the upper visual hemifield. Conversely, PD was more pronounced for distractors in the upper visual hemifield and nil for those in the lower visual hemifield. Critically, vertical elevation did not influence psychophysical estimates of search efficiency in either experiment, suggesting that the relationship between these components and their functional significance is less straightforward than previously thought. Conclusions: These results provide empirical support for the idea that N2pc and PD are influenced by the retinotopic organization of the visual cortex in a manner consistent with the neural and functional dissociation of target selection and distractor suppression in visual search.
Friedman, Shani; Dell’Acqua, Roberto; Sessa, Paola; Luria, Roy
The effect of occlusion on the visual working memory pointer-system Journal Article
In: Cortex, vol. 183, pp. 373-390, 2025.
@article{nokey,
title = {The effect of occlusion on the visual working memory pointer-system},
author = {Shani Friedman and Roberto Dell’Acqua and Paola Sessa and Roy Luria},
url = {https://colab.psy.unipd.it/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/cortex_pointsys_25.pdf},
doi = {10.1016/j.cortex.2024.12.018},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-01-12},
urldate = {2025-01-12},
journal = {Cortex},
volume = {183},
pages = {373-390},
abstract = {To access its online representations, visual working memory (VWM) relies on a pointer-system that creates correspondence between objects in the environment with their memory representations. This pointer-system allows VWM to modify its representations using a process called updating. When the pointer is invalidated, however, VWM triggers a process called resetting in which the no longer relevant representation and pointer are replaced. Past studies used the contralateral delay activity (CDA) to differentiate between updating and resetting and found that resetting is followed by a drop in the CDA amplitude. The current study aimed to investigate the effects of occlusion on VWM representations and the resetting process across four experiments. Experiment 1 examined whether resetting occurs with occluded changes and compared the CDA of occluded versus visible objects. The results indicated a decline in CDA amplitude during occlusion, but it was unclear if resetting occurred when the change was occluded due to the lack of time-locked changes. To better isolate the resetting process, Experiment 2 used a brief occluder appearances (100 ms) and observed a CDA drop likely due to an ERP response to the sudden stimulus appearance. This drop occurred earlier than the resetting CDA drop and appeared even in conditions that did not trigger resetting, which indicates that it might be an ERP response to the short and sudden appearance of a stimulus. Experiment 3 further isolated this ERP response, confirming the early CDA drop as a reaction to the occluder's onset and offset. Experiment 4, which included occluders that did not flash to avoid ERP responses, found a CDA drop indicating that resetting can occur with inferred changes. These findings suggest that VWM maintains representations of occluded objects, and can update or reset these representations based on inferred changes, with brief stimuli eliciting ERP responses that affect CDA amplitude.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
To access its online representations, visual working memory (VWM) relies on a pointer-system that creates correspondence between objects in the environment with their memory representations. This pointer-system allows VWM to modify its representations using a process called updating. When the pointer is invalidated, however, VWM triggers a process called resetting in which the no longer relevant representation and pointer are replaced. Past studies used the contralateral delay activity (CDA) to differentiate between updating and resetting and found that resetting is followed by a drop in the CDA amplitude. The current study aimed to investigate the effects of occlusion on VWM representations and the resetting process across four experiments. Experiment 1 examined whether resetting occurs with occluded changes and compared the CDA of occluded versus visible objects. The results indicated a decline in CDA amplitude during occlusion, but it was unclear if resetting occurred when the change was occluded due to the lack of time-locked changes. To better isolate the resetting process, Experiment 2 used a brief occluder appearances (100 ms) and observed a CDA drop likely due to an ERP response to the sudden stimulus appearance. This drop occurred earlier than the resetting CDA drop and appeared even in conditions that did not trigger resetting, which indicates that it might be an ERP response to the short and sudden appearance of a stimulus. Experiment 3 further isolated this ERP response, confirming the early CDA drop as a reaction to the occluder's onset and offset. Experiment 4, which included occluders that did not flash to avoid ERP responses, found a CDA drop indicating that resetting can occur with inferred changes. These findings suggest that VWM maintains representations of occluded objects, and can update or reset these representations based on inferred changes, with brief stimuli eliciting ERP responses that affect CDA amplitude.
2024
Dell'Acqua, Roberto; Sessa, Paola; Brigadoi, Sabrina; Gervain, Judit; Luria, Roy; Doro, Mattia
On the functional independence of numerical acuity and visual working memory Journal Article
In: Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 15, no. 1335857, 2024.
@article{nokey,
title = {On the functional independence of numerical acuity and visual working memory},
author = {Roberto Dell'Acqua and Paola Sessa and Sabrina Brigadoi and Judit Gervain and Roy Luria and Mattia Doro},
url = {http://colab.psy.unipd.it/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/fpsy_vwmna_24-1.pdf},
doi = {10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1335857},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-03-13},
urldate = {2024-03-01},
journal = {Frontiers in Psychology},
volume = {15},
number = {1335857},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Maffei, Antonio; Gambarota, Filippo; Liotti, Mario; Dell’Acqua, Roberto; Tsuchiya, Naotsugu; Sessa, Paola
Unmasking conscious fear perception from faces: Insights from high-density EEG and perceptual awareness scale with threshold stimuli Journal Article
In: Cortex, vol. 174, pp. 93-109, 2024.
@article{nokey,
title = {Unmasking conscious fear perception from faces: Insights from high-density EEG and perceptual awareness scale with threshold stimuli},
author = {Antonio Maffei and Filippo Gambarota and Mario Liotti and Roberto Dell’Acqua and Naotsugu Tsuchiya and Paola Sessa},
url = {http://colab.psy.unipd.it/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/cortex_fear_24-1.pdf},
doi = {10.1016/j.cortex.2024.02.010},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-03-01},
urldate = {2024-03-01},
journal = {Cortex},
volume = {174},
pages = {93-109},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
2023
Dell'Acqua, Roberto; Sessa, Paola; Sabrina, Brigadoi
Nulla si crea, nulla si distrugge, tutto si trasforma Journal Article
In: Giornale Italiano di Psicologia, vol. 3, pp. 597-601, 2023.
@article{nokey,
title = {Nulla si crea, nulla si distrugge, tutto si trasforma},
author = {Roberto Dell'Acqua and Paola Sessa and Brigadoi Sabrina},
url = {http://colab.psy.unipd.it/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/gip_turatto_23.pdf},
doi = {10.1421/108223},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-10-15},
urldate = {2023-10-15},
journal = {Giornale Italiano di Psicologia},
volume = {3},
pages = {597-601},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
2021
Quettier, Thomas; Gambarota, Filippo; Tsuchiya, Naotsugu; Sessa, Paola
Blocking facial mimicry during binocular rivalry modulates visual awareness of faces with a neutral expression Journal Article
In: Scientific Reports, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 1–11, 2021.
@article{quettier2021blocking,
title = {Blocking facial mimicry during binocular rivalry modulates visual awareness of faces with a neutral expression},
author = {Thomas Quettier and Filippo Gambarota and Naotsugu Tsuchiya and Paola Sessa},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-01-01},
journal = {Scientific Reports},
volume = {11},
number = {1},
pages = {1--11},
publisher = {Nature Publishing Group},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Palmieri, Arianna; Meconi, Federica; Vallesi, Antonino; Capizzi, Mariagrazia; Pick, Emanuele; Marcato, Sonia; Kleinbub, Johann R; Sorar`u, Gianni; Sessa, Paola
Enhanced neural empathic responses in patients with spino-bulbar muscular atrophy: An electrophysiological study Journal Article
In: Brain sciences, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 16, 2021.
@article{palmieri2021enhanced,
title = {Enhanced neural empathic responses in patients with spino-bulbar muscular atrophy: An electrophysiological study},
author = {Arianna Palmieri and Federica Meconi and Antonino Vallesi and Mariagrazia Capizzi and Emanuele Pick and Sonia Marcato and Johann R Kleinbub and Gianni Sorar{`u} and Paola Sessa},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-01-01},
journal = {Brain sciences},
volume = {11},
number = {1},
pages = {16},
publisher = {Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
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Maffei, Antonio; Sessa, Paola
Event-related network changes unfold the dynamics of cortical integration during face processing Journal Article
In: Psychophysiology, vol. 58, no. 5, pp. e13786, 2021.
@article{maffei2021event,
title = {Event-related network changes unfold the dynamics of cortical integration during face processing},
author = {Antonio Maffei and Paola Sessa},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-01-01},
journal = {Psychophysiology},
volume = {58},
number = {5},
pages = {e13786},
publisher = {Wiley Online Library},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}