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Beatriz Calvo

Professor Beatriz Calvo Merino

Professor in Cognitive Neuroscience

School of Health & Medical Sciences Department of Psychology and Neuroscience

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About

Overview

Professor Calvo-Merino is a Cognitive Neuroscientist trained at University College London (UCL, London, UK) and Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM, Madrid, Spain). Her initial PhD work with Professor Patrick Haggard investigated neurocognitive mechanisms involved in action observation, sensorimotor expertise and dance, using neuroimaging methods (fMRI). She worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience in a series of studies dissociating visual and motor mechanisms of body perception by means of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).

At City St Georges, University of London, Professor Calvo-Merino developed multiple research lines investigating:

(1)   the role of sensorimotor representations on perception (action and body perception, emotion perception).  

(2)   how sensorimotor experience or expertise modulates action and emotion perception (this work if often done in collaboration with expert dancers, helping uus understanding the expert brain of the dancers)

(3)   sensorimotor aesthetics, looking into how body and motor knowledge integrates with aesthetic experiences (big part of this work in collaboration with performing arts)

Her work combines multiple methodologies to understand these processes and mechanisms at a neural level (EEG, including Somatosensory and visual evoked potentials), physiological level (using Galvanic Response) and behavioural level.  

She received the early career award by the British Association of Cognitive Neuroscience (BACN, 2019) in recognition of her contributions to Cognitive Neuroscience. Her contribution to the field of Neuroaesthetics was additionally recognised by the International Association of Empirical Aesthetics when she received the Alexander Gottlieb Baumgarten Award (2018).

During her studies, she has established collaborations with the dance community (e.g. Royal Opera House Ballet (ROH2), Laban Dance Centre, Mavin Khoo, Tom Sapsford, Random Dance Company -Wayne McGregor -). Her work has been published and disseminated in peer-reviewed journals, book chapters for the general audience, as well as artistic meetings and public engagement activities.

Her work has been funded by Economical and Social Research Council (ESRC), Leverhulme Trust, Wellcome Trust Sci/Art projects, Ramon y Cajal Fellowship, City University Fellowship, City University Pump Priming schema.

Prof Calvo-Merino is currently the Programme Director of the MSc Clinical, Social and Cognitive Neuroscience and the Joint PhD Programme in Psychology and Social Neuroscience in collaboration with CoSAN International PhD in Cognitive Social and Affective Neuroscience (Sapienza, Italy).

I am happy to discuss PhD research projects related to my areas of expertise.

Teaching

PS3001 Project in Psychology
PS2002 Cognitive Psychology I
PS2004 Biological Psychology

Research

Dr Calvo-Merino would welcome enquiries from potential PhD students/researchers interested in any of these areas:

Sensorimotor processing of human body and movement & action observation
Visual/ motor memory, expertise, acquired motor skills
Neuroaesthetics, preference/aesthetic behaviour.

Publications

Featured publications

  1. Fanghella, M., Dima, D., Pinotsis, D., Gaigg, S.B., Calvo‐Merino, B. and Forster, B. (2026). Changes in Intrinsic Activity of the Primary Somatosensory Cortex Causally Explain Differences in Emotion Perception in Autism. Autism Research, 19(4). doi:10.1002/aur.70197

    [publisher’s website]

  2. Fanghella, M., Gaigg, S.B., Candidi, M., Forster, B. and Calvo-Merino, B. (2022). Somatosensory Evoked Potentials Reveal Reduced Embodiment of Emotions in Autism. The Journal of Neuroscience, 42(11), pp. 2298-2312. doi:10.1523/jneurosci.0706-21.2022

    [publisher’s website]

  3. Bläsing, B. and Calvo-Merino, B. (2021). The Mind, the Brain, and the Moving Body: Dance as a Topic in Cognitive Neuroscience. Brain Beauty and Art Essays Bringing Neuroaesthetics into Focus (pp. 208-212).
  4. Calvo-Merino, B. (2021). Aesthetics of Dance. The Oxford Handbook of Empirical Aesthetics (pp. 623-637). Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780198824350.
  5. Galvez-Pol, A., Forster, B. and Calvo-Merino, B. (2018). Modulation of motor cortex activity in a visual working memory task of hand images. Neuropsychologia, 117, pp. 75-83. doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2018.05.005

    [publisher’s website]

  6. Galvez-Pol, A., Calvo-Merino, B., Capilla, A. and Forster, B. (2018). Persistent recruitment of somatosensory cortex during active maintenance of hand images in working memory. NeuroImage, 174, pp. 153-163. doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2018.03.024

    [publisher’s website]

  7. Christensen, J.F., Gaigg, S.B. and Calvo-Merino, B. (2018). I can feel my heartbeat: Dancers have increased interoceptive accuracy. Psychophysiology, 55(4). doi:10.1111/psyp.13008

    [publisher’s website]

  8. Christensen, J.F., Gomila, A., Gaigg, S., Sivarajah, N. and Calvo-Merino, B. (2016). Dance Expertise modulates behavioural and psychophysiological responses to affective body movement. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 42(8), pp. 1139-1147

    [publisher’s website]

  9. Sel, A., Calvo-Merino, B., Tuettenberg, S. and Forster, B. (2015). When you smile, the world smiles at you: ERP evidence for self-expression effects on face processing. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 10(10), pp. 1316-1322. doi:10.1093/scan/nsv009

    [publisher’s website]

  10. Christensen, J.F., Gaigg, S.B., Gomila, A., Oke, P. and Calvo-Merino, B. (2014). Enhancing emotional experiences to dance through music: The role of valence and arousal in the cross-modal bias. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 8(OCT), pp. 757. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2014.00757

    [publisher’s website]

  11. Vicary, S.A., Robbins, R.A., Calvo-Merino, B. and Stevens, C.J. (2014). Recognition of dance-like actions: memory for static posture or dynamic movement? Mem Cognit, 42(5), pp. 755-767. doi:10.3758/s13421-014-0395-0

    [publisher’s website]

  12. Sel, A., Forster, B. and Calvo-Merino, B. (2014). The emotional homunculus: ERP evidence for independent somatosensory responses during facial emotional processing. J Neurosci, 34(9), pp. 3263-3267. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0106-13.2014

    [publisher’s website]

  13. Calvo-Merino, B., Ehrenberg, S., Leung, D. and Haggard, P. (2010). Experts see it all: configural effects in action observation. Psychol Res, 74(4), pp. 400-406. doi:10.1007/s00426-009-0262-y

    [publisher’s website]

  14. Calvo-Merino, B., Urgesi, C., Orgs, G., Aglioti, S.M. and Haggard, P. (2010). Extrastriate body area underlies aesthetic evaluation of body stimuli. Exp Brain Res, 204(3), pp. 447-456. doi:10.1007/s00221-010-2283-6

    [publisher’s website]

  15. Calvo-Merino, B., Jola, C., Glaser, D.E. and Haggard, P. (2008). Towards a sensorimotor aesthetics of performing art. Conscious Cogn, 17(3), pp. 911-922. doi:10.1016/j.concog.2007.11.003

    [publisher’s website]

  16. Urgesi, C., Calvo-Merino, B., Haggard, P. and Aglioti, S.M. (2007). Transcranial magnetic stimulation reveals two cortical pathways for visual body processing. J Neurosci, 27(30), pp. 8023-8030. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0789-07.2007

    [publisher’s website]

  17. Calvo-Merino, B., Grèzes, J., Glaser, D.E., Passingham, R.E. and Haggard, P. (2006). Seeing or doing? Influence of visual and motor familiarity in action observation. Curr Biol, 16(19), pp. 1905-1910. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2006.07.065

    [publisher’s website]

  18. Calvo-Merino, B., Glaser, D.E., Grèzes, J., Passingham, R.E. and Haggard, P. (2005). Action observation and acquired motor skills: an FMRI study with expert dancers. Cereb Cortex, 15(8), pp. 1243-1249. doi:10.1093/cercor/bhi007

    [publisher’s website]

Publications by category

Chapters (17)

  • Calvo-Merino, B. (2026). On How Motor Representations Contribute to Visual Perception. The Oxford Handbook of Dance and Memory (pp. 291-302). Oxford University PressNew York, NY. ISBN 9780197574980.
  • Calvo-Merino, B. (2022). Watching and engaging in dance. The Routledge International Handbook of Neuroaesthetics (pp. 337-345). Routledge.
  • Calvo-Merino, B. (2021). Dance, Expertise, and Sensorimotor Aesthetics. Brain Beauty and Art Essays Bringing Neuroaesthetics into Focus (pp. 199-202).
  • Calvo-Merino, B. (2018). Neural mechanisms for seeing dance. The Neurocognition of Dance (pp. 193-214). Routledge.
  • Orgs, G., Calvo-Merino, B. and Cross, E.S. (2018). Knowing dance or knowing how to dance? The Neurocognition of Dance (pp. 238-257). Routledge.
  • Cross, E.S. and Calvo-Merino, B. (2016). The Impact of Action Expertise on Shared Representations. SHARED REPRESENTATIONS: SENSORIMOTOR FOUNDATIONS OF SOCIAL LIFE (pp. 541-562). ISBN 9781107690318.
  • Ticini, L.F., Urgesi, C. and Calvo-Merino, B. (2015). Embodied Aesthetics: Insight from Cognitive Neuroscience of Performing Arts. Contributions To Phenomenology (pp. 103-115). Springer Netherlands. ISBN 9789401793780.
  • Calvo Merino, B. (2014). Planificación y control de la acción. Neurociencia Cognitiva (pp. 135-154). Madrid: Sanz y Torres. ISBN 9788415550457.
  • Calvo-Merino, B. (2012). Neural Mechanisms for Action Observation. People Watching (pp. 283-303). Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195393708.
  • Calvo-Merino, B. (2010). Neural mechanism of seeing dance. In Bläsing, B., Puttke, M., Puttke-Voss, M. and Schack, T. (Eds.), The Neurocognition of Dance Psychology Press. ISBN 9781848720244.
  • Calvo Merino, B. (2010). Mirrors in the brain as connection to the world. In Woitas, M. and Hartmann, A. (Eds.), The Internal and External Motor Activity of Stravinsky’s Stage Works GFT Foundation. ISBN 9783940388100.
  • Calvo Merino, B. and Haggard, P. (2010). Neuroaesthetic of performing arts. In Bacci, F. and Melcher, D. (Eds.), Art and the Senses Oxford Univ Press. ISBN 9780199230600.
  • Calvo Merino, B. (2007). Procesos cognitivos de la acción. In Ríos, M., Cabestrero, R. and Maestú, F. (Eds.), Neuroimagen. Técnicas y procesos cognitivos Elsevier España. ISBN 9788445817766.
  • Alvarez-Linera, J., Rios Lago, M., Hernandez Tamanes, J.A., Bargallo Alabart, N. and Calvo-Merino, B. (2007). Resonancia magnética I: Resonacia Magnetica Funcional. In Ríos, M., Cabestrero, R. and Maestú, F. (Eds.), Neuroimagen. Técnicas y procesos cognitivos Elsevier España. ISBN 9788445817766.
  • Alvarez-Linera, J., Rios Lago, M. and Calvo-Merino, B. (2006). Resonancia magnética funcional y neuropsicología. Avances en neuropsicología clínica Fundación MAFRE. ISBN 9788498440287.
  • Calvo-Merino, B., Glaser, D.E., Grèzes, J., Passingham, R.E. and Haggard, P. (2005). Seeing and doing: the influence of expertise using dancers. In Fenger, J. and Birringer, J. (Eds.), Tanz im Kopf. Dance and Cognition 15 Jahrbuch Tanzforschung. ISBN 9783825887124.
  • Calvo Merino, B. (2005). Acción: Procesos cognitivos. Neurociencia Cognitiva Madrid: UNED.

Conference papers and proceedings (18)

  • Fanghella, M., Gaigg, S.B., Candidi, M., Forster, B. and Calvo-Merino, B. Reduced somatosensory processing of emotional expressions in autism spectrum disorder. .doi:10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2023.05.148
  • Calvo-Merino, B. An Embodied Approach to Understanding Visual Aesthetics. .
  • Joly-Mascheroni, R.M., Forster, B., Valsera, C., Gomara, A., Crailsheim, D., Llorente, M.... Calvo-Merino, B. Beyond Humans: Contagious Yawning in Primates Elicited by a Non-Human Agent, (An Android). .
  • Joly-Mascheroni, R.M., Forster, B., Llorente, M. and Calvo-Merino, B. Beyond humans: contagious yawning in primates elicited by the visual perception of a non-human agent - an android. .
  • Sel, A., Calvo-Merino, B. and Forster, B. (2013). Somatosensory correlates of facial emotion perception: Evidence from ERPS. 20th Annual Meeting of the Cognitive-Neuroscience-Society 13-16 April, San Francisco, CA.
  • Gaigg, S.B., Bowler, D.M., Ecker, C., Calvo-Merino, B. and Murphy, D.G. (2010). fMRI Correlates of Relational Memory Difficulties in Autism Spectrum Disorder. IMFAR - International Meeting for Autism Research Philadelphia.
  • Calvo Merino, B. and Haggard, P. (2010). Neural correlates of visual perception and aesthetic preferences: Expertise effects in judgements about dance moves. Cognitive Neuroscience Society Annual Conference San Francisco, USA.
  • Calvo Merino, B. (2009). Neural signatures of aesthetic perception of dance. World Dance Alliance Summit Proceedings Brisbane, Australia.
  • Ehrenberg, S., Calvo Merino, B. and Haggard, P. (2007). Perception of Dance Movement Patterns: Self-recognition with expert ballet dancers. 17th Annual International Association for Dance Medicine & Science (IADMS) Canberra, Australia.
  • Calvo Merino, B., Urgesi, C., Haggard, P. and Aglioti, S. (2006). Configural and local processing of human body in visual and motor areas. Society for Neuroscience Atlanta, USA.
  • Calvo-Merino, B., Grezes, J., Glaser, D.E., Passingham, R.E.R. and Haggard, P. The influence of visual and motor familiarity during action observation: An fMRI study using expertise. .
  • Calvo Merino, B., Grèzes, J., Glaser, D.E., Passingham, R.E. and Haggard, P. (2005). The influence of visual and motor familiarity during action observation. Cognitive Neuroscience Society Annual Conference New York, USA.
  • Calvo Merino, B., Glaser, D.E., Grèzes, J., Passingham, R.E. and Haggard, P. (2005). Seeing and doing: visual and motor familiarity in action observation. 9th European Congress of Psychology -ESCOP Granada, Spain.
  • Calvo Merino, B., Grèzes, J., Glaser, D.E., Passingham, R.E. and Haggard, P. (2003). Seeing what you can and can't do: action observation by experts studied with fmri. Society for Neuroscience New Orleans, USA.
  • Glaser, D.E., Calvo Merino, B., Grèzes, J., Passingham, R.E. and Haggard, P. (2003). Functional imaging of motor experience and expertise during action observation. Society for Neuroscience New Orleans, USA.
  • Muñoz-Céspedes, J.M., Calvo Merino, B., Rios Lago, M., García Peña, M. and Sánchez Cabeza, A. (2002). Estructura factorial de la escala ‘Indice de Competencia del Paciente’ [Factorial structure of the scale ‘Index of Patience Competence’]. II Congreso de la Sociedad Espagnola de Neuroreahabilitacion Barcelona, Spain.
  • Calvo Merino, B., Blázquez Alisente, J.L., Lapedriza, N. and Muñoz Céspedes, J.M. (2002). Sindrome de Ballint: a propósito de un caso [Balint syndrom: a single case study]. II Congreso de la Sociedad Espagnola de Neuroreahabilitacion Barcelona, Spain.
  • Calvo Merino, B., Forster, B., Tziraki, M., Jones, A. and Gillmeister, H. Somatotopic embodiment of aesthetic processing of human body postures. XI International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience (ICON XI) Palma de Mallorca, Spain.doi:10.3389/conf.fnhum.2011.207.00337

Journal articles (24)