Member of the Multimodal Interaction Lab
Dr. Sergio Cervera Torres culminated his doctoral studies in 2017 at the Multimodal Interaction Lab of the IWM. Here, he delved into the intricate dynamics of Affective Spatialization within the sphere of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). His studies not only expanded the frontiers of HCI knowledge but also garnered the prestigious Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) grant in 2021, a testament to the scientific community's recognition of his scholarly significance.
Dr. Torres's pioneering work has given rise to the innovative Spatial Affective Interaction (SAI) framework. This paradigm-shifting model converges three pivotal discourses within cognitive and affective sciences: the modulatory role of spatial dimensions on affective appraisals, the engagement of action-goal representations amidst manual human-machine interplays, and the nuanced effects of hand proximity on the affective processing of digital objects.
During his research journey, Dr. Torres has had the distinct honor of partaking in research stays within the eHealth sector. He has significantly contributed to the design and analytical assessment of cutting-edge technologies, including mobile applications and immersive virtual reality environments. His work critically examines the intersection of biometric markers and emotional regulation, executive cognitive processes, and the spectrum of neurodevelopmental disorders.
Cervera-Torres, S., Ruiz-Fernández, S., Godbersen, H., Massó, L., Martínez-Rubio, D., Pintado-Cucarella, S., & Baños, R. M. (2021). Influence of resilience and optimism on distress and intention to self-isolate: Contrasting lower and higher COVID-19 illness risk samples from an extended health belief model. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, Article 662395. https://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.662395
Open Access
Cervera-Torres, S., Ruiz Fernández, S., Lachmair, M., Riekert, M., & Gerjets, P. (2021). Altering emotions near the hand: Approach–avoidance swipe interactions modulate the perceived valence of emotional pictures. Emotion, 21(1), 220-225. https://dx.doi.org/10.1037/emo0000651 [Data]
Open Access
Kastner, L., Umbach, N., Jusyte, A., Cervera-Torres, S., Ruiz Fernández, S., Nommensen, S., & Gerjets, P. (2021). Designing visual-arts education programs for transfer effects: Development and experimental evaluation of (digital) drawing courses in the art museum designed to promote adolescents’ socio-emotional skills. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, Article 4031. https://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.603984 [Data]
Open Access
Cervera Torres, S., Ruiz Fernández, S., Lachmair, M., & Gerjets, P. (2020). Coding valence in touchscreen interactions: hand dominance and lateral movement influence valence appraisals of emotional pictures. Psychological Research, 84(1), 23-31. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00426-018-0971-1 [Data, Data1]
Open Access
Ruiz Fernández, S., Kastner, L., Cervera-Torres, S., Müller, J., & Gerjets, P. (2019). Moved by emotions: Affective concepts representing personal life events induce freely performed steps in line with combined sagittal and lateral space-valence associations. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, Article 2787. https://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02787 [Data]
Open Access
Cervera-Torres, S., Ruiz Fernández, S., Lachmair, M., & Gerjets, P. (2018). Valence-space associations in touchscreen interactions: Valence match between emotional pictures and their vertical touch location leads to pictures positive evaluation. PLOS ONE, 13(7): e0199972. https://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0199972 [Data]
Open Access
Sánchez-García, R., Dominguez-Rodriguez, A., Ocegueda-Miramontes, V., Aguilar, L., Rodríguez-Díaz, A., Cervera-Torres, S., & Sanchez, M. A. (in press). Human behavioral anomaly pattern mining within an IoT environment: An exploratory study. In Hurson, A. (Ed.), Advances in Computers. Elsevier. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/bs.adcom.2023.10.003
Cervera-Torres, S. (2023, November 14). New tendencies in psychology: The E-psychology. Invited talk at Brandenburg University of Technology (BTU) Cottbus-Senftenberg. Cottbus. [Talk]
Cervera Torres, S., Ruiz Fernández, S., & Gerjets, P. (2023, July 11-13). Toward a model of embodied affective interaction: Integrating space-valence associations, action-context, and hand proximity attentional biases". Cypsy26: 26th Annual Cyberpsychology, Cybertherapy & Social Networking Conference. Paris, France. [Poster]
Cervera-Torres, S., Ruiz-Fernández, S., Godbersen, H., Massó, L., Martínez-Rubio, D., Pintado-Cucarella, S., & Baños, R. M. (2022, May 12-14). Influence of resilience and optimism on distress and intention to self-isolate: Contrasting lower and higher COVID-19 illness risk samples from an extended health belief model. 5th Conference of Positive Psychology. Bilbao, Spain. [Talk]
Ruiz-Fernández, S., Cervera-Torres, S., Decker, B., & Godbersen, H. (2022, May 12-14). The effect of dispositional optimism on temporal satisfaction with life before, during and after the Covid-19 pandemic. 5th Conference of Positive Psychology. Bilbao, Spain. [Talk]
Cervera-Torres, S., Ruiz Fernández, S., Lachmair, M., Riekert, M., & Gerjets, P. (2019, April). Altering emotions near the hand: Approach-Avoidance swipe interactions modulate emotional images judgments. 61. Tagung experimentell arbeitender Psychologen (TeaP). London, UK. [Poster]
Ruiz Fernández, S., Rahona, J. J., Cervera-Torres, S., Lachmair, M., & Godbersen, H. (2019, April). The past is in the past but the future is bright: Associating positive affects with the future and negative affects with the past. 61. Tagung experimentell arbeitender Psychologen (TeaP). London, UK. [Poster]
Cervera Torres, S., Ruiz Fernández, S., Lachmair, M., & Gerjets, P. (2018, June). In touch with emotions: Direct hand interaction with emotional pictures in a touchscreen space influence their valence appraisal. 9th European Conference on Positive Psychology (ECPP). Budapest, Hungary. [Poster]
Cervera Torres, S., Ruiz Fernández, S., Lachmair, M., & Gerjets, P. (2018, September). Investigating recognition of emotional pictures with touchscreen interactions: A match between picture valence and its vertical touch location raises recognition confidence. 7th International Conference on Spatial Cognition (ICSC). Rom, Italy. [Talk]
Ruiz Fernández, S., Lachmair, M., Rahona López, J. J., Cervera-Torres, S., & Gerjets, P. (2018, September). Moving non-affective pictures in the horizontal space on a touchscreen. Valence ratings depend on movement direction. 7th International Conference on Spatial Cognition (ICSC). Rom, Italy. [Talk]
Cervera Torres, S., Ruiz Fernández, S., Lachmair, M., & Gerjets, P. (2017, June). Touching Emotions: Evaluation of Affective Pictures is influenced by Moving Direction. 22. Annual CyberPsychology, CyberTherapie & Social Networking Conference (CyPsy22). Birmingham, UK. [Talk]
Cervera Torres, S., Ruiz Fernández, S., Lachmair, M., & Gerjets, P. (2017, March). Multi-touch interactions influence the valence evaluation of emotional pictures. 59. Tagung experimentell arbeitender Psychologen (TeaP). Dresden. [Talk]
Cervera Torres, S., Ruiz Fernández, S., Lachmair, M., & Gerjets, P. (2017, July). Touch and Move: Valence Judgements of Affective Pictures Are Influenced by Interactive Upward and Downward Arm Movements. 5th World Congress on Positive Psychology (WCPP 2017) of the International Positive Psychology Association (IPPA). Montreal, Canada. [Poster]
Cervera Torres, S., Ruiz Fernández, S., Lachmair, M., & Gerjets, P. (2017, October). Emotion in the hand: A direct interaction with emotional pictures on a touchscreen influences their valence evaluation. 19th Herbstakademie: Embodied Aesthetics: Resonance in Perception, Expression and Therapy. Heidelberg. [Poster]
Lachmair, M., Ruiz Fernández, S., Cervera Torres, S., & Gerjets, P. (2017, November). Zooming Emotions: The Role of Action and Presence. Invited talk at the Interdisciplinary Workshop Virtual Reality Research: Active Self and Presence. Universität Potsdam. [Talk]
Cervera Torres, S., Ruiz Fernández, S., Lachmair, M., & Gerjets, P. (2016, March). Movement speed moderates valence evaluation of pictures in the horizontal dimension. 58. Tagung experimentell arbeitender Psychologen (TeaP). Heidelberg. [Poster]
Cervera Torres, S., Ruiz Fernández, S., Lachmair, M., & Gerjets, P. (2016, April). Movement speed in a multi-touch environment moderates the valence judgments of emotional pictures. LEAD Retreat of the LEAD (Learning, Educational Achievement, and Life Course Development) Graduate School. Bad Urach. [Poster]
Cervera Torres, S., Ruiz Fernández, S., Lachmair, M., & Gerjets, P. (2016, October). Affective (Multi-) touch: Interaction gestures influence affective information processing. LEAD Retreat of the LEAD (Learning, Educational Achievement, and Life Course Development) Graduate School and Research Network. Blaubeuren. [Poster]
Cervera Torres, S., Ruiz Fernández, S., Lachmair, M., & Gerjets, P. (2015, April). The effect of arm movement direction on valence and arousal judgment of emotional pictures. LEAD Retreat of the LEAD (Learning, Educational Achievement, and Life Course Development) Graduate School. Bad Urach. [Poster]
Cervera Torres, S., Ruiz Fernández, S., Lachmair, M., & Gerjets, P. (2015, October). Emotional gestures: Supporting emotional evaluation of affective pictures in a multi-touch environment. LEAD-Retreat (Learning, Educational Achievement, and Life Course Development) Graduate School. Blaubeuren. [Talk]
Cervera Torres, S., Ruiz Fernández, S., Lachmair, M., & Gerjets, P. (2015, March). The effect of arm movement direction on valence and arousal judgment of emotional pictures. 18. Herbstakademie: The Circularity of Mind and Body. Heidelberg. [Poster]
Cervera Torres, S., Ruiz Fernández, S., Lachmair, M., & Gerjets, P. (2015, March). The effect of picture valence and movement direction on arm movement performance. 57. Tagung experimentell arbeitender Psychologen (TeaP). Hildesheim. [Poster]
Cervera Torres, S., Ruiz Fernández, S., Lachmair, M., & Gerjets, P. (2014, October). Multi-touch gestures and affective evaluation of pictures. LEAD Graduate School-Retreat. Blaubeuren. [Poster]
Cervera-Torres, S., Ruiz Fernández, S., Lachmair, M., Riekert, M., & Gerjets, P. (2021). Altering emotions near the hand: Approach–avoidance swipe interactions modulate the perceived valence of emotional pictures. https://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.6825416.v1 [Publication]
Kastner, L., Umbach, N., Jusyte, A., Cervera-Torres, S., Ruiz Fernández, S., Nommensen, S., & Gerjets, P. (2021). Designing visual-arts education programs for transfer effects: Development and experimental evaluation of (digital) drawing courses in the art museum designed to promote adolescents’ socio-emotional skills. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.603984/full#supplementary-material [Publication]
Cervera Torres, S., Ruiz Fernández, S., Lachmair, M., & Gerjets, P. (2020). Coding valence in touchscreen interactions: hand dominance and lateral movement influence valence appraisals of emotional pictures. https://figshare.com/s/b6c4e44d57b0b59204bc [Publication]
Ruiz Fernández, S., Kastner, L., Cervera-Torres, S., Müller, J., & Gerjets, P. (2019). Moved by emotions: Affective concepts representing personal life events induce freely performed steps in line with combined sagittal and lateral space-valence associations. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02787/full#supplementary-material [Publication]
Cervera-Torres, S., Ruiz Fernández, S., Lachmair, M., & Gerjets, P. (2018). Valence-space associations in touchscreen interactions: Valence match between emotional pictures and their vertical touch location leads to pictures positive evaluation. https://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.6066536.v1 [Publication]
Dr. Sergio Cervera Torres
Schleichstraße 6
