Undergraduate and post graduate qualifications

BSc Psychology, University of Besancon (France)

MSc Ethology, University of Paris XIII (France)

PhD Information

PhD title: Sensitivity to facial communication in humans and dogs

Method: Spontaneous behaviour, eye movements while viewing  pictures

Supervisors: Dr. Kun Guo, Dr. Kerstin Meints, Prof. Daniel Mills (Dept. of Biological Sciences)

Research Outputs/Conference Papers

Publications

Racca A., Amadei E., Ligout S., Guo K., Meints K., Mills D. (2010) Discrimination of human and dog faces and Inversion responses in domestic dogs (Canis familiaris). Animal Cognition, 13 (3), pp. 525-533.

Racca A. & Baudoin C. (2009). The dog or its muzzle as a signal of danger in humans? Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research, 4(2), p.94.

Publications in Preparation

Racca A. et al. Reading each-others’ faces: Processing of human and canine emotional facial expression in dogs and children, a study of their eye movements.

Racca A. et al. Enculturation versus domestication in the processing of human faces by domestic dogs.

Conferences

Racca A., Guo K., Meints K., Mills D. (2010) Dog sensitivity to canine and human emotional facial expressions. A study of their eye movements. 2nd Canine Science Forum, poster session & poster teaser, Vienna, Austria.

Meints K., Racca A., Hickey N. (2010). Child-dog misunderstandings: Children misinterpret dogs' facial expressions. 2nd Canine Science Forum, talk session, Vienna, Austria.

Meints K., Racca A., Hickey N. (2010). How to prevent dog bite injuries? Children misinterpret dogs’ facial expressions. Safety Conference, Talk session, London, UK.

Racca A., Guo K., Meints K., Mills D. (2010) Sensitivity to each others’ emotion: gaze bias in responding to facial expressions in both domestic dogs and children. Workshop on Cognition and Evolution (CogEvo), Poster session, Rovereto, Italy.

Racca A., Hickey N., Meints K. (2009) Judgement of dog facial expressions in 4-6 year-old children and adults. Northern League Psychology Meeting, Talk session, Lincoln, UK.

Racca A., Amadei E., Ligout S., Guo K., Meints K., Mills D. (2009) Discrimination of human and dog faces and Inversion responses in domestic dogs (Canis familiaris). 31st International Ethological Conference, Talk session, Rennes, France.

Lopes F.A., Magnusson M.S., Racca A., Simeonovska-Nikolova D., Baudoin C. (2009) Gender differences in facial movement production: a case study. 31st International Ethological Conference, Talk session, Rennes, France.

Racca A., Baudoin C. (2008) The dog or its muzzle as a signal of danger in humans? 1st Canine Science Forum, Poster session & poster teaser, Budapest, Hungary.

Racca A., Magnusson MS., Ades C., Lopes FA., Baudoin C. (2007). A gender difference in human facial movements’ organisation? ASAB Winter meeting, Poster session, London, UK.

Racca A., Magnusson MS., Ades C., Lopes FA., Baudoin C. (2007). Differences related to the gender in human facial dynamics: the case of a Brazilian population. Proceedings 5th Meeting European Research Group on Methodology for the Analysis of Social Interaction, Talk session, Budapest, Hungry.

Lopes F.A., Magnusson M.S., Racca A., Simeonovska-Nikolova D., Baudoin C. (2007). Facial movement production in a Bulgarian population. Proceedings 5th Meeting European Research Group on Methodology for the Analysis of Social Interaction, Talk session, Budapest, Hungry.

Baudoin C., Magnusson MS., Lopes FA., Racca A., Durand JL., Hacquin M., Simeonovska-Nikolova D., Ades C. (2007). Facial movement production: How does it vary with sex and population? Proceedings 5th Meeting European Research Group on Methodology for the Analysis of Social Interaction, Talk session, Budapest, Hungry.

Seminars and other Talks

Introduction to the Study of Face processing in domestic dogs’ (2010) UK CompCog Lab visit (European Science Foundation), University of Lincoln, UK.

Face processing in domestic dogs’ (2010) CogBio Seminar at the Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Austria.

Face-specific processing in domestic dogs?’ (2009) Research Seminar at the Department of Ethology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.

Face processing in humans and domestic dogs’ (2008) Talk (lab visit participant) at the Department of Neurobiology and Cognition Research, University of Vienna, Austria.

How do dog process faces?’ (2008) Talk (lab visit participant) at the Konrad Lorenz Institute for Comparative Ethology, Altenberg, Austria.

‘Sensitivity to facial communication in the domestic dog’ (2007) Seminar Series, Universities Federation for Animal Welfare, University of Lincoln, UK.

Eye movement study of facial communication in human and non-human animals’ (2007)Research Seminars of the Department of Psychology, University of Lincoln, UK.

Grants

2011 European Science Foundation (ESF), CompCog group, Short Grant, training of an undergraduate student for data collection on 'Recognition of familiar human faces in domestic dogs, a comparison of their abilities through passive and active choices' - 1 week. Hosts: Prof. Ludwig Huber, Dr. Friedericke Range, Dr. Zsófia Virányi.

2010 European Science Foundation (ESF), CompCog group, Exchange Grant (2 months), study on 'Recognition of familiar faces in the domestic dog' at the Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna (Austria). Hosts: Prof. Ludwig Huber, Dr. Friedericke Range, Dr. Zsófia Virányi.

2010 Centre for Mind/Brain Science, Travel Grant awarded to present a poster 'Sensitivity to each others emotion: gaze bias in responding to facial expressions in both domestic dogs and children', at the Workshop on Cognition and Evolution (CogEvo), Rovereto (Italy).

2010 NordForsk Infrastructure Research, Training Course on 'Experimental methods and designs for the study of spatial cognition, language and development', Trondheim (Norway) – 1 week.

2009 European Science Foundation (ESF), CompCog group, Exchange Grant (2 months), study on 'Face processing in human-raised wolves' at the Department of Ethology, Eötvös Loránd University (Hungary) Host: Dr. Ádám Miklósi.

2008 European Science Foundation (ESF), CompCog group, Short Grant, visit of various labs and departments in Vienna, Altenberg and Grünau (Austria) – 1 week. Hosts: Prof. Ludwig Huber, Dr. Zsófia Virányi.

2007 Full scholarship, University of Lincoln (UK) – 3 years.

Organisation of Scientific Events

2010 Organiser of the UK CompCog Lab visit (European Science Foundation) University of Lincoln, University of Bristol, University of Cambridge.

Teaching Responsibilities (Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lincoln)

2009- Behavioural Ecology unit-Evolutionary Psychology (Lecture & Seminar)
2009- Cognition unit (Practical)

Professional Membership

2007- Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour (ASAB- UK)
2006- French Society for the Study of Animal Behaviour (SFECA- France)

Contact Details

Email: aracca@lincoln.ac.uk