Ricerc@Sapienza

Several studies have highlighted the role of heart rate variability (HRV) in social engagement and social cognition. However, whether HRV is involved in the ability to remember faces associated with affectively salient behavioural information remains unexplored. The present study aims to close this gap by investigating long-term face-memory accuracy in individuals differing in resting vagally-mediated HRV.

There is no doubt that physical activity improves health conditions; however, does it also affect the way people interact? Beyond the obvious effects related to team games, we wonder whether physical activity has in itself some effect on social behavior. Our research focuses on the potential effects of physical activity on trust and trustworthiness. Specifically, we compare the choices of subjects playing an investment game who were previously exposed to short-time physical activity to others who are not exposed to it, but involved in different simple tasks.