Hi, I'm Davide Cantavenera.
Assistant Researcher in Visual Perception & Cognitive Neuroscience.
My research interests include behavioral experiments, non-invasive brain stimulation, and neuroimaging techniques to study the neural mechanisms of visual perception and how the brain constructs perceptual experience from sensory input. I am also interested in computational approaches to model cognitive processes.
Curriculum Vitae
Experience
Research Internship — Department of General Psychology
Conducting visual neuroscience research within the laboratories of Prof. Gianluca Campana and Prof. Luca Battaglini, contributing across the full research pipeline from study conceptualization to manuscript preparation:
- Designing and pre-registering psychophysical experiments on visual illusions (e.g., Flash Drag Effect), including participant recruitment, sample-size justification, and coordinating successive groups of research interns.
- Implementing non-invasive brain stimulation protocols (tRNS, tACS, tDCS) targeting primary visual cortex (V1) and motion-sensitive area MT/V5.
- Developing experimental scripts in jsPsych and PsychoPy, including adaptive staircase procedures, stimulus generation pipelines, and online phase-tracking routines.
- Participating in the tACS Challenge Project, a multi-lab international initiative investigating the causal role of neural oscillations in visual perception.
- Performing frequentist and Bayesian statistical analyses in Python, R, and MATLAB, applying computational modelling, and contributing to manuscript preparation across concurrent projects.
AI Evaluation Internship — R-TREE TECHNOLOGIES S.R.L.
Applied systematic evaluation methodologies to assess the output quality of Large Language Models (LLMs), bridging cognitive science principles with AI quality assurance:
- Developed and applied structured annotation rubrics to evaluate contextual coherence, factual accuracy, and reasoning quality of LLM-generated content.
- Conducted comparative analyses across models, synthesizing quantitative performance metrics into technical reports for the development team.
Education
M.Sc. in Applied Cognitive Psychology
Advanced coursework in attention, memory, executive functions, and decision-making, with emphasis on experimental methodology and human–technology interaction. Training encompasses psychometric assessment, multivariate statistics, neuroimaging fundamentals, and the design of applied interventions grounded in cognitive models. Thesis research focused on non-invasive brain stimulation and visual perception.
Postgraduate Diploma in Data Science & Data Management
Intensive program covering the methodological and computational foundations of data science: statistical inference, supervised and unsupervised machine learning, natural language processing, big-data architectures, and interactive data visualization. Applied these methods to real-world datasets through project-based coursework, developing end-to-end analytical pipelines from data wrangling to interpretive reporting.
Specialization Course in Tutoring for Learning
Evidence-based training in cognitive psychology applied to education, covering working memory, attentional control, metacognition, and self-regulated learning. Acquired competencies in diagnosing learning difficulties, designing individualized tutoring interventions, and translating cognitive-science findings into practical pedagogical strategies.
B.Sc. in Cognitive and Psychobiological Sciences
Foundational training in the biological and cognitive bases of behavior: sensory physiology, visual and auditory perception, memory systems, language processing, psychometrics, and developmental psychology. Coursework in neuroscience, statistics, and research methods provided the methodological grounding for subsequent specialization in experimental cognitive neuroscience.
Skills & Competencies
Programming & Data Analysis
Experimental & Neurostimulation Tools
AI & Machine Learning
Web & Dev Tools
Research Competencies
Within- and between-subjects psychophysical paradigms, power analysis, counterbalancing, and pre-registration of hypotheses.
Adaptive staircase, signal-detection tasks, response accuracy, reaction times, and perceptual threshold estimation.
tRNS, tACS, and tDCS protocols targeting V1 and MT/V5, including electrode montage, safety procedures, and sham conditions.
Frequentist and Bayesian frameworks, mixed-effects modeling, and end-to-end data visualization pipelines in Python and R.
Research manuscripts following APA guidelines, conference presentations, poster design, and peer-review contributions.
Ethical review procedures, informed consent, GDPR-compliant data management, and open-science practices.
Training and coordinating successive groups of research interns across multiple semesters of data collection, and working effectively in lab teams and multi-lab international research environments.
Building and testing computational models of cognitive processes and brain stimulation effects using Python and MATLAB.
Languages
Italian
Native
Born and raised
English
C1 - Advanced
15 months in Florida
Spanish
B2 - Upper Intermediate
3 months in Andalusia
Research Projects
Flash Drag Effect - V5/MT & V1 Motion Integration
Publications
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Complementary Visual Assessment: Validation of a High-Precision Eye-Tracking Kinetic Perimetry in the Evaluation of Visual Field Deficits in Hemianopia
Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience
Design Data Collection Analysis Writing In Review Publication -
Entrainment of Perceptually Relevant Brain Oscillations in Visual Contour Integration: Evidence from a Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation Study
TBD
Design Data Collection Analysis Writing In Review Publication -
The Effects of Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation in an Orientation Discrimination Task
TBD
Design Data Collection Analysis Writing In Review Publication -
TMS Experiment on Visuo-Spatial Attention and Inhibition
TBD
Design Data Collection Analysis Writing In Review Publication -
Computational Neuroscience Project on Noise Signals and Artificial Neurons
Signals
Design Data Collection Analysis Writing In Review Publication -
Zoom Out Effect & Mental Imagery in Spatial Perception
TBD
Design Data Collection Analysis Writing In Review Publication
Code & Repositories
Check out my open source contributions and research code on GitHub.
This repository hosts my personal landing page, showcasing my CV, publications, research interests, and personal reflections. Built to share my work and ideas in Visual Perception & Cognitive Neuroscience, and to provide an easy way to get in touch.
A machine learning assignment developed for the course Machine Learning for Brain and Cognition - University of Padua. Standard data analysis and machine learning pipeline to a real-world water quality dataset, including exploratory data analysis, preprocessing, model training, evaluation, and critical interpretation of results.
Research Interests
A curated collection of papers that inspire my work, categorized by topic.
Blog
Thoughts on research, code, and caffeine.
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Welcome to My Research Blog
Introducing my new academic website and blog, where I'll share insights on visual perception, cognitive neuroscience, and the intersection of human and artificial intelligence.
Read more