Scientist

Dr. Sergio Cervera Torres

Dr. Sergio Cervera Torres

Portrait of Sergio Cervera Torres

Dr. Sergio Cervera Torres completed his PhD in 2017 at the IWM's Multimodal Interaction Lab, focusing on Affective Spatialization in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). His innovative work has been strongly recognized, leading in 2021 to a prestigious grant from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) for young researchers. Here, Dr. Torres has been focused on the design and application of the Spatial Affective Interaction (SAI) framework, which explores how spatial factors influence emotional responses, goal-directed actions in manual interactions, and hand proximity effects on digital affective processing. Dr. Torres has also contributed to eHealth research, developing and evaluating advanced technologies like mobile apps and VR environments, with a focus on emotional regulation, cognitive functions, and neurodevelopmental disorders.

Main reserach topics:

  • Affective Spatialization
  • Emotion regulation
  • Positive psychology
  • Neurodevelopment
  • Generative AI & psychological processes

Dr. Sergio Cervera Torres

Schleichstr. 6

72072 Tübingen

Room 6.537

+49 7071 979-309s.cervera-torres@iwm-tuebingen.de

Lab membership

Project

Projects with a current term and projects that have taken place in the last 5 years are shown.

Publications

 

Articles (peer-reviewed) | Books and book chapters | Research data | Other publications

Articles (peer-reviewed)

  • Cervera Torres, S. (2025). Does digital grabbing boost affectivity in less empathic users? An interactive approach to affective laterality: Empathy, Hand dominance, and Action-Context shape pleasantness experience. Computers in Human Behavior Reports, 17, Article 100568. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chbr.2024.100568

    Open Access

  • Adriasola, A.*, Cervera Torres, S.*, Cañada, Y., Chicchi Giglioli, I. A., García-Blanco, A., Sierra, P., López-Cerveró, M., Blanes Rodríguez, C., Navalón, P., & Alcañiz Raya, M. (2024). Assessing executive functioning in schizophrenia: Concurrent and discriminative validity of a novel virtual cooking task. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 27(8), 571-581. *shared first authorship. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2023.0443

    Open Access

  • Cañada, Y., Cervera Torres, S., Andreu-Martínez, J., Beltrán Cristancho, D., Chicchi Giglioli, I. A., García-Blanco, A., Adriasola, A., Navalón, P., Sierra, P., & Alcañiz Raya, M. (2024). Characterization and assessment of executive functions through a virtual cooking task in euthymic patients with bipolar disorder. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 178, 349-358. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.08.007

    Open Access

  • Cervera Torres, S., Ruiz Fernández, S., & Gerjets, P. (2024). Positive-right and negative-left: Affective spatialization by digital “grab” interactions. In C. Stephanidis, M. Antona, S. Ntoa, S., & G. Salvendy (Eds.). HCI International 2024 Posters. HCII 2024. Communications in Computer and Information Science (Vol. 2114, pp. 215-223). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-61932-8_26

    Open Access

  • Cervera Torres, S., Gracia Laso, D. I., Minissi, M. E., Maddalon, L., Chicchi Giglioli, I. A., & Alcañiz Raya, M. (2024). Social signal processing in affective virtual reality: Human-shaped agents increase electrodermal activity in an elicited negative environment. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 27(4), 268-274. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2023.0273

    Open Access

  • Yamada, Y., Xue, J., Li, P., Ruiz Fernández, S., Özdoğru, A. A., Sarı, Ş., Cervera Torres, S., Hinojosa, J. A., Montoro, P. R., AlShebli, B., Bolatov, A. K., McGeechan, G. J., Zloteanu, M., Razpurker-Apfeld, I., Samekin, A., Tal-Or, N., Tejada, J., Freitag, R., Khatin-Zadeh, O., ... Marmolejo Ramos, F. (2024). Where the ‘bad’ and the ‘good’ go: A multi-lab direct replication report of Casasanto (2009, Experiment 1). Memory & Cognition. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13421-024-01637-1

    Open Access

  • Ponce Aix, S., Núñez-Benjumea, F. J., Cervera Torres, S., Flores, A., Arnáiz, P., & Fernández-Luque, L. (2023). Data-driven personalized care in lung cancer: Scoping review and clinical recommendations on performance status and activity level of patients with lung cancer using wearable devices. JCO Clinical Cancer Informatics, 7(7), Article e2300016. https://doi.org/10.1200/CCI.23.00016

    Open Access

  • Minissi, M. E., Gómez Zaragozá, L., Marín Morales, J., Mantovani, F., Sirera, M., Abad, L., Cervera Torres, S., Gómez-García, S., Chicchi Giglioli, I. A., & Alcañiz Raya, M. (2023). The whole-body motor skills of children with autism spectrum disorder taking goal-directed actions in virtual reality. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, Article 1140731. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1140731

    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://doi.org/10.1037/emo0000651

    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://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.603984

    Open Access

  • 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://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.662395

    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://doi.org/10.1007/s00426-018-0971-1

    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://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02787

    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://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0199972

    Open Access

Books and book chapters

To overview
  • Sánchez-García, R., Dominguez-Rodriguez, A., Ocegueda-Miramontes, V., Aguilar, L., Rodríguez-Díaz, A., Cervera Torres, S., & Sanchez, M. A. (2024). Human behavioral anomaly pattern mining within an IoT environment: An exploratory study. In G. Marques (Ed.). Advances in Computers (Vol. 133, pp. 33-57). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.adcom.2023.10.003

    Open Access

Research data

To overview

Other publications

To overview
  • Cervera Torres, S., Ruiz Fernández, S., & Gerjets, P. (2024). Spatial Affective Interaction (SAI): A framework for research on affective processing by manual interactions with digital objects. PsyArXiv Preprints. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/y2p57

    View preprint

Presentations und Conferences

Talks

  • 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., 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., & 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, 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, June). Touching Emotions: Evaluation of Affective Pictures is influenced by Moving Direction. 22. Annual CyberPsychology, CyberTherapie & Social Networking Conference (CyPsy22). Birmingham, UK. [Talk]
  • 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. (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]

Poster presentations

To overview
  • Cervera Torres, S., Ruiz Fernández, S., & Gerjets, P. (2024, September 16-19). Affective spatialization in digital interactions: The role of empathy and hand dominance in modulating perceptions of pleasantness. 53. Kongress der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Psychologie (DGPs) / 15. Kongress der Österreichischen Gesellschaft für Psychologie (ÖGP). Universität Wien, Austria. https://dgps2024.univie.ac.at/home-news/ [Poster presentation]

    View poster

  • 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 Presentation]
  • 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 Presentation]
  • Ruiz Fernández, S., Rahona López, 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 Presentation]
  • 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 Presentation]
  • 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 Presentation]
  • 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 Presentation]
  • 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 Presentation]
  • 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 Presentation]
  • 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 Presentation]
  • 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 Presentation]
  • 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 Presentation]
  • 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 Presentation]
  • 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 Presentation]

CV