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Federico Frau @federicofrau.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

Tweeting about a conference has never been so cool! Excited to be in Florence for my first #SIRS! If you're not too busy at Uffizi or dining on a fiorentina steak, come find my poster on Saturday and chat with me about brain connectivity, schizophrenia & pragmatics🧠 @sirsofficial.bsky.social

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Federico Frau @federicofrau.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

Don't miss the opportunity to attend the #DISCOURSE2026 Satellite Meeting in Pavia, March 30-31, sponsored by the #EducatingFutureCitizens (EFC) EU project. Info & registration: neplab.it/discourse_ho... (registration is open until full capacity is reached) #IUSSPavia #IMTLucca #NEPLab

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Valentina Bambini @valentinabambini.bsky.social · 18/12/2025

Can GPT replace human raters of metaphors? Our new work with @vmangiaterra.bsky.social @cbarattieri.bsky.social @al-azary.bsky.social Across 687 Italian & English metaphors, GPT shows strong validity & reliability, but stumbles when meaning becomes sensorimotor ➡️ arxiv.org/abs/2512.12444 #NEPLab

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Federico Frau @federicofrau.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

Delighted to share that I’m starting a new role as Jr Assistant Professor (RTDa) at IUSS within the #DIALOG project funded by @wellcometrust.bsky.social–as part of @valentinabambini.bsky.social's unit🎉 No better way to celebrate than with Italian pastries & the amazing support of the #NEPLab team🍰🤍

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Federico Frau @federicofrau.bsky.social · 22/09/2025

I really had a great time at #XPRAG2025 in Cambridge, where I presented novel EEG data showing that we can prime figurative meaning in metaphors and modulate late effects in ERP response, as well as our cross-diagnostic study of pragmatic impairment in relation to theory of mind #NEPLab

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Federico Frau @federicofrau.bsky.social · 14/09/2025

So glad to have attended my first #SNL conference and presented a poster with @riccardoventurini.bsky.social, showing beta functional connectivity alterations linked to pragmatic impairment in schizophrenia. Great time here in Washington and inspiring talks at Gallaudet University 🧠 #NEPLab #SNL2025

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Federico Frau @federicofrau.bsky.social · 18/08/2025

New paper out on Philos Trans R Soc B 🚨 We conducted the first large-scale cross-diagnostic analysis of pragmatic impairment in 7 clinical groups, highlighting profiles of communicative weaknesses and their association with theory of mind skills @royalsocietypublishing.org #NEPLab 🧠

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Federico Frau @federicofrau.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

Next Monday, the #IUSSLinguisticsSeminar will host Dr. Nadine Dijkstra, who will introduce us to the neural correlates of mental imagery, with a focus on the mechanisms allowing us to discern a mental image from a real visual percept. 🗓️June 16, 11-12.30am CEST Zoom link: tinyurl.com/keap95ks #NEPLab

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Federico Frau @federicofrau.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

Today, we double our IUSS Linguistics Seminars, with two talks covering topics from metaphor and emotional experience, to communication and connection in development (ft Jeannette Littlemore & Merideth Gattis) 🤩 ➡️ 3-7pm, CEST Zoom link: iusspavia.zoom.us/my/br.salade... #NEPLab

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Federico Frau @federicofrau.bsky.social · 06/05/2025

Next week (12.05), the IUSS Linguistics Seminars series will host Mikhail Kissine, don't miss it! Info to attend either in person or online below ⬇️

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Reposted by Federico Frau

Valentina Bambini @valentinabambini.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

The Laboratory of Neurolinguistics and Experimental Pragmatics meets the father of Experimental Pragmatics! @irastamon.bsky.social thanks for the visit! #NEPLab

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Federico Frau @federicofrau.bsky.social · 17/02/2025

Save the date! #IUSSLinguisticsSeminar Tomorrow, Prof. Francesco Vespignani (@UniPadova) will present the application of power spectrum analysis to study the neural response to phrases and sentences 🗓️February 18, 9-10.30 am CET 📍@IussPavia Zoom: tinyurl.com/yc2vsnx6 #NEPLab

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Federico Frau @federicofrau.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

Don't miss the first #IUSSLinguisticsSeminar of the 2025 series: EEG source connectivity in neuropsychiatric disorders: the case of schizophrenia, w/ Prof. Giorgio Di Lorenzo (@unitorvergata) 🗓️February 10, 3.30-5.00 pm CET 📍@IussPavia Zoom link: tinyurl.com/3ncx7b7f #NEPLab

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Federico Frau @federicofrau.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

I can't wait to discuss one of my favorite topics with the team of the PRIN Project "Metaphor & Epistemic Injustice in Mental Illness" (@fraervas @sophia_79 & Francesca Ferri). I'll bring a neuropragmatic perspective & our works on metaphor comprehension in schizophrenia #NEPLab

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Federico Frau @federicofrau.bsky.social · 10/10/2024

I'm so happy to share our new paper published on #JML, which is the product of an amazing collaboration with @PennyPexman and @ejmuraki (with @VBambini and @lucabischetti #NEPLab) 🎊🎉 Here is the link to read the full paper: authors.elsevier.com/a/1jvXQ_,1j5AB… 1/3

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Federico Frau @federicofrau.bsky.social · 06/10/2024

#ESLP2024 brought some great talks and remarkable keynote speakers (but also a lot of mental imagery!), so glad I had the opportunity to be there and present our work to the amazing embodied language community! @bll_berlin #embodiment #NEPLab

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Federico Frau @federicofrau.bsky.social · 02/10/2024

The German delegation of the #NEPLab is ready for #ESLP2024 conference starting tomorrow (but still getting used to German sunny weather 🌧️)

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Federico Frau @federicofrau.bsky.social · 28/09/2024

I couldn't be more grateful to the #XPRAGit2024 committee for awarding me the Young Researcher Award for the best presentation, dedicated to the memory of Bruno Bara. Having started my journey in experimental pragmatics from his works, this award really means a lot to me! #NEPLab

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Federico Frau @federicofrau.bsky.social · 25/09/2024

Just arrived in Venice and already feeling the #XPRAGit2024 vibes!🤩 If you want to know everything about imagery and metaphors in the brain, don't miss my poster (poster session 1) and talk (oral session 4B)🧠💪🏻 (w/ @VBambini @PaoloCanal1 @chiara_pompei5 @mb_bressler)

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Federico Frau @federicofrau.bsky.social · 11/09/2024

Summer is over and we are back to look at some waves in the brain 🧠🤓 Today, we launched the new EEG study on metaphor processing for the "PROMENADE" #ERC grant coordinated by @VBambini #NEPLab @IussPavia #neuropragmatics

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Federico Frau @federicofrau.bsky.social · 14/06/2024

Yesterday I (finally) defended my PhD thesis on #multimodality in #language – focusing on #metaphors, #sensorimotor experience, and #imagery – grounded (pun intended 😜) in #Neuropragmatics! 🎉 Super happy to work on this nice topic and super grateful to my supervisor @VBambini

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Federico Frau @federicofrau.bsky.social · 27/05/2024

Are you curious to know how metaphors help us learn scientific concepts? Don't miss the next IUSS Linguistics seminar with Prof. @Vicky_T_Lai at @IussPavia (11.00-12.30 CEST, info below ⬇️) In-person venue: Palazzo del Broletto, Sala del Camino) Zoom Link: iusspavia.zoom.us/j/81947250839

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Federico Frau @federicofrau.bsky.social · 20/05/2024

Don't miss today's IUSS #LinguisticsSeminar with Prof. Nicola Grandi (@Unibo), who will present data on the written Italian of young university students at the interface of #sociolinguistics and linguistic #typology 📍@IussPavia, Sala del Camino Zoom link: iusspavia.zoom.us/j/81947250839

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Federico Frau @federicofrau.bsky.social · 08/04/2024

Thanks to @BarlatiStefano for mentioning our meta-analysis (out soon in Brain&Language) on the relationship between pragmatics, executive functions, and social cognition in #schizophrenia, with implications for treatment. Stay tuned for the full paper! #discourse2024

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Federico Frau @federicofrau.bsky.social · 19/02/2024

Today don't miss our first 2024 Linguistics Seminar at @IussPavia: Prof. Robyn Carston (UCL) will discuss the role of words in the interface syntax-pragmatics interface from the perspective of theoretical pragmatics 💻Zoom link: iusspavia.zoom.us/my/br.saladelcami… ⌚️11 am CET

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Federico Frau @federicofrau.bsky.social · 01/10/2023

First day in London with classic British weather, couldn't imagine anything better to start my visiting period at #UCL 🤩🇬🇧 #pragmatics

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Federico Frau @federicofrau.bsky.social · 20/09/2023

#XPRAG2023 has finally started (with a super keynote speaker, Prof. Thomas Holtgraves)! Great to be here in Paris with all the #XPRAG community 🤩🇨🇵

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Federico Frau @federicofrau.bsky.social · 19/09/2023

Glad to have brought a piece of "embodiment meets neuropragmatics" at #IndiPRAG2023 Workshop! #XPRAG2023 #neuropragmatics

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Federico Frau @federicofrau.bsky.social · 18/09/2023

The #XPRAG week started with a great talk by Kirsten Abbot-Smith here at #IndiPRAG2023 Workshop on environmental, cognitive, and socio-cognitive factors influencing pragmatic skills and social interaction in typical and atypical children #XPRAG2023 #pragmatics @chiara_pompei5

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Federico Frau @federicofrau.bsky.social · 27/07/2023

First subject tested with our new #EEG experiment at the NEP Lab!!🧠 Doing some serious #neuropragmatic stuff here this summer 😎☀️

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Federico Frau @federicofrau.bsky.social · 12/07/2023

Today #IPrA2023 gifted us with a terrific talk by the great Stephen Levinson, from the "dark matter" to the "dark energy" of #pragmatics. Such a great honour! 🤩

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Federico Frau @federicofrau.bsky.social · 12/07/2023

How strong is the relationship between pragmatic and socio/neurocognitive skills in schizophrenia? Yesterday, I presented preliminary results of a meta-analysis (combined with a mediation analysis) on this topic (w/ @VBambini @ChCerami @AleDodich @MartaBosia) at #IPrA2023 (1/2)

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Federico Frau @federicofrau.bsky.social · 11/07/2023

Day 3 at #IPrA2023 starts with a great panel on the relationship between pragmatics and theory of mind (organized by @VBambini), bringing empirical evidence from different perspectives. Don't miss it! #experimentalpragmatics

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Federico Frau @federicofrau.bsky.social · 09/06/2023

Next week, don't miss *three* great talks in our "IUSS Linguistics Seminars" series at @IussPavia! We'll go from theoretical syntax (w/ C. Guardiano & G. Longobardi) to NLG applied to psychiatry (w/ @lena_pl) on Monday, up to semantic cognition (w/ H. Al-Azary) on Tuesday! (1/2)

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Federico Frau @federicofrau.bsky.social · 04/05/2023

#Savethedate: don't forget the next seminar of the Linguistics Seminars @IussPavia series with Dr. Rosario Tomasello (@tomasel9), who will discuss speech act understanding in mind and brain🧠 🗓️May 12, 9.30-11.00 CEST (hybrid!) ➡️Info and Zoom link here: www.iusspavia.it/it/eventi/iuss-lin...

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Federico Frau @federicofrau.bsky.social · 18/04/2023

Amici a Pavia e dintorni, aiutateci a diffondere il nostro nuovo studio su linguaggio e immaginazione! 💡🗣️ 📍Dove: @IussPavia ➡️Requisiti: parlanti madrelingua di italiano🇮🇹, 20-60 anni di età, scolarità tra licenza media e diploma superiore. Più info: sites.google.com/iusspavia.it/meta-i...

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Federico Frau @federicofrau.bsky.social · 05/04/2023

The program of the 2023 IUSS Linguistics Seminars Series @IussPavia is officially online! 🎉 The first talks will be on April 17 and will host Leena Maria Heikkola and John J. Lowe, don't miss them (all talks can be attended online via Zoom)! More info: www.iusspavia.it/it/eventi/iuss-ling...

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Federico Frau @federicofrau.bsky.social · 17/11/2022

Sei un* student* universitar*? Partecipa a un nuovo esperimento del progetto #Embodiverbs - promosso dalla Scuola @IussPavia - sul rapporto tra corpo e comprensione delle parole!🗣️ Per partecipare clicca dal tuo PC (no cellulare/tablet!) qui: tinyurl.com/2p93xbx5 #embodiment

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Federico Frau @federicofrau.bsky.social · 28/10/2022

Today I'm in beautiful Cagliari - in my homeland Sardinia - to present our poster on #sensorymotor effects on verb processing to the Annual Conference of the Società Italiana di Glottologia (Italian Society of Glottology)! #embodiment

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Federico Frau @federicofrau.bsky.social · 17/09/2022

Just survived the #SMLP2022 Summer School. What a week! 🤯 Couldn't be more grateful for all the insightful discussions. Such a great energy here in Potsdam! (not going to miss the weather, though)

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Federico Frau @federicofrau.bsky.social · 31/08/2022

Day 2 of @Escop2022 is approaching and I'm excited to be there presenting a poster on crosslinguistic variation of embodied effects in verb processing (with @VBambini @lucabischetti @PennyPexman @ejmuraki)! If you are curious, come to poster n. 46 and chat with me (12.40-14.30)😄

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Federico Frau @federicofrau.bsky.social · 28/08/2022

I'm walking through the streets of the beautiful Lille and I couldn't be more excited about @Escop2022 starting tomorrow! #escop #conference @ESCoP_news

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Federico Frau @federicofrau.bsky.social · 14/07/2022

While the #XPRAG2022 committee is testing (and tasting) possible menus for the social dinner, remember to register for the conference asap (registration closes tomorrow)! Info & instructions here: sites.google.com/iusspavia.it/xprag… #xprag #experimentalpragmatic...

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Federico Frau @federicofrau.bsky.social · 30/06/2022

Very nice talk at @CLiC_it_conf about how #NLP models can be used to predict speakers' age. Inspiring and promising application of computational approaches! #clicit2021

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Federico Frau @federicofrau.bsky.social · 22/06/2022

Nice keynote talk delivered by Prof. Pier Francesco Ferrari on #mirrorneurons and development of #socialbehaviour in primates and humans 🧠 great start for the #AISC2022! @aisc_assoc

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Federico Frau @federicofrau.bsky.social · 22/06/2022

Are the effects of sensory-motor experience on verb processing stable across languages? Today I will present preliminary results of a crosslinguistic replication on Italian at #AISC2022 Mid-term Conference! With @VBambini @lucabischetti @Eli_Tonini @ejmuraki @PennyPexman

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Federico Frau @federicofrau.bsky.social · 03/06/2022

Amazed to see that our AMLaP 2021 abstract on language and schizophrenia was cited on NPJ Schizophrenia!😳 It's great that our work is appreciated even at a preliminary stage (+ you never forget the first citation!) @VBambini @lucabischetti @MartaBosia www.nature.com/articles/s41537-022-0...

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Federico Frau @federicofrau.bsky.social · 25/05/2022

Learn more about #PhDlife at @IussPavia during the IUSS PhDay 2022! PhD students will present their research in a 5-minute pitch or with a poster during the #Posteritivo (poster session with aperitivo!) 🗓️7 June, 2022 (14:00-19:00, CEST) 📌More info: www.iusspavia.it/-/phday-2022

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Federico Frau @federicofrau.bsky.social · 04/04/2022

Only 10 hours left before the end of the Call for Papers for #XPRAG2022! 🗣️📣 Don't miss the opportunity to submit your abstracts in any area of #experimentalpragmatics by midnight (CET)! #pragmatics #pavia #italy

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Federico Frau @federicofrau.bsky.social · 21/03/2022

Great talk by @BodoWinter on iconicity in #language! And if you want to know what this slide is about (and what iconicity is good for), just check out Bodo's work on this topic! #linguistics @IussPavia

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