Integrated Psychology Laboratories (LIP)
Psico 2 – Department of General Psychology
University of Padua

A Strategic Research Infrastructure for the Future of Experimental Psychology
Inaugurated in 2025 at the Psico 2 campus of the Department of General Psychology at the University of Padua, the Integrated Psychology Laboratories (LIP) constitute a cutting-edge research infrastructure dedicated to advanced experimental psychology and cognitive neuroscience.

The LIP project builds upon the technological and methodological expertise developed during the Department’s Project of Excellence (2018–2022), consolidating state-of-the-art instrumentation within a highly collaborative, multidisciplinary research environment.

LIP is not simply a collection of laboratories. It is an integrated ecosystem for multi-level research, where:

• 3D motion capture
• transcranial magnetic stimulation
• high-density electroencephalography
• real-time physiological monitoring

can be combined within unified experimental paradigms to address complex questions about human behavior and its neural foundations.

The Value of Integration
Within LIP, researchers can:

• precisely quantify motor performance in 3D space,
• temporarily and non-invasively modulate cortical activity,
• record neural dynamics with high temporal and spatial resolution,
• monitor physiological markers such as heart rate and skin conductance in real time.

When integrated, these tools allow researchers to:

• trace how neural modulation translates into behavioral change,
• examine how motor adaptation is accompanied by physiological responses,
• model how cognitive processes evolve across time and context.

The future of experimental psychology lies in methodological integration across levels of analysis.

Research, Training, and Internationalization

LIP is designed as:
An Advanced Research Infrastructure

• Interdisciplinary and international research projects
• Clinical, neuroscientific, sports, and cultural applications
• Partnerships with public institutions, private organizations, and third-sector stakeholders

A High-Level Training Environment

• Credit-bearing advanced laboratory courses
• Methodological training for PhD students, residents, postdoctoral fellows, and early-career researchers
• Research-based learning opportunities for Master’s students

Research Areas

• Neurodegenerative motor disorders
• Early markers of cognitive decline in aging
• Physiological biomarkers of fear and chronic pain
• Genuine vs. simulated emotions and facial micro-expressions
• Neuroarchaeology 
• Sensorimotor adaptation in digital natives