Since 2008 the Virtual Human Dynamics laboratory investigates topics related to virtual environments and the use of new technologies through statistical mechanics and complex system science tools. Particular attention is given to psychosocial and neurocognitive aspects of such dynamics. 

The laboratory’s scientific network composed of scholars from different universities and research fields allows reaching a multidisciplinary understanding of those human phenomena related to the Internet and technological artifacts. The purely multidisciplinary vocation of the laboratory allows the integration of neurocognitive (e.g., pupillometer, event-related potential), psychological and performance measurements, for the study of human interaction within virtual environments and through new technologies. 

In particular, VirtHuLab is an active partner of the inter-departmental Center for the Study of Complex Dynamics (CSDC) of the University of Florence, which coordinates researches among the departments of Physics and Astronomy, Chemistry, Mathematics and Informatics, Biology, Information and Civil Engineering, Education Science and Psychology, Medicine.

In the last years, VirtHuLab produced more than 100 scientific publications and also contributed with its expertise to multiple multidisciplinary European projects:

• H2020 InSPIRES Ingenious Science shops to promote Participatory Innovation, Research and Equity in Science.

• H2020 - PROVA Prevention of violent Radicalization and Of Violent Actions in intergroup relations.

• FP7 EC ​Science in Society - Project ​SciCafe 2.0

• FP7 EC European Network of Excellence in Internet Science - EINS Open Call Project FOCAL: Foundations for Collective Awareness Platforms.

• FP7 EC FET-AWARE ​RECOGNITION Project​

• FP6 EC PATHFINDER – Measuring the Impossible ​Memory Project​

VirtHuLab skills and expertise allow its scholars to assess devices and web-based platforms usability, using psychological and neuropsychological models (e.g., Sweller, 1994).  Moreover, VirtHuLab already successfully implemented strategies able to improve the perceptive and cognitive ergonomics of new technologies that involve human-machine interactions (Gaines & Monk, 2015; Nielsen, 1999).