Developing bio-inspired computational model of Theory of Mind by quantifying human social behaviours with VR
Supervisors:
Dr Chen Zhou, School of Psychology & Neuroscience
Prof Alessandro Vinciarelli, School of Computing Science
Summary:
This PhD project investigates how humans understand and anticipate others’ intentions during social navigation, which is a fundamental function of social cognition and life itself. This Theory of Mind (ToM) process enables individuals to infer others’ thoughts and actions without explicit communication, supporting cooperation, adaptation, and survival. Yet, the cognitive and computational mechanisms behind ToM in dynamic, real-world social interactions remain poorly understood.
Using state-of-the-art virtual reality (VR) and psychophysical techniques, this project will create controlled yet realistic social environments to study how humans perceive and respond to others’ movements. The collected behavioural data will be used to develop a computational model of ToM in social navigation, revealing the quantitative principles of human social reasoning. These models will then be translated into rule-based algorithms that simulate life-like social understanding in virtual agents.
By bridging cognitive science, computer science, and engineering, this research will uncover the fundamental function of ToM in social interaction and navigation, which are key processes that underpin intelligent life. The student will gain hands-on interdisciplinary training in VR experimentation, computational modelling, and AI development.