Hearing where things are
We measure how sound guides our actions, both when hearing is intact and when it is disrupted.
HAKi
Haptic Auditory Kinematic Laboratory
We study how people use sound, touch, and the sense of their own body to plan and control movement, and how these senses are combined when one of them becomes unreliable.
Zayed University, Abu Dhabi
Sound
Haptics
Integration
Movement
Research
Our questions sit where perception meets action.
Haptics, sound and reaching
Haptics and hearing tell us where objects are. We study how the brain combines these signals to reach for and grasp them.
Integration, timing and adaptation
When is sensory information used: while preparing a movement, or during it? We model how sensory information is used and updated over time, and how movements adapt when these change.
Methods
Motion capture
A motion capture system records hand and finger movements in three dimensions with sub-millimeter precision.
Markerless tracking
A multi-camera pipeline estimates body pose from video, for studies outside the lab and with older adults.
Custom hardware
We build Arduino-based devices and 3D-printed prototypes to study human perception and action.
Bayesian modelling
We analyse data with Bayesian multilevel models, both linear and non-linear.
Build it yourself
Much of our equipment is built in-house. We share how.
People
Dr. Ivan Camponogara
Principal Investigator · Assistant Professor
Ivan is a kinesiologist investigating sensorimotor control. He received his PhD from the University of Verona and is the PI of the HAKi Lab at Zayed University, where he also teaches in the psychology program.
Zayed University undergraduates are welcome to join the lab each semester to help with data collection. Find out how to join.
Active collaborations
- Alessandro Farnè - Inserm
- Robert Volcic - New York University Abu Dhabi
- Fiona Newell - Trinity College Dublin
- Viola Macchi Cassia - University of Milano-Bicocca
Publications
Peer-reviewed articles and preprints.
2026
- Temporal dynamics of sensorimotor integration for auditory and proprioceptive target information during movement preparation and executionCamponogara, I.Brain & Cognition, 197, 106455
2025
- The contribution of audition and proprioception in unisensory and multisensory target reachingCamponogara, I.Scientific Reports, 15, 45716
- Bimanual postural similarity facilitates haptic memory-guided reachingCamponogara, I., Volcic, R.bioRxiv Preprint
2024
- Tool-sensed object information effectively supports vision for multisensory graspingCamponogara, I., Farnè, A., Volcic, R.Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 153(8), 2127
- Volleyball serves impact sound intensity and frequency spectrum affect the predictions of the future ball’s landing point according to the level of auditory-motor experienceCamponogara, I., Murgia, M., D’Orso, G., Sors, F.International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 22(2), 467–480
- The impact of face masks on face-to-face neural tracking of speech: Auditory and visual obstaclesFantoni, M., Federici, A., Camponogara, I., Handjaras, G., Martinelli, A., Bednaya, E., Ricciardi, E., Pavani, F., Bottari, D.Heliyon, 10(15)
2023
- The integration of action-oriented multisensory information from target and limb within the movement planning and executionCamponogara, I.Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 151, 105228
2022
- Visual uncertainty unveils the distinct role of haptic cues in multisensory graspingCamponogara, I., Volcic, R.eNeuro, 9(3), 1–12
- Editorial: Reaching and grasping the multisensory side of dexterous manipulationToma, S., Cuturi, L. F., Santello, M., Camponogara, I.Frontiers in Psychology Editorial
2021
- A brief glimpse at a haptic target is sufficient for multisensory integration in reaching movementsCamponogara, I., Volcic, R.Vision Research, 185, 50–57
- Integration of haptics and vision in human multisensory graspingCamponogara, I., Volcic, R.Cortex, 135, 173–185
2019
- Grasping adjustments to haptic, visual, and visuo-haptic object perturbations are contingent on the sensory modalityCamponogara, I., Volcic, R.Journal of Neurophysiology, 122(6), 2614–2620
- Grasping movements toward seen and handheld objectsCamponogara, I., Volcic, R.Scientific Reports, 9(1), 1–8
2018
- Interactive footsteps sounds modulate the sense of effort without affecting the kinematics and metabolic parameters during treadmill-walkingTurchet, L., Camponogara, I., Nardello, F., Zamparo, P., Cesari, P.Applied Acoustics, 129, 379–385
2017
- Expert players accurately detect an opponent’s movement intentions through sound aloneCamponogara, I., Rodger, M., Craig, C., Cesari, P.Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 43(2), 348
2016
- To hear or not to hear: Sound availability modulates sensory-motor integrationCamponogara, I., Turchet, L., Carner, M., Marchioni, D., Cesari, P.Frontiers in Neuroscience, 10, 22
- An exploration on whole-body and foot-based vibrotactile sensitivity to melodic consonanceFontana, F., Camponogara, I., Cesari, P., Vallicella, M., Ruzzenente, M.Proceedings of SMC 2016
2015
- Interactive footstep sounds modulate the perceptual-motor aftereffect of treadmill walkingTurchet, L., Camponogara, I., Cesari, P.Experimental Brain Research, 233(1), 205–214
- When distance matters: Perceptual bias and behavioral response for approaching sounds in peripersonal and extrapersonal spaceCamponogara, I., Komeilipoor, N., Cesari, P.Neuroscience, 304, 101–108
2014
- Might as well jump: Sound affects muscle activation in skateboardingCesari, P., Camponogara, I., Papetti, S., Rocchesso, D., Fontana, F.PLoS One, 9(3)
Full, up-to-date list on Google Scholar.
Join us
Three ways to be part of the lab.
Take part in a study
Sessions last about an hour and involve simple reaching or listening tasks. No experience needed.
Sign up for a sessionResearch with us
ZU students interested in perception, movement, or data analysis can join as research assistants. Fellowship applicants are welcome to get in touch.
Send an emailOpen position
We are hiring. Read the full job description and apply through the Zayed University careers portal.
View and applyContact
- Z11197@zu.ac.ae
- Lab
- HAKi Lab, College of Natural and Health Sciences
Zayed University, Abu Dhabi campus
United Arab Emirates View on Google Maps