@inproceedings{maldonado-bouchardNeuralEndophenotypesSecure2026,

title = {From Neural Endophenotypes to Secure Human-Machine Interaction: Identifying Empathy-Related Vulnerabilities from Resting-State qEEG using Deep Learning},

author = {S. Maldonado-Bouchard and A. Saki and U. Faghihi and M. Brideau-Duquette and P. Renaud},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105042126330?origin=resultslist},

doi = {10.1109/CAI68641.2026.11536416},

isbn = {979-833156039-3 (ISBN)},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-01-01},

booktitle = {IEEE Conf. Artif. Intell., CAI},

pages = {1725–1732},

publisher = {Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.},

abstract = {Telepresence and extended reality (XR) platforms increasingly integrate physiological sensing to infer socio-affective traits and personalize interaction. We test whether resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) alone can predict inter-individual differences in callous affect (SRP-CA; a proxy for reduced affective empathy) in a forensic cohort. Using 32-channel qEEG recorded at 500 Hz during one minute of eyes-open (EO) followed by one minute of eyes-closed (EC), we retain 143 quality-controlled sessions from 72 participants, each paired with a session-level SRP-CA score. We implement an EEG-only, leakage-aware evaluation protocol: splitting is performed at the session level and normalization parameters are fit on training data only. EEG is segmented into overlapping windows of 250-1,000 samples (50% overlap), and a lightweight Transformer encoder regressor is trained per window length; session-level predictions are obtained by averaging window-level outputs. On held-out test sessions, the best performance is achieved with 400-sample windows (MSE = 0.0595},

note = {Journal Abbreviation: IEEE Conf. Artif. Intell., CAI},

keywords = {Deep learning, Electroencephalography, Electrophysiology, Evaluation protocol, Human machine interaction, Inter-individual differences, Matchings, Physiological sensing, Resting state, Sample windows, Session level, Splittings, telepresence, Template matching, Visual communication},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {inproceedings}

}

@inproceedings{brideau-duquette_when_2025,

title = {When Sexy Avatars Get Weird: How Brain Asymmetry and Oculomotor Dynamics Navigate the Uncanny},

author = {M. Brideau-Duquette and S. S. -P. Côté and P. Charbonneau and P. Renaud},

editor = {Itthipuripat S. and Ascoli G.A. and Li A. and Pat N. and Kuai H.},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105002448490&doi=10.1007%2F978-981-96-3294-7_10&partnerID=40&md5=ced02f5a8061a51f213078ce6d6635f3},

doi = {10.1007/978-981-96-3294-7_10},

isbn = {03029743 (ISSN); 978-981963293-0 (ISBN)},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-01-01},

booktitle = {Lect. Notes Comput. Sci.},

volume = {15541 LNAI},

pages = {121–139},

publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH},

abstract = {This study explores the psychological effects of human-machine interaction, particularly focusing on the phenomenon of the uncanny valley within the context of virtual reality (VR). This study specifically investigates the relationship between oculomotor dynamics, EEG asymmetry, and perceived uncanniness in an immersive setting with a realistic human avatar that can generate uncanny feelings. Participants engaged in a VR scenario designed to optimize their sexual interest. Eye-tracking and EEG data were collected during these interactions to assess the predictors of uncanniness. The final regression model identified significant predictors, including EEG asymmetry in frontal and parietal regions and nonlinear indices of gaze behavior. The findings suggest that the more a participants’ attention was attracted towards specific cues, the higher the uncanniness. The interplay between EEG asymmetries and gaze behavior furthermore indicates that these physiological and behavioral responses are closely linked to the perception of uncanniness, offering insights into how humans interact with increasingly lifelike technologies. These insights contribute to a better understanding of HMI’s potential and may inform the development of more engaging and psychologically attuned virtual content. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2025.},

note = {Journal Abbreviation: Lect. Notes Comput. Sci.},

keywords = {Brain, Embodied Computing, Eye-tracking, Gaze behaviours, Human machine interaction, Immersive, Nonlinear index, Psychological effects, regression analysis, Regression modelling, Uncanny, Uncanny valley, Virtual environments, virtual reality},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {inproceedings}

}

@inproceedings{brideau-duquetteWhenSexyAvatars2025,

title = {When Sexy Avatars Get Weird: How Brain Asymmetry and Oculomotor Dynamics Navigate the Uncanny},

author = {M. Brideau-Duquette and S. S. -P. Côté and P. Charbonneau and P. Renaud},

editor = {Itthipuripat S. and Ascoli G.A. and Li A. and Pat N. and Kuai H.},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105002448490?origin=resultslist},

doi = {10.1007/978-981-96-3294-7_10},

isbn = {03029743 (ISSN); 978-981963293-0 (ISBN)},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-01-01},

booktitle = {Lect. Notes Comput. Sci.},

volume = {15541 LNAI},

pages = {121–139},

publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH},

abstract = {This study explores the psychological effects of human-machine interaction, particularly focusing on the phenomenon of the uncanny valley within the context of virtual reality (VR). This study specifically investigates the relationship between oculomotor dynamics, EEG asymmetry, and perceived uncanniness in an immersive setting with a realistic human avatar that can generate uncanny feelings. Participants engaged in a VR scenario designed to optimize their sexual interest. Eye-tracking and EEG data were collected during these interactions to assess the predictors of uncanniness. The final regression model identified significant predictors, including EEG asymmetry in frontal and parietal regions and nonlinear indices of gaze behavior. The findings suggest that the more a participants’ attention was attracted towards specific cues, the higher the uncanniness. The interplay between EEG asymmetries and gaze behavior furthermore indicates that these physiological and behavioral responses are closely linked to the perception of uncanniness, offering insights into how humans interact with increasingly lifelike technologies. These insights contribute to a better understanding of HMI’s potential and may inform the development of more engaging and psychologically attuned virtual content. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2025.},

note = {Journal Abbreviation: Lect. Notes Comput. Sci.},

keywords = {Brain, Embodied Computing, Eye-tracking, Gaze behaviours, Human machine interaction, Immersive, Nonlinear index, Psychological effects, regression analysis, Regression modelling, Uncanny, Uncanny valley, Virtual environments, virtual reality},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {inproceedings}

}

@inproceedings{brideau-duquetteWhenSexyAvatars2025a,

title = {When Sexy Avatars Get Weird: How Brain Asymmetry and Oculomotor Dynamics Navigate the Uncanny},

author = {M. Brideau-Duquette and S. S. -P. Côté and P. Charbonneau and P. Renaud},

editor = {Itthipuripat S. and Ascoli G.A. and Li A. and Pat N. and Kuai H.},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105002448490&doi=10.1007%2F978-981-96-3294-7_10&partnerID=40&md5=ced02f5a8061a51f213078ce6d6635f3},

doi = {10.1007/978-981-96-3294-7_10},

isbn = {03029743 (ISSN); 978-981963293-0 (ISBN)},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-01-01},

booktitle = {Lect. Notes Comput. Sci.},

volume = {15541 LNAI},

pages = {121–139},

publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH},

abstract = {This study explores the psychological effects of human-machine interaction, particularly focusing on the phenomenon of the uncanny valley within the context of virtual reality (VR). This study specifically investigates the relationship between oculomotor dynamics, EEG asymmetry, and perceived uncanniness in an immersive setting with a realistic human avatar that can generate uncanny feelings. Participants engaged in a VR scenario designed to optimize their sexual interest. Eye-tracking and EEG data were collected during these interactions to assess the predictors of uncanniness. The final regression model identified significant predictors, including EEG asymmetry in frontal and parietal regions and nonlinear indices of gaze behavior. The findings suggest that the more a participants’ attention was attracted towards specific cues, the higher the uncanniness. The interplay between EEG asymmetries and gaze behavior furthermore indicates that these physiological and behavioral responses are closely linked to the perception of uncanniness, offering insights into how humans interact with increasingly lifelike technologies. These insights contribute to a better understanding of HMI’s potential and may inform the development of more engaging and psychologically attuned virtual content. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2025.},

keywords = {Brain, Embodied Computing, Eye-tracking, Gaze behaviours, Human machine interaction, Immersive, Nonlinear index, Psychological effects, regression analysis, Regression modelling, Uncanny, Uncanny valley, Virtual environments, virtual reality},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {inproceedings}

}

@inproceedings{chabot_pervasive_2024,

title = {Pervasive Teledildonics: How AI Aims to Impact Human sexuality},

author = {E. Chabot and E. Jaworski and P. Renaud},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105007140928&doi=10.1109%2FWI-IAT62293.2024.00146&partnerID=40&md5=0e1c4d50642661b589db24542641bdf0},

doi = {10.1109/WI-IAT62293.2024.00146},

isbn = {979-833150494-6 (ISBN)},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-01-01},

booktitle = {Proc. - IEEE/WIC Int. Conf. Web Intell. Intell. Agent Technol., WI-IAT},

pages = {898–903},

publisher = {Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.},

address = {Bangkok, Thailand},

abstract = {Since the Covid-19 pandemic, sexual technology sales have increased all over the world, especially for devices allowing users to connect with each other or the internet. The convergence of sexualtechnology with pervasivecomputing and artificial intelligence (AI) introduces a new era of human-robot interactions. Sexual technology, ranging from smart sex toys to humanoid sex robots, now incorporates pervasive computing principles and/or AI to enhance intimate experiences. These devices leverage ubiquitous computing capabilities, adaptability, and context awareness to increase sexual satisfaction and integrate into users' lives. The integration of these technologies into intimate interactions raises questions on how these changes will affect different Webs of Life, in eluding but not limited to, the Web of People, the Web of Things and the Web of Health. From health and cybersecurity risks to the reshaping of human-human and human-robot interactions, this paper addresses the challenges at the intersection of sexual technologies, pervasive computing, AI and human-machine interactions. Emphasizing the importance of monitoring changes and increasing cybersecurity to create safe, consensual, and secure intimate experiences. © 2024 IEEE.},

keywords = {Ambient intelligence, Anthropomorphic robots, Artificial intelligence, Artificial life, Capability awareness, Computing capability, Context- awareness, Cyber security, Human machine interaction, human-machine interactions, Humans-robot interactions, Industrial robots, Intelligent computing, Intelligent robots, Intelligent systems, Monitoring change, pervasive computing, Robot learning, Sexual satisfaction, sexual technologies, Sexual technology, Social robots, Teledildonic, teledildonics},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {inproceedings}

}

@inproceedings{chabotPervasiveTeledildonicsHow2024,

title = {Pervasive Teledildonics: How AI Aims to Impact Human sexuality},

author = {E. Chabot and E. Jaworski and P. Renaud},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105007140928&doi=10.1109%2FWI-IAT62293.2024.00146&partnerID=40&md5=0e1c4d50642661b589db24542641bdf0},

doi = {10.1109/WI-IAT62293.2024.00146},

isbn = {979-833150494-6 (ISBN)},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-01-01},

booktitle = {Proc. - IEEE/WIC Int. Conf. Web Intell. Intell. Agent Technol., WI-IAT},

pages = {898–903},

publisher = {Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.},

abstract = {Since the Covid-19 pandemic, sexual technology sales have increased all over the world, especially for devices allowing users to connect with each other or the internet. The convergence of sexualtechnology with pervasivecomputing and artificial intelligence (AI) introduces a new era of human-robot interactions. Sexual technology, ranging from smart sex toys to humanoid sex robots, now incorporates pervasive computing principles and/or AI to enhance intimate experiences. These devices leverage ubiquitous computing capabilities, adaptability, and context awareness to increase sexual satisfaction and integrate into users' lives. The integration of these technologies into intimate interactions raises questions on how these changes will affect different Webs of Life, in eluding but not limited to, the Web of People, the Web of Things and the Web of Health. From health and cybersecurity risks to the reshaping of human-human and human-robot interactions, this paper addresses the challenges at the intersection of sexual technologies, pervasive computing, AI and human-machine interactions. Emphasizing the importance of monitoring changes and increasing cybersecurity to create safe, consensual, and secure intimate experiences. © 2024 IEEE.},

keywords = {Ambient intelligence, Anthropomorphic robots, Artificial intelligence, Artificial life, Capability awareness, Computing capability, Context- awareness, Cyber security, Human machine interaction, human-machine interactions, Humans-robot interactions, Industrial robots, Intelligent computing, Intelligent robots, Intelligent systems, Monitoring change, pervasive computing, Robot learning, Sexual satisfaction, sexual technologies, Sexual technology, Social robots, Teledildonic, teledildonics},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {inproceedings}

}