Milou Stella
Biographic Data
| ID | 220062 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Milou Stella |
| GIVEN NAMES | Milou |
| FAMILY NAME | Stella |
| SIGNATURE | STELLA M |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Trento |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-1810-9699 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 11 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 1 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 11 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2020 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
YSocial
This paper introduces YSocial, a new-generation virtual twin designed to replicate an online social media platform. Digital and virtual twins are virtual replicas of physical systems that allow for advanced analyses, control, experimentation, and scenario simulations. In the case of social media, a virtual twin such as YSocial provides a powerful tool for researchers to simulate and understand complex online interactions. YSocial leverages state-…
Cognitive Networks for Knowledge Modeling
In this paper, we introduce the reader to the field of cognitive network science, that is, the application of network science methods to study human cognition and knowledge structures. Cognitive networks are representations of associative knowledge between concepts in a cognitive system apt at acquiring, storing, processing and producing language, that is, the mental lexicon. In a cognitive network, nodes represent concepts with links expressing …
Forma mentis networks predict creativity ratings of short texts via interpretable artificial intelligence in human and AI-simulated raters
Creativity is a fundamental skill of human cognition. We use textual forma mentis networks (TFMN) to extract network (semantic/syntactic associations) and emotional features from approximately one thousand human-, GPT3.5-, and Sonnet 3.7-generated stories. Using Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) we test whether features relative to Mednick’s associative theory of creativity can explain creativity ratings assigned by humans or AI raters. U…
Lagged predictors of psychological capital in junior high school students
Psychological capital (PsyCap)—a higher-order construct comprising hope, self-efficacy, resilience, and optimism—is increasingly studied in educational settings, yet its antecedents remain underexplored. This study aimed to identify longitudinal psychosocial predictors of PsyCap in adolescents using a machine learning framework. We analyzed data from 283 Italian junior high school students (aged ~12–13) who completed validated self-report measure…
Cognitive modelling of concepts in the mental lexicon with multilayer networks
The mental lexicon is a complex cognitive system representing information about the words/concepts that one knows. Over decades psychological experiments have shown that conceptual associations across multiple, interactive cognitive levels can greatly influence word acquisition, storage, and processing. How can semantic, phonological, syntactic, and other types of conceptual associations be mapped within a coherent mathematical framework to study…
Voices of rape
Past studies of sexual assault have found that passive voice descriptions of rape elicit an increased perception of victim responsibility compared to active voice narratives (Bohner, 2001), contributing to victim blaming and the perpetuation of rape myths. Building on this, we investigate the relationship between passive/active voice usage and perception, but from the perspective of rape survivors as disclosed in their online rape narratives. We …
The word–sentence–construction task versus the verbal fluency task
To raise a village, fall far from the tree
How can we understand queer kinship as it is experienced in the present, without inadvertently fixing its meaning, ignoring the (in)flexibility of memory, or failing to capture its continued evolution? We argue that through recognition of the stickiness of family and kinship characterized variously by pain, joy, tradition, contrariness, and connection, we can find routes to collectively imagine queer futures. Based on an ongoing collaboration bet…
Predicting openness to experience via a multiplex cognitive network approach
Forma Mentis Networks Reconstruct How Italian High Schoolers and International STEM Experts Perceive Teachers, Students, Scientists, and School
This study investigates how students and researchers shape their knowledge and perception of educational topics. The mindset or forma mentis of 159 Italian high school students and of 59 international researchers in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) are reconstructed through forma mentis networks, i.e., cognitive networks of concepts connected by free associations and enriched with sentiment labels. The layout of conceptual associ…
Social discourse and reopening after Covid-19
Although the COVID-19 pandemic has not been quenched yet, many countries lifted nationwide lockdowns to restart their economies, with citizens discussing the facets of reopening over social media. Investigating these online messages can open a window into people’s minds, unveiling their overall perceptions, their fears and hopes about the reopening. This window is opened and explored here for Italy, the first European country to adopt and release…
Forma Mentis Networks Reconstruct How Italian High Schoolers and International STEM Experts Perceive Teachers, Students, Scientists, and School
This study investigates how students and researchers shape their knowledge and perception of educational topics. The mindset or forma mentis of 159 Italian high school students and of 59 international researchers in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) are reconstructed through forma mentis networks, i.e., cognitive networks of concepts connected by free associations and enriched with sentiment labels. The layout of conceptual associ…
Social discourse and reopening after Covid-19
Although the COVID-19 pandemic has not been quenched yet, many countries lifted nationwide lockdowns to restart their economies, with citizens discussing the facets of reopening over social media. Investigating these online messages can open a window into people’s minds, unveiling their overall perceptions, their fears and hopes about the reopening. This window is opened and explored here for Italy, the first European country to adopt and release…
Predicting openness to experience via a multiplex cognitive network approach
Cognitive modelling of concepts in the mental lexicon with multilayer networks
The mental lexicon is a complex cognitive system representing information about the words/concepts that one knows. Over decades psychological experiments have shown that conceptual associations across multiple, interactive cognitive levels can greatly influence word acquisition, storage, and processing. How can semantic, phonological, syntactic, and other types of conceptual associations be mapped within a coherent mathematical framework to study…
Voices of rape
Past studies of sexual assault have found that passive voice descriptions of rape elicit an increased perception of victim responsibility compared to active voice narratives (Bohner, 2001), contributing to victim blaming and the perpetuation of rape myths. Building on this, we investigate the relationship between passive/active voice usage and perception, but from the perspective of rape survivors as disclosed in their online rape narratives. We …
The word–sentence–construction task versus the verbal fluency task
To raise a village, fall far from the tree
How can we understand queer kinship as it is experienced in the present, without inadvertently fixing its meaning, ignoring the (in)flexibility of memory, or failing to capture its continued evolution? We argue that through recognition of the stickiness of family and kinship characterized variously by pain, joy, tradition, contrariness, and connection, we can find routes to collectively imagine queer futures. Based on an ongoing collaboration bet…
Lagged predictors of psychological capital in junior high school students
Psychological capital (PsyCap)—a higher-order construct comprising hope, self-efficacy, resilience, and optimism—is increasingly studied in educational settings, yet its antecedents remain underexplored. This study aimed to identify longitudinal psychosocial predictors of PsyCap in adolescents using a machine learning framework. We analyzed data from 283 Italian junior high school students (aged ~12–13) who completed validated self-report measure…
YSocial
This paper introduces YSocial, a new-generation virtual twin designed to replicate an online social media platform. Digital and virtual twins are virtual replicas of physical systems that allow for advanced analyses, control, experimentation, and scenario simulations. In the case of social media, a virtual twin such as YSocial provides a powerful tool for researchers to simulate and understand complex online interactions. YSocial leverages state-…
Cognitive Networks for Knowledge Modeling
In this paper, we introduce the reader to the field of cognitive network science, that is, the application of network science methods to study human cognition and knowledge structures. Cognitive networks are representations of associative knowledge between concepts in a cognitive system apt at acquiring, storing, processing and producing language, that is, the mental lexicon. In a cognitive network, nodes represent concepts with links expressing …
Forma mentis networks predict creativity ratings of short texts via interpretable artificial intelligence in human and AI-simulated raters
Creativity is a fundamental skill of human cognition. We use textual forma mentis networks (TFMN) to extract network (semantic/syntactic associations) and emotional features from approximately one thousand human-, GPT3.5-, and Sonnet 3.7-generated stories. Using Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) we test whether features relative to Mednick’s associative theory of creativity can explain creativity ratings assigned by humans or AI raters. U…
Cognition (6 works) · Psychology (5 works) · Creativity (4 works) · Social Psychology (4 works) · Cognitive psychology (3 works) · Computer Science (3 works) · Creativity in Education and Neuroscience (3 works) · Perception (3 works) · Sociology (3 works) · Big Five personality traits (2 works)