Dr Carlo De Lillo

MA (Laurea) Experimental Psychology, University of Rome "La Sapienza" (first class) 1988

Postgraduate diploma in Psychodiagnostics, University of Rome "Sacro Cuore" 1989

Postgraduate specialisation in Neuroscience of States of Consciousness, University of Rome "La Sapienza" 1989

PhD University of Edinburgh 1994

Orun, E., Green, R. J., & De Lillo, C. (2026). Target switching in 2D and 3D visual foraging reveals trade-offs between mental effort, travelling distance and movement speed.  PloS one ,  21 (2), e0342298. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0342298

Palumbo, M., Spinozzi, G., Truppa, V., & De Lillo, C. (2023). Spatial frequency and global–local visual processing in capuchin monkeys (Sapajus spp.) and humans (Homo sapiens). Journal of Comparative Psychology, 137(1), 16–28. https://doi.org/10.1037/com0000344

Mukaetova-Ladinska, E. B., De Lillo, C., Arshad, Q., Subramaniam, H. E., & Maltby, J. (2022). Cognitive Assessment of Dementia: The Need for an Inclusive Design Tool. Current Alzheimer research, 19(4), 265–273. https://doi.org/10.2174/1567205019666220315092008

Smith, A. & De Lillo, C. (2022). Sources of variation in search and foraging: a theoretical perspective. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 75(2) 197–231

Talbot, S., Gerdjikov, T. & De Lillo, C. (2022). Two Variations and One Similarity in Memory Functions Deployed by Mice and Humans to Support Foraging. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 75(2): 245–259.

De Lillo, C. (2019). Variations in the Beneficial Effects of Spatial Structure and Serial Organisation on Working Memory Span in Humans and Other Species. In: Hodgson, T. (eds) Processes of Visuospatial Attention and Working Memory. Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences, vol 41. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/7854_2019_97

Truppa, V. Carducci, P. De Simone, D.A., Bisazza, A. & De Lillo, C. (2017) Global/local processing of hierarchical visual stimuli in a conflict-choice task by tufted capuchin monkeys (Sapajus spp.). Animal Cognition, 20: 347-357.

, 1686.7, Frontiers in psychologyDe Lillo, C., Kirby, M., & Poole, D. (2016). Spatio-Temporal Structure, Path Characteristics, and Perceptual Grouping in Immediate Serial Spatial Recall. 

dx.doi.org/10.1037/com0000018Truppa, V., De Simone, D.A. & De Lillo, C (2016) Short-Term Memory Effects on Visual Global/Local Processing in Tufted Capuchin Monkeys (Sapajus spp.). Journal of Comparative Psychology,

Truppa, V., De Simone, D.A., Piano Mortari, E. & De Lillo, C. (2014). Effects of brief time delays on matching-to-sample abilities in capuchin monkeys (Sapajus spp.). Behavioural Brain Research, 271: 240-248.

De Lillo, C. Kirby, M. & James, F.C. (2014). Spatial working memory in immersive virtual reality foraging: path organisation, travelling distance and search efficiency in humans (Homo sapiens). American Journal of Primatology, 76: 436-446.

, 257:90-99.Behavioural Brain ResearchShah, D.S., Prados, J., Gamble, J. De Lillo, C. & Gibson, C.L. (2013). Sex differences in spatial memory using serial and search tasks.

, 13(Suppl1): S243-246.Cognitive ProcessingDe Lillo, C. & James, F.C. (2012). Spatial working memory for clustered and linear configurations of sites in a virtual reality foraging task.

Behavioural Brain Research, 226: 445-455.) and humans (Homo sapiens). Cebus apellaDe Lillo, C. Palumbo, M., Spinozzi, G. & Giustino, G. (2012). Effects of pattern redundancy and hierarchical grouping on global-local visual processing in monkeys (

De Lillo, C. (2012). The use of spatial structure in working memory: a comparative standpoint. In: D. McFarland, K. Stenning & M. McGonigle-Chalmers (Eds.), The Compex Mind: an Interdisciplinary Approach. Chippenham & Eastbourne, Palgrave-MacMillan, pp. 38-54.

Neuropsychologia. 49: 3870-3880.) and humans. Papio papioFagot, J. & De Lillo, C. (2011). A comparative study of working memory: immediate serial recall in baboons (

. 37(3): 341-352.Journal of Experimental Psychology: Animal Behavior Processes) and humans. Cebus apellaDe Lillo, C. Spinozzi, G., Palumbo, M. & Giustino, G. (2011). Attention allocation modulates the processing of hierarchical visual patterns: a comparative analysis of capuchin monkeys (

. 125(2): 194-206.Journal of Comparative Psychology) spatial search. Canis familiarisAshton, R & De Lillo, C. (2011). Association, inhibition and object permanence in dogs' (

, 22(2): 216-246. European Journal of Cognitive PsychologyDe Lillo, C. & Lesk, V (2010). Spatial clustering and hierarchical coding in immediate serial recall.

Spinozzi, G., De Lillo, C. Truppa, V., Castorina, G. (2009). The Relative Use of Proximity, Shape Similarity and Orientation as Visual Perceptual Grouping Cues in Tufted Capuchin Monkeys (Cebus apella) and Humans (Homo sapiens). Journal of Comparative Psychology.123(1): 56-68

181:96-109Behavioural Brain Research,  ): the role of the spatial organisation of stimulus parts. Cebus apellaDe Lillo, C., Spinozzi, G. & Truppa, V. (2007). Pattern recognition in tufted capuchin monkeys (

Spinozzi, G., De Lillo, C., & Salvi, V. 166: 45-54.Behavioural Brain Research, ). Cebus apella(2006). Local advantage in the visual processing of hierarchical stimuli following manipulations of stimulus size and element numerosity in monkeys (

119(2): 155-165. Cebus apella). Journal of Comparative Psychology, De Lillo, C., Spinozzi, G., Truppa, V. & Naylor, D.M. (2005). A comparative analysis of global and local processing of hierarchical visual stimuli in young children and monkeys (

, 118(3): 297-308. Journal of Comparative Psychology). Cebus apellaSpinozzi G., De Lillo, C. & Castelli, S. (2004). Detection of "Grouped” and "Ungrouped" parts in visual patterns by tufted capuchin monkeys (

, 55(3): 415-426. Brain and CognitionDe Lillo, C. (2004). Imposing structure on a Corsi-type task: evidence for hierarchical organisation based on spatial proximity in serial spatial memory.

117: 15-23. Journal of Comparative Psychology, ). Cebus apellaSpinozzi, G., De Lillo, C. & Truppa, V. (2003). Global and local processing of hierarchical visual stimuli in tufted capuchin monkeys (

24(6): 1057. The Behavioral and Brain Sciences, De Lillo, C. (2001). Robotic search: what's in it for comparative cognition?

4: 61-68.Animal Cognition,De Lillo, C., Floreano, D. & Antinucci, F. (2001) Transitive choices by a simple, fully connected, backpropagation neural network: implications for the comparative study of transitive inference.

112: 353-362. Journal of Comparative Psychology, ) search.Cebus apellaDe Lillo, C., Aversano, M., Tuci, E. & Visalberghi, E., (1998) Spatial constraints and regulatory functions in monkey's (

10: 1-24. International Journal of Comparative Psychology,). Cebus apella) and Tufted Capuchin Monkeys (Homo sapiensDe Lillo, C. & McGonigle, B.O. (1997) The Logic of Searches in Young Children (

, 111: 82-90. Journal of Comparative Psychology). Cebus apellaDe Lillo, C., Visalberghi, E. & Aversano, M. (1997) The Organisation of Exhaustive Searches in a "Patchy" Space by Capuchin Monkeys (

, 81:1-17. Behavioural and Brain ResearchDe Lillo, C. (1996). The serial organisation of behaviour by non-human primates: an evaluation of experimental paradigms.

. VII, 2: 322-326.Sistemi IntelligentiDe Lillo, C. & Visalberghi, E. (1996). Poche scimmie, troppa teoria.

, Nato ASI Series, Serie D: Behavioural and Social Siences, Kluwer Press, Dordrecht, pp. 413-424.Behavioural Brain Research in Naturalistic and Semi-naturalistic Settings: Possibilities and PerspectivesVisalberghi, E. & De Lillo, C. (1995). Understanding primate behaviour: a cooperative effort of field and laboratory research, in E. Alleva, A. Fasolo, H.P. Lipp, L. Nadel & L. Ricceri (Eds.). 

, 15, 2: 275-287. International Journal of Primatology), Cebus apellaDe Lillo, C. & Visalberghi, E. (1994). Transfer Index and Mediational Learning in Tufted Capuchins (

, 12, 3: 277-385. International Journal of Primatology), Cebus apella) and Captive Tufted Capuchins (Macaca fascicularis Vitale, A., Visalberghi., & De Lillo, C. (1990). Responses to a Snake Model in Captive Crab-Eating Macaques (

I am an experienced PhD supervisor and would be interested in supervising projects in the area of memory, working memory, perceptual organisation, executive functioning, search and foraging, also in relation to the variations in these functions caused by ageing and individual differences. 

I am the co-ordinator of undergraduate courses on Information Processing and Cognition and on Clinical and Cognitive Neuropsychology. 

I am the lead of three related MRes programmes in Research  Methods in Psychology, Human Cognitive Neuroscience and the Psychology of Mental Health. I am also the co-ordinator of a course on Professional Research Skills as part of these MRes programmes.

I give lectures on a variety of topics, including: evolutionary psychology, memory and visual perception, cognitive and clinical neuroscience of spatial cognition, visual cognition and executive functions.      

I would be happy to engage with the media for questions related to my areas of research and expertise, including issues related to the evolution of human cognition.

Member of the Experimental Psychology Society

Associate editor for the Special Issue on Sources of Variation in Search and Foraging of the Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology

Evaluator Cyprus Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF)

National Research Council of Italy (CNR) Research Fellowship, 1995-96. 

Student Union Superstar Award for Best Inclusive Practice, 2023.