2026 Elisabetta Palagi: Psychology Researcher – H-Index, Publications & Awards

Discipline name	D-Index	World Ranking	Current World Ranking	National Ranking	Current National Ranking	Publications	Citations
Psychology	49	5764	5359	101	99	184	7447

Overview

Elisabetta Palagi is affiliated with the University of Pisa in Italy. Their research primarily covers the fields of Psychology and Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology. Within these areas, they focus on subfields including Social Psychology, Developmental Biology, Genetics, Experimental and Cognitive Psychology, and Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics.

The Scientist's work encompasses multiple topics, such as:

Primate Behavior and Ecology
Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
Human-Animal Interaction Studies
Animal Behavior and Reproduction
Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
Child and Animal Learning Development

They have published recent papers including:

The neuroethology of spontaneous mimicry and emotional contagion in human and non-human animals, 2020, Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews
Laughter, play faces and mimicry in animals: evolution and social functions, 2022, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences
Auditory Contagious Yawning Is Highest Between Friends and Family Members: Support to the Emotional Bias Hypothesis, 2020, Frontiers in Psychology
Adult play and the evolution of tolerant and cooperative societies, 2023, Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews
Yawn contagion promotes motor synchrony in wild lions, Panthera leo, 2021, Animal Behaviour

Frequent coauthors include:

Veronica Maglieri
Alban Lemasson
Ivan Norscia
Anna Zanoli
Luca Pedruzzi

The scientist often publishes in the following venues:

Animal Behaviour
Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews
Scientific Reports
Current Zoology
American Journal of Primatology

Best Publications

Contagious yawning in gelada baboons as a possible expression of empathy

E. Palagi;A. Leone;G. Mancini;Pier Francesco Ferrari

280
Citations
Social play in bonobos (Pan paniscus) and chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes): Implications for natural social systems and interindividual relationships.

Elisabetta Palagi

260
Citations
Rough-and-tumble play as a window on animal communication

Elisabetta Palagi;Gordon M. Burghardt;Barbara Smuts;Giada Cordoni

219
Citations
Yawn Contagion and Empathy in Homo sapiens

Ivan Norscia;Elisabetta Palagi

218
Citations
Reconciliation and consolation in captive bonobos (Pan paniscus).

Elisabetta Palagi;Tommaso Paoli;Silvana Borgognini Tarli

197
Citations
Immediate and Delayed Benefits of Play Behaviour: New Evidence from Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)

Elisabetta Palagi;G. Cordoni;S.M. Borgognini Tarli

167
Citations
Rapid mimicry and emotional contagion in domestic dogs

Elisabetta Palagi;Velia Nicotra;Giada Cordoni

167
Citations
Sharing the motivation to play: the use of signals in adult bonobos

Elisabetta Palagi

165
Citations
The neuroethology of spontaneous mimicry and emotional contagion in human and non-human animals.

Elisabetta Palagi;Alessia Celeghin;Marco Tamietto;Piotr Winkielman

158
Citations
In Bonobos Yawn Contagion Is Higher among Kin and Friends

Elisa Demuru;Elisa Demuru;Elisabetta Palagi

147
Citations
Reconciliation in Wolves (Canis lupus): New Evidence for a Comparative Perspective

Giada Cordoni;Elisabetta Palagi

143
Citations
Rapid Facial Mimicry In Geladas

Giada Mancini;Pier Francesco Ferrari;Elisabetta Palagi

129
Citations
Short-term benefits of play behavior and conflict prevention in Pan paniscus

Elisabetta Palagi;Tommaso Paoli;Silvana Borgognini Tarli

128
Citations
Reconciliation and Consolation in Captive Western Gorillas

Giada Cordoni;Elisabetta Palagi;Silvana Borgognini Tarli

123
Citations
Bonobos protect and console friends and kin.

Elisabetta Palagi;Ivan Norscia

121
Citations
Social tolerance and adult play in macaque societies: a comparison with different human cultures

Francesca Ciani;Francesca Ciani;Stefania Dall'Olio;Stefania Dall'Olio;Roscoe Stanyon;Elisabetta Palagi

113
Citations
Fine-tuning of social play in juvenile lowland gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla).

Elisabetta Palagi;Daniela Antonacci;Giada Cordoni

108
Citations
Postconflict third-party affiliation in Canis lupus: do wolves share similarities with the great apes?

Elisabetta Palagi;Giada Cordoni

107
Citations
Yawn contagion in humans and bonobos: emotional affinity matters more than species

Elisabetta Palagi;Ivan Norscia;Elisa Demuru

103
Citations
Not just for fun ! Social play as a springboard for adult social competence in human and non-human primates

Elisabetta Palagi

103
Citations
Stranger to Familiar: Wild Strepsirhines Manage Xenophobia by Playing

Daniela Antonacci;Ivan Norscia;Elisabetta Palagi;Elisabetta Palagi

100
Citations
Ontogenetic Trajectories of Chimpanzee Social Play: Similarities with Humans

Giada Cordoni;Elisabetta Palagi

97
Citations

Frequent Co-Authors

Pier Francesco Ferrari Centre national de la recherche scientifique, CNRS

Roscoe Stanyon University of Florence

Sergio M. Pellis University of Lethbridge

Frans B. M. de Waal Emory University

Piotr Winkielman University of California, San Diego

External Links

Personal website of Elisabetta Palagi

If you think any of the details on this page are incorrect, let us know.

Related Online Degrees & Career Pathways

Exploring a psychology degree in the USA offers a wide range of career opportunities. Many students pursue online counseling or psychology programs, which provide the flexibility to balance studies with work or personal commitments.

To become a licensed therapist or counselor, aspiring professionals must meet specific state requirements, such as those outlined in the San Antonio licensed therapist education requirements. These typically include a relevant graduate degree, supervised clinical experience, and passing a licensing exam.

States like California add their own regulations and steps, as seen in the how to become a licensed therapist in San Diego and licensed therapist requirements in San Francisco guides. These resources highlight the value of region-specific research before committing to a career pathway.

Students aiming to work elsewhere—such as in the Bay Area—should also consult updated standards, for example the San Jose licensed therapist education requirements. No matter your location, accredited online degrees matched to your state’s requirements can guide your journey toward a rewarding psychology career.