2026 Francesca Simion: Psychology Researcher – H-Index, Publications & Awards

Discipline name	D-Index	World Ranking	Current World Ranking	National Ranking	Current National Ranking	Publications	Citations
Psychology	49	5640	5238	95	93	125	10647

Francesca Simion publication distribution in Psychology in 2026

The chart shows the distribution of publications by all Research.com ranked scientists in the field of Psychology in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where Francesca Simion sits on this spectrum.

31 publications 705+

This scientist: 125 publications — 35th percentile

35% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 705 publications or more.

Francesca Simion D-index placement in Psychology in 2026

The chart shows the D-index (discipline H-index) distribution of Psychology scientists ranked by Research.com in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where Francesca Simion sits on this spectrum.

30 D-Index 144+

This scientist: 49 D-Index — 52nd percentile

52% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 144 D-Index or more.

Overview

Francesca Simion is affiliated with the University of Padua in Italy and focuses research primarily within the fields of psychology and neuroscience. Their work spans various subfields including social psychology, cognitive neuroscience, developmental and educational psychology, pediatrics, perinatology, child health, and ecology, evolution, behavior, and systematics.

The scientist's research topics cover a wide range of areas, notably:

Child and animal learning development
Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
Primate behavior and ecology
Psychology of moral and emotional judgment
Action observation and synchronization
Infant development and preterm care
Animal behavior and reproduction

Francesca Simion has contributed to multiple papers with notable recent publications including:

"Newborns' sensitivity to speed changes as a building block for animacy perception," 2021, Scientific Reports
"Infants' intention-based evaluations of distributive actions," 2022, Journal of Experimental Child Psychology
"Abnormal visual attention to simple social stimuli in 4-month-old infants at high risk for Autism," 2021, Scientific Reports
"Infants' preferences for approachers over repulsers shift between 4 and 8 months of age," 2022, Aggressive Behavior
"Preschoolers' evaluations of comforting actions towards third parties in different relationship contexts," 2021, Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology

The scientist has frequently published in the following venues:

Scientific Reports
Journal of Experimental Child Psychology
Aggressive Behavior
Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology
European Journal of Developmental Psychology

Francesca Simion has collaborated extensively with several coauthors including Alessandra Geraci, Elisa Di Giorgio, Marco Lunghi, Giorgio Vallortígara, and Lucia Regolin. These partnerships have contributed to multiple joint publications, reflecting a multidisciplinary approach within the wider psychological and neuroscientific research communities.

Best Publications

Eye contact detection in humans from birth

Teresa Farroni;Gergely Csibra;Francesca Simion;Mark H. Johnson

1918
Citations
A predisposition for biological motion in the newborn baby

Francesca Simion;Lucia Regolin;Hermann Bulf

987
Citations
Face preference at birth.

Eloisa Valenza;Francesca Simion;Viola Macchi Cassia;Carlo Umiltà

738
Citations
Can a Nonspecific Bias Toward Top-Heavy Patterns Explain Newborns' Face Preference?

Viola Macchi Cassia;Chiara Turati;Francesca Simion

403
Citations
Infants' use of gaze direction to cue attention: The importance of perceived motion

Teresa Farroni;Mark H. Johnson;Margaret Brockbank;Francesca Simion

323
Citations
Newborns' Preference for Faces: What Is Crucial?.

Chiara Turati;Francesca Simion;Idanna Milani;Carlo Umiltà

272
Citations
Biological motion preference in humans at birth: role of dynamic and configural properties

Lara Bardi;Lucia Regolin;Francesca Simion

264
Citations
Newborns' face recognition: role of inner and outer facial features.

Chiara Turati;Viola Macchi Cassia;Francesca Simion;Irene Leo

243
Citations
Can newborns discriminate between their own cry and the cry of another newborn infant

Marco Dondi;Francesca Simion;Giovanna Caltran

213
Citations
Newborns’ preference for up–down asymmetrical configurations

Francesca Simion;Eloisa Valenza;Viola Macchi Cassia;Chiara Turati

197
Citations
The origins of face perception: specific versus non‐specific mechanisms

Francesca Simion;Viola Macchi Cassia;Chiara Turati;Eloisa Valenza

182
Citations
Newborns' Face Recognition over Changes in Viewpoint.

Chiara Turati;Hermann Bulf;Francesca Simion

177
Citations
Face perception and processing in early infancy: inborn predispositions and developmental changes.

Francesca Simion;Elisa Di Giorgio

174
Citations
Preferential orienting to faces in newborns : A temporal-nasal asymmetry

Francesca Simion;Eloisa Valenza;Carlo Umiltà;Beatrice Dalla Barba

173
Citations
Three-month-olds’ visual preference for faces and its underlying visual processing mechanisms

Chiara Turati;Eloisa Valenza;Irene Leo;Francesca Simion

157
Citations
Intersensory Perception at Birth: Newborns Match Nonhuman Primate Faces and Voices

David J. Lewkowicz;Irene Leo;Francesca Simion

150
Citations
Configural processing at birth: evidence for perceptual organisation.

Teresa Farroni;Eloisa Valenza;Francesca Simion;Carlo Umiltà

147
Citations
Perceptual Completion in Newborn Human Infants.

Eloisa Valenza;Irene Leo;Lucia Gava;Francesca Simion

142
Citations
Inhibition of Return in Newborn Infants

Eloisa Valenza;Francesca Simion;Carlo Umiltà

136
Citations
A mental number line in human newborns

Elisa Di Giorgio;Marco Lunghi;Rosa Rugani;Rosa Rugani;Lucia Regolin

134
Citations
Is the face-perception system human-specific at birth?

Elisa Di Giorgio;Irene Leo;Olivier Pascalis;Francesca Simion

122
Citations

Frequent Co-Authors

Carlo Umiltà University of Padua

Chiara Turati University of Milano-Bicocca

Viola Macchi Cassia University of Milano-Bicocca

Lucia Regolin University of Padua

Giorgio Vallortigara University of Trento

Teresa Farroni University of Padua

Bruno Rossion University of Lorraine

Olivier Pascalis Grenoble Alpes University

Daniel S. Messinger University of Miami

Laila Craighero University of Ferrara

External Links

Personal website of Francesca Simion

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

Related Online Degrees & Career Pathways

If you’re interested in studying Psychology in the USA, there are a variety of related online degrees and career pathways to consider. Many students explore fields such as counseling, social work, or therapy, especially Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT). These roles often require specialized education and certifications, which can vary by state and city.

For example, those curious about how to become a marriage and family therapist in Madison will need to complete approved graduate coursework and supervised clinical experience. Meanwhile, prospective therapists can discover the specific Memphis mft education requirements to align their degree program and licensure process with local standards.

Likewise, learners should review Mesa mft certification requirements and understand local expectations. Each region, such as Miami, presents its own roadmap—learn more about how to become an mft in Miami for regional advice.

Online psychology programs offer flexibility for working professionals and those balancing other commitments. They can be a stepping stone toward numerous rewarding roles in mental health, counseling, and therapy across the country.