Next Article in Journal
Neurocognitive Impairment After COVID-19: Mechanisms, Phenotypes, and Links to Alzheimer’s Disease
Previous Article in Journal
Brain, Cognition, and Psychoanalysis: A Scoping Review
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Brain Sciences
Volume 15
Issue 6
10.3390/brainsci15060563
brainsci-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Study Protocol

Understanding COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: A Neuroscientific Protocol

by
Francesca Pisano
1,
Simona Massimino
1,*,
Giuseppe Craparo
2,
Gabriella Martino
3,
Francesco Tomaiuolo
3,
Vanni Caruso
4,
Alessio Avenanti
5,6 and
Carmelo Mario Vicario
1
1
Department of Cognitive Science, University of Messina, 98121 Messina, Italy
2
Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, Kore University of Enna, 94100 Enna, Italy
3
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy
4
School of Psychological Sciences, Psychology, University of Tasmania, Launceston, TAS 7248, Australia
5
Centro Studi e Ricerche in Neuroscienze Cognitive, Dipartimento di Psicologia “Renzo Canestrari”, Università di Bologna, Campus di Cesena, 47521 Cesena, Italy
6
Centro de Investigación en Neuropsicología y Neurociencias Cognitivas, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca 3460000, Chile
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Brain Sci. 2025, 15(6), 563; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15060563 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 12 May 2025 / Revised: 15 May 2025 / Accepted: 21 May 2025 / Published: 24 May 2025
Versions Notes

Abstract

Background: Vaccine hesitancy (VH) is a significant public health challenge, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite extensive research on the psychological and socio-political determinants of VH, its psychophysiological mechanisms remain unexplored. Grounded in the Somatic Marker Hypothesis, this study aims to investigate the neurophysiological and affective processes underlying VH. Methods: Two experiments will assess sensorimotor resonance and affective processes in VH. In the first experiment, motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) will be recorded from the deltoid and extensor carpi radialis muscles while participants view images of people receiving COVID-19 and influenza vaccines, as well as blood injections (Block 1), and images of vial containing the same substances (Block 2). Facial electromyographic (EMG) activity will measure disgust and fear responses. In the second experiment, skin conductance response (SCR) will be recorded during a virtual reality-based fear conditioning and extinction paradigm. Expected Outcomes: We hypothesize that vaccine-hesitant individuals will exhibit altered sensorimotor resonance, higher affective responses to vaccination stimuli, and impaired fear extinction learning. Psychological traits such as disgust sensitivity, paranoia, anxiety, and dogmatism are expected to be associated with VH. Conclusion: By identifying the psychophysiological mechanisms of VH, this study will contribute to developing effective vaccine promotion strategies to address future public health emergencies.
Keywords: COVID-19; vaccine hesitancy; psychophysiology; embodiment; motor evoked potentials; electromyography; skin conductance response; virtual reality; psychological traits; research methods COVID-19; vaccine hesitancy; psychophysiology; embodiment; motor evoked potentials; electromyography; skin conductance response; virtual reality; psychological traits; research methods

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Pisano, F.; Massimino, S.; Craparo, G.; Martino, G.; Tomaiuolo, F.; Caruso, V.; Avenanti, A.; Vicario, C.M. Understanding COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: A Neuroscientific Protocol. Brain Sci. 2025, 15, 563. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15060563

AMA Style

Pisano F, Massimino S, Craparo G, Martino G, Tomaiuolo F, Caruso V, Avenanti A, Vicario CM. Understanding COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: A Neuroscientific Protocol. Brain Sciences. 2025; 15(6):563. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15060563

Chicago/Turabian Style

Pisano, Francesca, Simona Massimino, Giuseppe Craparo, Gabriella Martino, Francesco Tomaiuolo, Vanni Caruso, Alessio Avenanti, and Carmelo Mario Vicario. 2025. "Understanding COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: A Neuroscientific Protocol" Brain Sciences 15, no. 6: 563. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15060563

APA Style

Pisano, F., Massimino, S., Craparo, G., Martino, G., Tomaiuolo, F., Caruso, V., Avenanti, A., & Vicario, C. M. (2025). Understanding COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: A Neuroscientific Protocol. Brain Sciences, 15(6), 563. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15060563

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop