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“Tom and Pepper Lab”. Robotics for cognitive stimulation and social skills: A preliminary study
Giusi Figliano, Laura Miraglia, Fatuma Manzi, L Ruggerone, Matteo Nazzario, Irene Borgini, Massimo Donini, V Martellosio et al.. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 2025-01-22
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Dementia affects over 55 million people globally, with early cognitive decline, such as Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), often preceding neurodegenerative diseases. This decline impairs memory, attention, and Theory of Mind (ToM). Early intervention is crucial, and assistive robotics has emerged as a promising non-pharmacological approach in this regard. This preliminary study evaluated the acceptability of the social robot Pepper and tested the structured cognitive and socio-cognitive training delivered by the robot. Nine participants, aged 68-93, ranging from mild to moderate dementia, were engaged in a four-week training program. A qualitative analysis of the interviews and video recordings of the training sessions was conducted. Results showed high participant engagement, increased autonomy and focus, and positive emotional responses. These data are promising in demonstrating structured training implemented in social robots has the potential to positively impact cognitive function and emotional well-being through structured training.
Key findings
- Results showed high participant engagement, increased autonomy and focus, and positive emotional responses.
Why it matters
This preliminary study of nine participants with mild to moderate dementia found high engagement, increased autonomy and focus, and positive emotional responses during four weeks of training with the social robot Pepper. It did not measure whether this training improves or prevents Alzheimer's disease, so any cognitive or emotional benefit remains unproven.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 40/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Asian Journal of Psychiatry) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Asian Journal of Psychiatry: journal h-index 98 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 13 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 4.3 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 14.8× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 13 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Davide Massaro: h-index 29 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore: institution h-index 606 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 39892296) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 40 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2025.104375
- PubMed: 39892296
- Original source →
- Free full text: Asian Journal of Psychiatry →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Figliano, G., Miraglia, L., Manzi, F., Ruggerone, L., Nazzario, M., Borgini, I., et al. (2025). “Tom and Pepper Lab”. Robotics for cognitive stimulation and social skills: A preliminary study. Asian Journal of Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2025.104375
Vancouver
Figliano G, Miraglia L, Manzi F, Ruggerone L, Nazzario M, Borgini I, et al. “Tom and Pepper Lab”. Robotics for cognitive stimulation and social skills: A preliminary study. Asian Journal of Psychiatry. 2025. doi:10.1016/j.ajp.2025.104375. PMID: 39892296.
BibTeX
@article{figliano2025-39892296,
author = {Figliano, Giusi and Miraglia, Laura and Manzi, Fatuma and Ruggerone, L and Nazzario, Matteo and Borgini, Irene and Donini, Massimo and Martellosio, V and others},
title = {{“Tom and Pepper Lab”. Robotics for cognitive stimulation and social skills: A preliminary study}},
journal = {Asian Journal of Psychiatry},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1016/j.ajp.2025.104375},
pmid = {39892296},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2025.104375}
}
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