Research & Expertise news at HSE University

A team of scientists from the HSE Centre for Cognition & Decision Making has studied how food flavours affect brain activity, facial muscles, and emotions. Using near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), they demonstrated that pleasant food activates brain areas associated with positive emotions, while neutral food stimulates regions linked to negative emotions and avoidance. This approach offers a simpler way to predict the market success of products and study eating disorders. The study was published in the journal Food Quality and Preference.

Researchers at HSE University and MIPT have investigated how the composition of electrons in a superconductor influences the emergence of intertype superconductivity—a unique state in which superconductors display unusual properties. It was previously believed that intertype superconductivity occurs only in materials with minimal impurities. However, the scientists discovered that the region of intertype superconductivity not only persists but can also expand in materials with a high concentration of impurities and defects. In the future, these superconductors could contribute to the development of highly sensitive sensors and detectors. The study has been published in Frontiers of Physics.

HSE University hosted a presentation of the Centre for South Arabian Studies, established under the Institute for Oriental and Classical Studies at the Faculty of Humanities. The centre’s work aims to enhance the study of languages and cultures while fostering closer collaboration with scholars and universities in the Arabian Peninsula. The presentation was attended by HSE Rector Nikita Anisimov and diplomats from Yemen, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

On 24 February, 2025, the HSE campus on Pokrovka hosted a meeting with a delegation from the Committee for Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia. HSE Vice Rector and Head of the BRICS Expert Council–Russia Victoria Panova took part in the event alongside representatives from the university’s academic departments and research centres. During the meeting, the parties discussed key areas for strengthening academic and expert cooperation, as well as joint initiatives in science and technology, including those within the BRICS framework.

The International Education Observatory initiative, launched by HSE University to focus on expert evaluation, analytics, and joint scientific research, has successfully completed the formation of a research network across all BRICS nations. South Africa was the final link, with the University of Pretoria and the University of the Witwatersrand joining experts from Russia, China, India, and Brazil. 

The work results of world-class research centres were presented at the Government Coordination Centre. Leonid Gokhberg, First Vice Rector of HSE University, spoke about the main scientific results of the Human Capital Multidisciplinary Research Centre.

Researchers at HSE MIEM have successfully demonstrated the effective operation of a 6G wireless communication channel at sub-THz frequencies. The device transmits data at 12 Gbps and maintains signal stability by automatically switching when blocked. These metrics comply with international 6G standards. An article published on arXiv, an open-access electronic repository, provides a description of certain elements of the system.

A team of researchers from the HSE Faculty of Social Sciences has adapted the widely used System Usability Scale (SUS) for Russian-speaking users, testing the adaptation on a sample of 657 participants. A validity test confirmed that the translated questionnaire maintains its structure and reliability, enabling an accurate assessment of system usability. The final adapted version of the SUS questionnaire can be used in both research and interface design practice. The paper has been published in Psychological Studies.