Research & Expertise news at HSE University

Specialists at the HSE Centre for Language and Brain have developed an application for diagnosing language disorders (aphasia), which can result from head injuries, strokes, or other neurological conditions. AutoRAT is the first standardised digital tool in Russia for assessing the presence and severity of language disorders. The application is available on RuStore and can be used on mobile and tablet devices running the Android operating system.

Artificial intelligence can help in many areas, from legal contracts and business to medical examinations. But is it worth sharing the most intimate, ‘too human’ things with it—feelings, ideas, plans, developments, and innermost desires? Anna Kartasheva, a researcher at the International Laboratory for Applied Network Research at HSE University, discusses this in an interview with IQ Media.

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.

From February 24 to 26, 2025, HSE University held its first training seminar in Iran, titled ‘BRICS: Structure and Cooperation Platforms Workshop.’ The seminar focused on cooperation between BRICS countries and the key mechanisms of the organisation. It was organised at the request of the Iranian side by the BRICS Expert Council – Russia, based at HSE, and the Centre for Progress and Development of Iran Presidency (CPDI), in partnership with Iran's largest technology park, Pardis Technology Park, as well as Shahid Beheshti University, the Iran National Innovation Fund (INIF), and the Iranian International Innovation District (IIID).

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.