46 人物專訪 • EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW 澳大新語 • 2025 UMAGAZINE 31 ‘It’s about keeping communication channels open,’ Prof Spapé explains. ‘At the very least, students learn how research works in other countries and improve their English communication skills. But more often, these exchanges spark new ideas and lead to collaborative projects. Just last month, we held a productive online session with Finnish scholars to optimise some joint research initiatives.’ Making Technology an Extension of the Body Prof Spapé and his team are working to translate the brain’s subjective consciousness into controllable actions. More specifically, their work focuses on teaching machines to truly understand the nuances of tactile feedback. ‘This foundational research will open up new possibilities for human-machine interaction and has game-changing implications for the future of smart prosthetic limbs and remote collaboration,’ Prof Spapé explains. ‘Perhaps in the near future, technology will no longer feel like a separate, external device, but instead function as a natural extension of the human body.’ Deciphering the brain’s consciousness to redefine brain-computer interaction is an extremely challenging pursuit. Inspired by the cognitive psychologist Prof Geoffrey Hinton, the 2024 Nobel laureate in physics, whom he deeply admires, Prof Spapé remains passionate about artificial neural networks and machine learning. He is committed to unravelling the mysteries of consciousness to fundamentally reshape the ways humans and machines interact. ‘I hope to leave my mark on this journey. Through groundbreaking discoveries, my goal is to establish the theoretical and technological foundations for a new era of human-machine symbiosis.’ Netherlands, the first time I saw and understood EEG brainwaves—those messy, jiggly lines—it felt like the brain was whispering its secrets to me.’ This revelation reshaped Prof Spapé’s academic journey and deepened his commitment to neuroscience. After completing his studies at Leiden University, he pursued postdoctoral research at the University of Nottingham in the UK, where he focused on the electrophysiology of motor control. There, he delved into signal processing and immersed himself in the world of neurons and circuits. He then spent four years at the Helsinki Institute for Information Technology in Finland, studying computer-mediated touch while collaborating with leading experts in computer science. However, along the way, Prof Spapé had a profound realisation. ‘At heart, I’ve always been a psychologist. I want to understand how the mind works, not just the brain,’ he reflects. ‘That’s why I eventually returned to psychology departments, first in Liverpool and later in Helsinki. To me, neuroscience and computer science are critical tools to uncover the mysteries of the mind. But to make a global impact, there needs to be an equal partnership between psychology and technology.’ Throughout his career, Prof Spapé has been dedicated to interdisciplinary collaboration, working closely with computer scientists and engineers to achieve research breakthroughs. Now at UM, he leverages his European academic network to broaden students’ international research perspectives. One of his initiatives—which he humorously refers to as his ‘spy-vs-spy operation’—involves arranging regular online meetings between his students and their counterparts in Helsinki, fostering meaningful cross-border collaboration. Michiel Spapé是澳門大學科技學院副教授、協同創新研究院認知與腦科學研究中心副教授，於荷蘭萊頓大學獲得心理學博士學位，隨後分別在英國 諾丁漢大學、芬蘭赫爾辛基資訊技術研究所、英國利物浦希望大學，以及芬蘭赫爾辛基大學從事大腦與意識研究。曾撰寫或合著74篇同行評審文章、 兩本教科書和一項專利，並擔任Psychological Research和Frontiers in Psychology: Cognition的副編輯。 Michiel Spapé is an associate professor in the Centre for Cognitive and Brain Sciences and the Faculty of Science and Technology at the University of Macau. He obtained his PhD in psychology from Leiden University in the Netherlands and went on to conduct research on the brain and mind at the University of Nottingham in the UK, the Helsinki Institute for Information Technology in Finland, Liverpool Hope University in the UK, and the University of Helsinki in Finland. He has published 74 peer-reviewed articles, authored two textbooks, and holds a patent. Prof Spapé also serves as an associate editor of Psychological Research and Frontiers in Psychology: Cognition.
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