---
type: source
id: mathur-2020-uncanny-not-confusing
title: 'Uncanny but not confusing: Multisite study of perceptual category confusion in the Uncanny Valley'
authors:
- Maya B. Mathur
- David B. Reichling
- Francesca Lunardini
- et al.
year: 2020
venue: Computers in Human Behavior
volume: '103'
pages: 21-30
doi: 10.1016/j.chb.2019.08.029
peer_review: peer-reviewed-journal
evidence_tier: B
design: Multisite replication and extension of Mathur & Reichling (2016)
modality:
- robot-face
stimuli: Robot faces
n_participants: null
n_note: multisite (not recorded)
topics:
- uncanny-valley
- replication
- valley-shape
summary: The likability valley replicated across sites; perceptual category confusion again did not mediate it.
results:
- metric: Valley replication
  value: replicated
  note: ''
  source_location: null
- metric: Category confusion mediation
  value: not supported
  note: ''
  source_location: null
moderators: []
limitations:
- Robot faces, not synthetic human faces
mechanism_supported:
- against-categorization-ambiguity
verification:
  status: unverified
  confidence: medium
  checked: null
  via: compiler knowledge; DOI not resolved
url: null
pmid: null
pmcid: null
arxiv_id: null
openalex_id: null
oa_url: null
cited_in:
- MR-0002
updated: '2026-10-07'
---

# Uncanny but not confusing: Multisite study of perceptual category confusion in the Uncanny Valley

> **Source record** `mathur-2020-uncanny-not-confusing` · 2020 · Computers in Human Behavior  
> **Evidence tier:** B (peer-reviewed-journal) · **Verification:** unverified (compiler confidence: medium)  
> **Bottom line:** The likability valley replicated across sites; perceptual category confusion again did not mediate it.

## Citation {#citation}

Maya B. Mathur, David B. Reichling, Francesca Lunardini, et al. (2020). Uncanny but not confusing: Multisite study of perceptual category confusion in the Uncanny Valley. *Computers in Human Behavior*, 103, 21-30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2019.08.029

Verification entry (identifiers, resolvers, claims with source locations): [/data/citations.json#mathur-2020-uncanny-not-confusing](/data/citations.json#mathur-2020-uncanny-not-confusing)

## Study design {#design}

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Design | Multisite replication and extension of Mathur & Reichling (2016) |
| Modality | robot-face |
| Stimuli | Robot faces |
| Participants (N) | not recorded |
| N detail | multisite (not recorded) |
| Topics | uncanny-valley, replication, valley-shape |

## Results {#results}

| Metric | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Valley replication | replicated |  |
| Category confusion mediation | not supported |  |

## Mechanism relevance {#mechanism}

`against-categorization-ambiguity`

## Limitations {#limitations}

- Robot faces, not synthetic human faces

## Cited in {#cited-in}

- [MR-0002](/metareports/uncanny-valley-and-synthetic-faces.md): The Uncanny Valley and Synthetic Media: Does It Exist, What Causes It, and Have Deepfakes Crossed It?

## Verification {#verification}

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | `unverified` |
| Compiler confidence | medium |
| Checked on | — |
| Via | compiler knowledge; DOI not resolved |

Values on this page have not all been checked against the full text. Confirm them against the primary source before high-stakes use.