RESEARCH PROJECTS
MOTOR CONTROL ACROSS THE ADULT LIFE-SPAN
There is a rich body of literature documenting age-related patterns of brain activity associated with the changes in cognitive function that are typical of normal aging (Park and Reuter-Lorenz, 2009). We are currently investigating the neurofunctional compensatory processes associated with aging in the domain of motor functions, using a variety of motor tasks, ranging from simple to complex movements, with both explicit and implicit tasks also during joint action paradigms.
MOTOR CONTROL IN ORTHOPAEDIC PATIENTS
The purpose of this research project is to investigate with the functional magnetic resonance technique, the effects on cortical activity of prolonged immobilization or a reduced use of the upper or lower limbs resulting from orthopaedic surgery (rheumatoid arthroplasty and knee arthroplasty). In addition, we are currently evaluating the behavioural and neurophysiological impact of a mental training based on motor imagination tasks in immobilized patients. This research topic is the result of the collaboration with the Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Unit (Dr Catia Pelosi) and the Orthopaedic Surgery Units (Prof. Valerio Sansone, Dr Maurilio Bruno and Dr Nicola Ursino).
MOTOR CONTROL IN MOVEMENT DISORDERS
The aim of this research project is to characterize, with Functional Magnetic Resonance (fMRI), the abnormalities of control and motor awareness in patients with extrapyramidal syndromes, such as Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome or Parkinson’s Disease. This is done by comparing fMRI activation patterns recorded in these patients during the execution of different motor tasks with those measured in healthy subjects. This research project is the result of the collaboration with the Movement Disorders Centre of IRCCS Galeazzi (Prof. Mauro Porta and Dr. Domenico Servello).
FOOD PERCEPTION AN OBESITY
In this research project, we are currently studying the cognitive and neural processes associated with implicit and explicit processing of food stimuli. Moreover, we are also investigating the behavioural and neurofunctional effects of deep repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (deep rTMS) on implicit and explicit attitudes towards food in obese patients.
This research project is the result of the collaboration with Prof. Livio Luzi and Dr. Anna Ferrulli of the endocrinology Unit of Policlinico San Donato.
COGNITIVE AND NEURAL BASES OF READING
This project aims at exploring the cognitive and neural bases of reading by means of behavioral and neurofunctional techniques. In particular, we are studying highly-proficient late-acquisition bilinguals in order to describe the effect of being first exposed to a transparent -rather than opaque- orthography on reading performance.Â
In addition, we aim at shedding light on the reading abilities of the right hemisphere in people with a different degree of functional brain lateralization.