Current Research interests
My research addresses a central question in cognitive and systems neuroscience: how the coordination of brain activity into large-scale functional networks can enable conscious access to sensory information and cognitive performance. In particular I aim to characterize how non-invasive brain stimulation and/or cognitive tasks reshape network-level brain communication in healthy humans. This work builds on a 15-year trajectory combining non-invasive brain stimulation, electrophysiological signal analysis, and advanced computational approaches to address research questions in cognitive neuroscience, mainly exploiting the combination of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and EEG. Notably, I was among the first scientists to develop and systematically apply functional connectivity metrics to TMS-EEG data, providing causal evidence that oscillatory network dynamics shape conscious somatosensory perception and mirror-touch mechanisms.
Collaborations
I am part of different national and international scientific societies that focus on the study of human neuropsychology, neurophysiology, and cognitive neuroscience.
Prof. Garbarini, Dr. Fossataro, University of Torino, IT. Neural bases of body ownership
Prof. Bolognini, University of Milano-Bicocca, IT. NiBS and self-consciousness.
Prof. Di Russo, Uni Roma "Foro Italico", and Dott. Bianco, Uni Pavia, IT. Neural bases of motor preparation
Prof. Canessa and Prof. Mattavelli, IUSS Pavia, Prof. Oliveri, University of Palermo, Prof. Romero Lauro, University of Milano-Bicocca, Chronic Pain treatment through personalized tDCS.
Dr. Fiocchi and Dr. Parazzini, IEIIT, National Council of Research, Italy, and Prof. G Basso, 3T MRI Lab, University of Milano – Bicocca, IT. Computational approach for individualized tDCS protocols.
Dr Pascarella, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Rome, Italy and Dr. Luria, University of Genova. Application of Bayesian methods for TMS-EEG source localization.
Prof. Gasparini, University of Milano – Bicocca, IT. Machine learning on TMS-EEG data.
T4TE: Open large-scale initiative to improve the quality of TMS-EEG research. https://www.t4te.org/home.
SensQ: Multicentric collaborative initiative for the validation of a questionnaire to collect unintended effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).
PRIN 2022: A multidisciplinary approach for the definition of the stimulation dose for transcranial electrical stimulation tuned by individual brain variability – CUP H53D23005480006- 240.381€. Role Principal Investigator.
PNRR: Innovative neuromodulation treatments for chronic pain: assessing and predicting the effects of personalized High-Definition protocols for transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (HD-tDCS) - 1.000.000 €. Role: Principal collaborator under 40.