Brain Development Lab

Our Mission

Our group focuses on the study of large-scale organization of the brain in both typical and atypical states. The North Star of our research is that fMRI signals are far more than snapshots of brain activity - they are a systems-level observatory for how the brain functions, connects, and develops.

The research interests of our group are all grounded in the curiosity of understanding how the brain operates as a system of functionally interconnected regions.

Key goals of our research are to understand i) how the brain develops across the lifespan, ii) what ensembles of neural connections constitutes a unique brain “fingerprint”, iii) why functional interactions between brain areas are atypical in neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism, and iv) how brain regions dynamically respond to sensory input.

To achieve this, we model the brain as a network by using neurocomputational tools such as functional connectomics. We often integrate the insights we gain from fMRI with those of other brain imaging techniques - such as structural connectivity, brain morphometry and electroencephalography - as well as with neuroscientific resources like transcriptional databases and cognitive atlases.

In the lab, we pursue distinct yet interconnected research directions:

The functional architecture of the brain across states. Over the years, we have extensively investigated the spatiotemporal patterns of intrinsic “functional connectivity” across brain regions by using resting state fMRI. Building on this foundation, we now examine how this architecture dynamically adapts while processing multisensory inputs. For example, by modelling fMRI signals with high naturalistic validity, we aim to provide new insights into how brain responses and functional organization are (a)typically structured over development and in neurodevelopmental conditions.
Unveiling idiosyncrasy in autism. Guided by the principle that no two individuals are alike, we aim to search for the neural basis that makes individuals with autism similar and those that make them different from one another. For example, by applying neurosubtyping methods to fMRI, we have identified two dominant autism groups characterized by distinct and reproducible atypical functional connectivity. By developing precision neurocomputational approaches, we aim to shed light on the origins of inter-individual neural variability in autism.
Not only neural activity: Predictive Brain Morphometry. Cognitive and clinical outcomes in autism are often difficult to predict. Building on this evidence, we assess whether and how brain morphometry and cortical thickness in young children with autism can improve prognosis. By developing MRI-based predictive models, we aim to improve our understaning of evolutive trajectories in autism, with particular attention to those that cannot be primarily explained through behavioral observation.

Who We Are

Marco Pagani

Principal InvestigatorAssistant Professor, PhDmarco.pagani@imtlucca.it

Marco Pagani's short bio

I am a brain imager and cognitive neuroscientists at the IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca in Italy. My research sits at the intersection of neuroimaging, computational modelling and cognition. My unique mixture of background and research interests has given rise to our highly multidisciplinary group, united by the curiosity of understanding how the brain functions, connects, and develops through the lens of functional MRI. At IMT Lucca, I also contribute to the academic community by teaching brain imaging courses at the Doctoral School in Mind, Brain, and Human Thought.

Before establishing the lab, I completed graduate training at CiMeC (University of Trento) and pursued postdoctoral specialization in brain imaging at the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia in Rovereto, Italy. During this period, I developed a strong interest in understanding the neural mechanisms underlying functional interactions between brain regions. I later joined the Child Mind Institute in New York, where I initiated research on brain connectivity across development and in neurodevelopmental conditions, with a particular emphasis on autism.

For updates on our research activities, open positions, events, and other news, visit our LinkedIn page.

Tea Tucic

PhD Studenttea.tucic@imtlucca.it

Tea Tucic's short bio

I am a PhD student in Cognitive, Computational and Social Neurosciences at IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca in Italy. Before starting my PhD, I obtained my bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Niš in Serbia, and my Master’s degree in Psychology, Neuroscience, and Human Sciences at the University of Pavia in Italy, where I developed a strong interest in modelling fMRI data.

My research interest focuses on sensory processing, with a particular interest in how children and adolescents process and perceive visual and auditory stimuli. In my research, I develop and apply brain connectivity and other computational methods to naturalistic fMRI brain scans of typically and atypically developing populations. Overall, I am motivated by the desire to understand how the brain integrates multisensory information in real-world contexts, and how these processes may differ across neurodevelopment. My work aims to contribute to a better understanding of brain functions over development and promote ecologically valid approaches to studying conditions such as autism.

I enjoy hiking, exploring rivers and natural spots, and seeking out the best local ice cream shops

Gioele Angelo Crespi

PhD Studentgioeleangelo.crespi@imtlucca.it

Gioele Angelo Crespi's short bio

I am a PhD student in Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience at the IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca. Before starting my PhD, I obtained a joint master’s degree in psychology from Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele (Milan) and Università della Svizzera Italiana (Lugano), where I developed a strong interest in behavioral and computational neuroscience.

I am driven by the question of how cognition and behavior emerge from the nonlinear interplay between brain structure and function. To this aim I develop personalized methods to study fMRI connectivity and its neural basis, combining neuroimaging, computational modeling, and theoretical approaches. Through this work, I aim to build accurate models that capture individual differences in brain organization, moving beyond the investigation of group-level averages.

Outside academia, I enjoy spending time outdoors - especially trekking, the seaside, and a good aperitif.

Our Research

A complete list of our peer-reviewed publications is available here.

Below is a selection of representative publications highlighting our work.

Pagani M et al. Biological subtyping of autism via cross-species fMRI. Nature Neuroscience, 2026 (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11908180/).

Pagani M et al. mTOR-related synaptic pathology causes autism spectrum disorder-associated functional hyperconnectivity. Nature Communications, 2021. (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-26131-z)

Pagani M et al. Mapping and comparing fMRI connectivity networks across species. Communications Biology, 2024. (https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-023-05629-w).

In this work, we review the stae-of-the-art and future perspectives of cross-species studies. Advances in functional MRI (fMRI) have greatly enhanced our ability to map functional connectivity in the human brain, prompting efforts to apply these approaches to rodents and non-human primates. Here, we show how fMRI can also be used in model organisms, offering the advantage of being combined with a wide range of neuroscience techniques aimed at uncovering the neuronal basis of connectivity. This review highlights connectivity systems that are conserved across evolution, identifies a principal organizational axis within the cortex, and reveals shared spatiotemporal activity patterns across mammalian species. It also explores emerging neurocomputational tools and methodologies that enable direct comparisons and translation of fMRI findings between species. Altogether, this rapidly advancing field holds great promise for deepening our understanding of large-scale brain organization of the mammalian brain.

Our Collaborations

Funding

Over the years, our research have received research funding from the European Union, the Italian Ministry of University and Research, and the Italian Ministry of Health. We have also received inframural funding from the OpenLab initiative at IMT Lucca.

Interested in Join Us?

We have open positions for prospective PhD students interested in pursuing research training within the Doctoral School in Mind, Brain, and Human Thought at IMT Lucca. More info is available at https://mbht.imtlucca.it/.

Joining the lab comes with perks:

Fully funded PhD track for three years
Globally diverse academic environment
The campus is located within the beautiful historic walls of Lucca, Tuscany
Research stay abroad (optional but highly recommended)
Lab is small and I can offer close supervision to all students

We also often have open positions for pre-doctoral research assistants who are interested in developing their research skills before pursuing a doctoral degree, as well as the possibility for master’s students to carry out their tesi di laurea magistrale within our group. For informal inquiries, feel free to reach out to me at marco.pagani@imtlucca.it

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