Giacomo's principal research interest concerns the use of non-invasive brain stimulation techniques (i.e., transcranial magnetic stimulation - TMS, transcranial electric stimulation - tES) to investigate the neurophysiological correlates of sensorimotor and cognitive functions in humans, as well as to develop novel neuromodulation approaches for clinical applications acting on cortico-cortical connectivity and cross-modal networks of the human brain. 

Main research lines:

• Development of TMS protocols targeting Hebbian associative plasticity mechanisms to modulate multisensory integration processes and higher-order cognitive networks in healthy individuals and patients with acquired brain injury.

• Neurofunctional correlates of motor cognition, with a particular focus on visuomotor mirroring mechanisms (e.g., motor resonance).

• Plastic properties of the visual system in healthy individuals and in patients with acquired brain injury.

• Investigation of intra- and inter-individual variability in TMS aftereffects to optimize its application and integration with neuroimaging techniques, such as electroencephalography (EEG), with the ultimate goal of improving the use of these methods for identifying diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of clinical conditions.

Francesca’s research focuses on non-invasive brain stimulation techniques and multisensory stimulation to promote neurorehabilitation after stroke, with a particular focus on the visual system, and extends to the development of neuropsychological tools and cognitive rehabilitation approaches in clinical populations.

Main research lines:

• Development of TMS protocols targeting associative plasticity mechanisms in the visual system. 

• Development of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and multisensory stimulation approaches for visual and cognitive neurorehabilitation after occipital stroke. 

• Investigation of occipital stroke effects on retinal integrity and visual system reorganization. 

• Development of neuropsychological assessment and cognitive rehabilitation protocols for visuospatial and cognitive deficits in neurological populations. 

Arianna's principal research interests lie in the investigation of human cognition and its neurophysiological correlates, as well as in the development of innovative approaches for cognitive neurorehabilitation and assessment methods.

Main research lines:

• Brain plasticity and multisensory integration mechanisms supporting cognitive recovery.

• Development of neurorehabilitation protocols for fronto-executive deficits in neurological populations, particularly stroke and acquired brain injuries.

• Development of novel technological assessment methods for cognitive deficits.

• Human-AI interaction and application of innovative technologies to enhance rehabilitation practices and promote functional recovery.

Maria’s principal research interest concerns the neuropsychology of social cognition and behaviour in neurological and psychiatric conditions, with a particular interest in developing and validating tools for evaluating socio-cognitive abilities. Her work aims to bridge the gap between experimental research and clinical practice, promoting the use of psychometrically sound instruments for assessing cognitive abilities.

Main research lines:

• Development and validation of neuropsychological tools.

• Investigation of social cognition and behavioural impairments in neurological and psychiatric disorders.

• Application of statistical and psychometric methods for normative modeling and clinical interpretation.

Alice’s research focuses on the graphomotor, cognitive, and neural features of handwriting and signature production along the continuum from healthy individuals to neurological conditions.

Main research lines:

• Validation of two digital devices for handwriting and signing assessment, and development of normative references for the Italian population;

• Characterization of cognitive mechanisms underlying handwriting and signing, with a focus on their distinct associations with cognitive functioning;

• Exploration of the clinical sensitivity of graphomotor measures in neurological populations (e.g., dementias);

• Analysis of the impact of stroke on handwriting and signing performance, with a focus on cognitive profiles and lesion-symptom associations, explored through lesion-symptom mapping and structural connectivity analyses.

In addition, Alice conducts a separate line of research on deception, focusing on the development and validation of a multimethod (i.e., behavioral and physiological) approach to lie detection.