A5028662414- Neurological disorders and treatments
- Botulinum Toxin and Related Neurological Disorders
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Studies
- Motor Control and Adaptation
- Action Observation and Synchronization
- Parkinson's Disease Mechanisms and Treatments
- Muscle activation and electromyography studies
- Balance, Gait, and Falls Prevention
- Genetic Neurodegenerative Diseases
- Cerebral Palsy and Movement Disorders
- Stroke Rehabilitation and Recovery
- EEG and Brain-Computer Interfaces
- Sport Psychology and Performance
- Vestibular and auditory disorders
- Neuroscience and Music Perception
- Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Neural dynamics and brain function
- Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and Applications
- Trigeminal Neuralgia and Treatments
- Facial Nerve Paralysis Treatment and Research
- Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Functional Brain Connectivity Studies
- Tactile and Sensory Interactions
- Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments
- Gait Recognition and Analysis
University of Genoa
2016-2025
Ospedale Policlinico San Martino
2017-2025
John Wiley & Sons (United States)
2024
Martin University
2020
University of Minnesota
2020
Italian Institute of Technology
2020
Istituto Motori
2013
Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare
2010
Pediatrics and Genetics
2008-2009
Sobell House
2008
The step-by-step determination of the spatio-temporal parameters gait is clinically relevant since it provides an estimation variability specific patterns associated with frequent geriatric syndromes. In recent years, several methods, based on use magneto-inertial units (MIMUs), have been developed for temporal parameters. However, most them were applied to healthy subjects and/or a single pathologic population. Moreover, spatial in populations rarely estimated using MIMUs. validity suitable...
The traditional evaluation of gait in the laboratory during structured testing has provided important insights, but is limited by its "snapshot" character and observation an unnatural environment. Wearables enable monitoring real-world environments over a week. Initial findings show that in-lab measures differ. As step towards better understanding these gaps, we directly compared usual-walking (UW) dual-task walking (DTW) to daily-living gait.In-lab features (e.g., speed, regularity, stride...
Freezing of gait (FOG) is a disabling impairment for people with Parkinson's disease (PD) and may not respond to medications. The effectiveness physical therapy FOG debatable. Action observation strategies overcome enhance training.To assess whether action observation, combined practicing the observed actions, reduce episodes.Twenty patients PD entered single-blind trial were randomly assigned experimental (Action) or control (Landscape) groups. Those in group watched video clips showing...
In the human brain, homologous regions of primary motor cortices (M1s) are connected through transcallosal fibers. Interhemispheric communication between two M1s plays a major role in control unimanual hand movements, and strength this connection seems to be dependent on arm activity. For instance, lesion M1 can induce an increase excitability intact abnormal high inhibitory influence onto damaged M1. This attributable either disuse affected limb or overuse unaffected one. Here, directly...
Several investigations suggest that actual and mental actions trigger similar neural substrates. Motor learning via physical practice results in long-term potentiation (LTP)-like plasticity processes, namely of M1 a temporary occlusion additional LTP-like plasticity. However, whether this neuroplasticity process contributes to improve motor performance through remains be determined. Here, we tested skill learning-dependent changes primary cortex (M1) excitability by means transcranial...
Background: Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is a common movement disorder.Objective: To evaluate possible differences in the demographic and clinical features between primary secondary HFS.Design: In-person interview using standardized questionnaire to collect data.Setting: A multicenter study that included patients with HFS attending 3 Italian academic centers.Patients: Two hundred fourteen HFS.Main Outcome Measure: complete neurological examination assessed current muscle distribution of presence...
Abstract A form of fixed dystonia (FD) without evidence basal ganglia lesions or neurodegeneration has been recently characterized (Schrag et al., Brain 2004;127:2360‐2372), which may overlap the clinical spectrum either complex regional pain syndrome psychogenic dystonia. Transcranial magnetic stimulation studies in typically mobile revealed abnormal motor cortical excitability and sensori‐motor integration. We compared 12 patients with limb FD to 10 primary adult‐onset 11 age‐matched...
This study investigated how Parkinson's disease alters haptic perception and the underlying mechanisms of somatosensory sensorimotor integration. Changes in sensitivity acuity (the abilities to detect discriminate between stimuli) due were systematically quantified contrasted performance healthy older young adults. Using a robotic force environment, virtual contours various curvatures presented. Participants explored these with their hands indicated verbally whether they could or two...
Background. Action observation influences motor performance in healthy subjects and persons with impairments. Objective. To understand the effects of action on spontaneous rate finger movements patients Parkinson disease (PD). Methods. Participants, 20 PD 14 controls, were randomly divided into 2 groups. Those VIDEO group watched video clips showing repetitive paced at 3 Hz, whereas those ACOUSTIC listened to an acoustic cue Hz. All participants performed a sequence their pace different...
The use of miniaturized magneto-inertial measurement units (MIMUs) allows for an objective evaluation gait and a quantitative assessment clinical outcomes. Spatial temporal parameters are generally recognized as key metrics characterizing gait. Although several methods their estimate have been proposed, thorough error analysis across different pathologies, multiple centers on large sample size is still missing. aim this study was to apply previously presented method the spatio-temporal...
Primary late-onset focal dystonias may spread over time to adjacent body regions, but differences in the risk of among various forms and influence age at dystonia onset on are not well established.Patients presenting with primary blepharospasm (BSP, n = 124), cervical (CD, 73) hand (FHD, 24) 10 years or more disease duration (mean +/- SD, 15.3 (SD 4.9) years) were included study. The relationship between demographic/clinical variables was assessed by Kaplan-Meier survival curves Cox...
Previous results using paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) have suggested that the excitability of transcallosal (TC) connections between hand areas two motor cortices is modulated by intracortical inhibitory circuits in same way as corticospinal tract (CTS) projections to spinal motoneurons. Here we describe further similarities TC and CTS control (1) an I-wave facilitation protocol (2) preconditioning with rTMS. In experiment 1, pathways was measured interhemispheric...
The cerebellum is involved in the generation of essential tremor (ET) and cerebellar timing function altered patients with ET showing an increased variability rhythmic hand movements. Using a sensor-engineered glove, we evaluated motor behaviour during repetitive finger tapping movements 15 11 age- gender-matched normal subjects. In addition, investigated whether, ET, inhibitory transcranial magnetic stimulation (1 Hz-rTMS) over lateral was able to change properties behaviour. Patients...
Short-term upper limb disuse induces a hemispheric unbalance between the primary motor cortices (M1s). However, it is still unclear whether these changes are mainly attributable to absence of voluntary movements or reduction proprioceptive information. The goal this work was investigate role proprioception in modulating balance during short-term right arm immobilization. We evaluated 2 M1s excitability and interhemispheric inhibition (IHI) 3 groups healthy subjects. Two received...
The aim of this study was to address whether deficits in the central cholinergic activity may contribute increased difficulty allocate attention during gait elderly with heightened risk falls. We recruited 50 participants a history two or more falls (33 patients Parkinson's Disease and 17 older adults) 14 non-fallers age-matched adults. Cholinergic estimated by means short latency afferent inhibition (SAI), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) technique that assesses an inhibitory circuit...