A5088294151- Muscle activation and electromyography studies
- Technology Use by Older Adults
- Motor Control and Adaptation
- Botulinum Toxin and Related Neurological Disorders
- Writing and Handwriting Education
- Cerebral Palsy and Movement Disorders
- Context-Aware Activity Recognition Systems
- Neurological disorders and treatments
- Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
- Neuroscience and Neural Engineering
- Digital Accessibility for Disabilities
- EEG and Brain-Computer Interfaces
- Long-Term Effects of COVID-19
- COVID-19 and Mental Health
- Parkinson's Disease Mechanisms and Treatments
- Stroke Rehabilitation and Recovery
- Tactile and Sensory Interactions
- Frailty in Older Adults
- Genetic Neurodegenerative Diseases
- Geriatric Care and Nursing Homes
- Neurobiology of Language and Bilingualism
- Intelligent Tutoring Systems and Adaptive Learning
- Aging and Gerontology Research
- Reading and Literacy Development
- Face Recognition and Perception
Politecnico di Milano
2015-2024
Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta
2022-2023
University of Parma
2000-2005
Android robots that resemble humans closely, but not perfectly, can provoke negative feelings of dislike and eeriness in (the "Uncanny Valley" effect). We investigated whether category confusion between the perceptual categories "robot" "human" contributes to Uncanny Valley aversion. Using a novel, validated corpus 182 images real robot human faces, we precisely estimated shape location perceived robot/human boundary. To implicitly measure confusion, tracked 358 participants' mouse...
Personal computers, tablets, and smartphones may support older adults' engagement when people are required to stay home opportunities engage in meaningful activities reduced during the COVID-19 period. This study aims screen technology-use characteristics across social, leisure, education domains pandemic from a crosscultural viewpoint. The sample included 576 participants aged 60 France (
The integration of Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) frameworks with Socially Assistive Robots (SARs) has proven useful for monitoring and assisting older adults in their own home. However, the difficulties associated long-term deployments real-world complex environments are still highly under-explored. In this work, we first present MoveCare system, an unobtrusive platform that, through a SAR into AAL framework, aimed to monitor, assist provide social, cognitive, physical stimulation houses...
In this study, we test the feasibility of synergy- based approach for application in realistic and clinically oriented framework multi-degree freedom (DOF) robotic control. We developed tested online ten able-bodied subjects a semi-supervised method to achieve simultaneous, continuous control two DOFs arm, using muscle synergies extracted from upper limb muscles while performing flexion-extension movements elbow shoulder joints horizontal plane. To validate efficacy synergy-based extracting...
Background Dementia is a major and growing health problem, early diagnosis key to its management. Objective With the ultimate goal of providing monitoring tool that could be used support screening for cognitive decline, this study aims develop supervised, digitized version 2 neuropsychological tests: Trail Making Test Bells Test. The system consists web app implements tablet-based tests an innovative vocal assistant acts as virtual supervisor execution test. A replay functionality added...
Difficulties in handwriting, such as dysgraphia, impact several aspects of a child's everyday life. Current methodologies for the detection difficulties children have following three main weaknesses: (1) they are prone to subjective evaluation; (2) can be administered only when handwriting is mastered, thus delaying diagnosis and possible adoption countermeasures; (3) not always easily accessible entire community.This work aims at developing solution able to: quantitatively measure features...
Introduction Since the uptake of digitizers, quantitative spiral drawing assessment allowed gaining insight into motor impairments related to Parkinson's disease. However, reduced naturalness gesture and poor user-friendliness data acquisition hamper adoption such technologies in clinical practice. To overcome limitations, we present a novel smart ink pen for assessment, intending better characterize disease symptoms. The device, used on paper as normal pen, is enriched with motion force...
Even if movement abnormalities in dystonia are obvious on observation-based examinations, objective measures to characterize and gain insights into its pathophysiology still strongly needed. We hypothesize that motor childhood partially due the inability suppress involuntary variable muscle activity irrelevant achievement of desired task, resulting superposition unwanted motion components movement. However, it is difficult separate quantify appropriate inappropriate signals combined same...
Abstract We conducted a cross-sectional study to compare the impact of social distancing and lifestyle changes that occurred during Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown on children adolescents with without Neurodevelopmental Disorders (NDDs). An online questionnaire was administered in order investigate effects NDD condition, socio-demographic status, familiar/home environment COVID-19 exposure their lives two months period isolation. used logistic regression, focusing five...
Early detection of gait impairments in older adults allows the early uncovering fall risk and/or cognitive deficits, resulting timely interventions. Dual-task paradigms have been shown to be more sensitive than single-task conditions for subtle yet relevant impairments. Can a system - encompassing pair instrumented insoles and customized mobile app transparently accurately study ecological walking activities single- dual-task conditions, with aim detecting age-related alterations gait? The...
Handwriting learning delays should be addressed early to prevent their exacerbation and long-lasting consequences on whole children's lives. Ideally, proper training start even before how write. This work presents a novel method disclose potential handwriting problems, from pre-literacy stage, based drawings instead of words production analysis. Two hundred forty-one kindergartners drew tablet, we computed features known distinctive poor symbols drawings. We verified that abnormal patterns...
Motor speed and accuracy are both affected in childhood dystonia. Thus, deriving a speed-accuracy function is an important metric for assessing motor impairments Previous work dystonia studied the trade-off during point-to-point tasks. To achieve more relevant measurement of functional abilities dystonia, present study investigates upper-limb kinematics electromyographic activity 8 children with healthy trajectory-constrained child-relevant task that emulates self-feeding spoon requires...
Concerning frailty, the use of home-based technology able to continuously and transparently monitor independent elder may represent a useful tool support traditional geriatric assessment in identification elderly people at risk with final aim guiding development early preventive interventions. To this aim, European MoveCare project develops an ICT platform living home. Here, we describe how monitoring frailty is addressed within MoveCare, specifically for five Fried criteria. The leverages...
Little is known about the perceived impact of COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown measures on young patients with tic disorders. Previous studies focused clinician parent ratings severity, whereas only international self-report data are available for adult populations. We present first findings from a case-control study children adolescents tics during in Italy.We surveyed 49 aged 6-18 years 245 matched controls newly developed questionnaire covering socio-demographic clinical data, as...
Objective The objective of this study is to verify the reliability and concurrent discriminant validity measurements spasticity offered by robotic device, quantifying (1) test–retest reliability, (2) correlation with clinical evaluation using Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), (3) inter-rater between two physiotherapists, (4) ability discriminate healthy stroke patients. Methods A total 20 patients volunteers participated in study. Two physical therapists (PT1 PT2) independently evaluated hand...
Telemonitoring is one of the most expedient answers to strong need for preventive care imposed by rapidly aging society. We propose an innovative solution detection early signs frailty presenting a serious game controlled smart sensorized soft plastic ball, designed achieve continuous home-based monitoring muscle weakness in older adults. Design, development, and testing ball interface devised guide procedure are presented. Reliability concurrent validity system measuring maximal grip...
We present the development of a novel smart ink pen instrumented with force and motion sensors designed for quantitative ecological assessment daily-life handwriting. This work aims at testing pen's algorithms use smartpen to detect age-related changes in writing tremor parameters during A comparison against reference instruments was carried out validate tip static dynamic conditions, tilt angle, algorithm segmentation signal into strokes. The tested on 43 healthy adults divided three age...
The COVID-19 lockdown affected children, especially those with autism spectrum disorder, due to the disruption in rehabilitation and educational activities. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 315 preschool-aged 35 which had autism, investigate this impact. A questionnaire was administered explore socio-demographic status, familiar/home environment, exposure. clinical features autistic subjects were also examined. Seven variables considered describe effect pandemic: Remote learning,...
The employment of Social Assistive Robots (SARs) for monitoring elderly users represents a valuable gateway at-home assistance. Their deployment in the house can provide effective opportunities early detection Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), condition increasing impact our aging society, by means digitalized cognitive tests. In this work, we present system where specific set tests is selected, digitalized, and integrated with robotic assistant, whose task guidance supervision during...
One of the implications aging population is increasing need for services elderly people, with an emphasis on earlier diagnosis and effective interventions promoting active healthy process. To face this need, MoveCare Project develops field-tests innovative multi-actor platform that integrates a robotic system environmental sensors, smart objects, virtual community activity center to provide assistance, transparent monitoring activities elder at home. The newness consists in design its social...
Digital neuropsychological tests self-administered at home have the potential to detect early signs of cognitive decline in elderlies, thus allowing adopt preventive measures. Usability and clinical validation are required before computerized assessment could juxtapose traditional paper-and-pencil spot decline. We developed a tablet-based digitized version two commonly used screening for dementia: Trail Making Test (A B versions) Bells Test. studied system usability acceptance, concurrent...