A5079331206- Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Action Observation and Synchronization
- Functional Brain Connectivity Studies
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea Research
- Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and Applications
- Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics
- Psychology of Moral and Emotional Judgment
- Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
- Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Research
- Face Recognition and Perception
- Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control
- Neurobiology of Language and Bilingualism
- Neuroscience of respiration and sleep
- Memory and Neural Mechanisms
- Sleep and Wakefulness Research
- Advanced MRI Techniques and Applications
- Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Cognitive Science and Mapping
- COVID-19 and Mental Health
- Motor Control and Adaptation
- Cultural Differences and Values
- EEG and Brain-Computer Interfaces
- Behavioral Health and Interventions
- Schizophrenia research and treatment
Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri
2017-2025
Istituto Universitario di Studi Superiori di Pavia
2016-2025
University of Genoa
2020-2022
University of Pavia
2019
Bocconi University
2018
Vita-Salute San Raffaele University
2008-2016
San Raffaele University of Rome
2009-2016
Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico
2015-2016
Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico San Raffaele
2015-2016
IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele
2016
Functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to assess the cortical areas active during observation of mouth actions performed by humans and individuals belonging other species (monkey dog). Two types were presented: biting oral communicative (speech reading, lip-smacking, barking). As a control, static images same shown. Observation biting, regardless individual performing action, determined two activation foci (one rostral one caudal) in inferior parietal lobule an pars opercularis...
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is commonly associated with neurocognitive impairments that have not been consistently related to specific brain structure abnormalities. Knowledge of the structures involved in OSA and corresponding functional implications could provide clues pathogenesis cognitive impairment its reversibility this disorder.To investigate deficits morphology changes OSA, modifications after treatment, using combined neuropsychologic testing voxel-based morphometry.A total 17...
This paper studies the cognitive processes that enable decision makers to switch between exploitation and exploration. We use functional magnetic resonance imaging ( fMRI ) in a sample of expert make two main contributions. First, we identify contrast specific brain regions associated with exploration decisions. Exploitation activates reward seeking, which track evaluate value current choices, while relies on attentional control, tracking alternative choices. Second, propose test idea...
Previous studies have suggested that imitators can reproduce known gestures shown by a model using semantic, indirect route, and novel sublexical, direct route. In the present study we aimed at testing validity of such dual-route action imitation. Patients with either left-brain damage (LBD) or right-brain (RBD) were tested on an imitation task. Actions meaningful (n = 20) meaningless 20), presented in intermingled list and, different day, separate lists. We predicted that, mixed condition,...
Previous reports suggest that the internal organization of semantic memory is in terms different "types knowledge," including "sensory" (information about perceptual features), "action" (motor-based knowledge object utilization), and "functional" (abstract properties, as function context use). Consistent with this view, a specific loss action knowledge, preserved functional has been recently observed patients left frontoparietal lesions. The opposite pattern (impaired knowledge) was reported...
Decision making under risk entails the anticipation of prospective outcomes, typically leading to greater sensitivity losses than gains known as loss aversion. Previous studies on neural bases choice-outcome and aversion provided inconsistent results, showing either bidirectional mesolimbic responses activation for deactivation losses, or a specific amygdala involvement in processing losses. Here we focused with aim address interindividual differences anticipation. Fifty-six healthy human...
Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is associated with cognitive and functional deficits, most of which are corrected after positive airway pressure (PAP) treatment. Previous studies investigating the neural underpinnings OSAS failed to provide consistent results both on cerebral substrates underlying deficits effect treatment these anomalies. The aims study were a) investigate whether never-treated OSA patients demonstrated differences in brain activation compared healthy controls...
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a multisystem condition, in which executive and/or behavioural symptoms can occur. Deficits of social cognition, including defective cognitive and emotional empathy, have been recently reported ALS subjects. The neurostructural correlates these disorders are still unknown. aims this study were to evaluate two components empathy non-demented subjects, associate performance with regional grey-matter density using voxel-based morphometry (VBM). Twenty...
An optimal balance between efficient exploitation of available resources and creative exploration alternatives is critical for adaptation survival. Previous studies associated these behavioral drives with, respectively, the dopaminergic mesocorticolimbic system frontopolar-intraparietal networks. We study activation systems in two age gender-matched groups experienced decision-makers differing prior professional background, with aim to understand neural bases individual differences...
Loss of empathy is a symptom the behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), constituting clue for early diagnosis. In this study, we directly compared two components (intention attribution [IA] and emotion [EA]), correlating them with possible specific patterns gray-matter density reduction within mentalizing network.We evaluated IA EA in 18 mild bvFTD patients 36 healthy controls (HCs) using single nonverbal test. A subgroup entered voxel-based morphometry study.Compared HC, showed...
Cognitive and affective theory of mind (ToM) can be impaired in the course neurodegenerative dementias. Experimental tests based on different task conditions and/or complexity may fail to capture disease-specific patterns impairments. In this study, we assessed with a single both aff ective cognitive facets ToM ability sample 47 patients (i.e., 12 AD, 20 bvFTD, 15 aMCI fulfilling IWG criteria for AD predementia phase) 65 healthy controls. Subjects were administered Story-based Empathy (SET),...
Decoding others' intentions is a crucial aspect of social cognition. Neuroimaging studies suggest that inferring immediate goals engages the neural system for action understanding (i.e. mirror system), while decoding long-term requires subserving attribution mental states mentalizing). A controversial issue, stimulated by recent inconsistent results, concerns whether two systems are concurrently vs. exclusively involved in intention understanding. This issue particularly relevant case...
In a previous study aimed at investigating the neural correlates of aesthetic experience in beholder we found that observation canonical sculptures, relative to sculptures whose proportions had been modified, produced activation specific brain network. This network included various cortical areas and, most interestingly, right anterior insula. We interpreted this latter as signature underpinning emotion-related responses during experience. present fMRI study, investigated whether for...
Abstract Decoding the meaning of others’ actions, a crucial step for social cognition, involves different neural mechanisms. While “mirror” and “mentalizing” systems have been associated with, respectively, processing biological actions versus more abstract information, their respective contribution to intention understanding is debated. Processing interactions seems recruit both systems, with weight depending on cues emphasizing either shared action goals or mental states. We previously...