A5014439068- Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Action Observation and Synchronization
- Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and Applications
- Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Child and Animal Learning Development
- Advanced MRI Techniques and Applications
- Functional Brain Connectivity Studies
- Genomic variations and chromosomal abnormalities
- Neurological Disease Mechanisms and Treatments
- Motor Control and Adaptation
- Sleep and Wakefulness Research
- Neural dynamics and brain function
- Embodied and Extended Cognition
- Genetic Neurodegenerative Diseases
- EEG and Brain-Computer Interfaces
- Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
- Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
- Vestibular and auditory disorders
- Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Congenital heart defects research
- Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies
- Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders
- CRISPR and Genetic Engineering
- Fetal and Pediatric Neurological Disorders
Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna
2020-2025
Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico
2022-2024
IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital
2022
Ospedale Bellaria
2020-2021
Cornell University
2013
University of Parma
2005-2013
The capacity to use tools is a fundamental evolutionary achievement. Its essence stands in the transfer proximal goal (grasp tool) distal (e.g., grasp food). Where and how does this occur? Here, we show that, monkeys trained tools, cortical motor neurons, active during hand grasping, also become grasping with pliers, as if pliers were now fingers. This embodiment occurs both for normal "reverse pliers," an implement that requires finger opening, instead of their closing, object. We conclude...
Mirror neurons are a distinct class of that discharge both during the execution motor act and observation same or similar performed by another individual. However, extent to which mirror coding with specific goal (e.g., grasping) might also respond having goal, but achieved artificial effectors, is not yet established. In present study, we addressed this issue recording from ventral premotor cortex (area F5) two monkeys trained grasp objects pliers. Neuron activity was recorded grasping...
To explore the neuropsychological profile and integrity of olfactory network in patients with COVID-19-related persistent dysfunction (OD).Patients OD underwent assessment Sniffin' Sticks evaluation. Additionally, both a control group brain MRI, including T1-weighted resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) sequences on 3 T scanner. Morphometrical properties were evaluated olfaction-associated regions; rs-fMRI data analysed using graph theory at whole-brain level within standard parcellation...
The observation of goal-directed actions performed by another individual allows one to understand what that is doing and why he/she it. Important information about others' behaviour also carried out the dynamics observed action. Action characterize 'vitality form' an action describing cognitive affective relation between performing agent recipient. Here, using fMRI technique, we assessed neural correlates vitality form recognition presenting participants with videos showing two actors...
Abstract Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition with strong genetic component in which rare variants contribute significantly to risk. We performed whole genome and/or exome sequencing (WGS and WES) SNP-array analysis identify both sequence copy number (SNVs CNVs) 435 individuals from 116 ASD families. identified 37 potentially damaging de novo SNVs (pdSNVs) the cases ( n = 144). Interestingly, two of them (one stop-gain one missense variant) occurred same...
Blocking the capacity to speak aloud (overt speech arrest, SA) may be induced by repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). The possibility, however, of blocking internal (covert has not been explored. To investigate this issue, we conducted two rTMS experiments. In first experiment, stimulated left frontal lobe sites. was a motor site (left posterior site) and second nonmotor located in correspondence part inferior gyrus (IFG) anterior site). corresponding right hemisphere SA as...
We propose Rhythmic Relating for autism: a system of supports friends, therapists, parents, and educators; which aims to augment bidirectional communication complement existing therapeutic approaches. begin by summarizing the developmental significance social timing social-motor-synchrony challenges observed in early autism. Meta-analyses conclude primacy such challenges, yet cite lack focused therapies. identify core relational parameters support systematize these using communicative...
Abstract Objective Disorders of arousal (DoA) are characterized by an intermediate state between wakefulness and deep sleep, leading to incomplete awakenings from NREM sleep. Multimodal studies have shown subtle neurophysiologic alterations even during in DoA. The aim this study was explore the brain functional connectivity DoA metabolic profile anterior posterior cingulate cortex, given its pivotal role cognitive emotional processing. Methods Fifteen consecutive patients with (9 males, mean...
This article focuses on one of the most influential contributions Daniel Stern: notion forms vitality (FVs). We summarize how fruitful this is for social cognition and study its neural bases. argue that FVs enable to shed new light elements making others' behavior meaningful one, thus offering a take cognition. also show can be usefully employed bodily roots deficits in individuals affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Pathological brain processes may induce adaptive cortical reorganization, however, the mechanisms underlying neuroplasticity that occurs in presence of lesions eloquent areas are not fully explained. The aim this study was to evaluate functional compensatory activations patients with frontal gliomas during a phonemic fluency task and explore correlations cognitive performance, white matter tracts microstructural alterations, tumor histopathological molecular characterization.Fifteen glioma...
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a highly heterogeneous neuropsychiatric disorder with strong genetic component. The architecture complex, consisting of combination common low-risk and more penetrant rare variants. Voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs or Cav) genes have been implicated as high-confidence susceptibility for ASD, in accordance the relevant role signaling neuronal function. In order to further investigate involvement VGCCs variants ASD susceptibility, we performed whole...
Background: Being able to differentiate mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients who would eventually convert (MCIc) Alzheimer’s disease (AD) from those not (MCInc) is a key challenge for prognosis. Objective: This study aimed investigate the ability of sulcal morphometry predict MCI progression AD, dedicating special attention an accurate identification sulci. Methods: Twenty-five AD patients, thirty-seven and twenty-five healthy controls (HC) underwent brain-MR protocol (1.5T scanner)...
We examined the potential benefits of neuroimaging measurements across first 5 years life in detecting early comorbid or etiological signs autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In particular, we analyzed prevalence neuroradiologic findings routine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans a group 117 ASD children younger than old. These data were compared to those reported typically developing (TD) children. MRI with relation their cognitive level, severity autistic symptoms, and presence...
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a clinically heterogeneous class of neurodevelopmental conditions with strong, albeit complex, genetic basis. The architecture ASD includes different models, from monogenic transmission at one end, to polygenic risk given by thousands common variants small effects the other end. mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was also proposed as modifier for ASD, mostly focusing on maternal mtDNA, since paternal mitogenome not transmitted offspring. We extensively studied...
Background: Tractography has been widely adopted to improve brain gliomas' surgical planning and guide their resection. This study aimed evaluate state-of-the-art of arcuate fasciculus (AF) tractography for explore the role along-tract analyses in vivo characterizing tumor histopathology. Methods: High angular resolution diffusion imaging (HARDI) images were acquired nine patients with tumors located or near language areas (age: 41 ± 14 years, mean standard deviation; five males) 32 healthy...
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by a complex polygenic background, but with the unique feature of subset cases (~15%-30%) presenting rare large-effect variant. However, clinical interpretation in these often complicated incomplete penetrance, variable expressivity and different neurodevelopmental trajectories. NRXN1 intragenic deletions represent prototype such ASD-associated susceptibility variants. From chromosomal microarrays analysis 104 ASD individuals, we identified an...
In this review, we discuss the topic of intersubjectivity and its disruption in Autism Spectrum Disorder, both from a developmental neuroscientific perspective. We present evidence impact an early neurodevelopmental disorder on blooming intersubjective abilities. propose existence basic, pre-reflective social cognition that originates sensorimotor networks is anchored to their teleological organization. neurophysiological involvement direct understanding three core elements action: category,...
The implementation of an effective approach to restore the link between nervous system and artificial devices in disabled subjects is crucial increase acceptability usability these systems. Among different possible solutions, development invasive cortical neural prostheses (ICNPs) very appealing because possibility extracting information on user's intention from activity delivering a sensory feedback by stimulating somato-sensory cortex. In recent past, efforts several research groups have...