When: March 3rd, 2022 – 3:00 pm

Where: Zoom meeting. Recording available on Mediaspace

Abstract: A major goal of applied neuroscience is to understand how to achieve controlled perturbations of brain activity through stimulation or brain-computer interfaces with the aim of investigating brain mechanisms or restoring normal activity patterns in subjects affected by neuropathologies.

In recent years, several authors have proposed to frame this problem within control theory, a well established engineering paradigm to control dynamical systems. In this framework, a model of the autonomous (uncontrolled) dynamics of the system is used to precisely devise external interventions that, in combination with the autonomous dynamics, will steer the system towards desired targets.

When: Feb 17th, 2022 – 3:00 pm

Where: Zoom meeting. Recording available on Mediaspace

Abstract: Gaze direction results from the orientation of eyes in the head and the orientation and position of the head in space. Consequently, gaze direction controls the retinal image.

Eye movements can be substantially subdivided in two classes. Eye movements which stabilize gaze when animals move their body and head (or only the head) with respect to the surrounding environment. The goal of this response is to stabilize the image on the retina despite the head movement (substantially they prevent retinal slip).

When: February 3rd, 2022 – 3:00 pm

Where: Zoom meeting

Abstract: Despite their general immaturity, human infants have sophisticated auditory and speech perception skills. This talk will present EEG and NIRS studies with newborns and older infants investigating the neural mechanisms underlying these abilities. The studies investigate how embedded neural oscillations, hypothesized to be crucial for speech processing in adults, emerge during early human development.

The talk will discuss the implications of these findings for language development.

Short bio: Judit Gervain is a Full Professor at the Department of Developmental and Social Psychology.

Webinar: Università di Padova, Ulster University, Harvard Medical School, University college Dublin

When: Dec 2nd, 2021 – 3:00 pm CET (9:00 am ET)

Where: Zoom Meeting (please enroll to receive the link)

Abstract: Rehabilitative and assistive robots are a rapidly emerging field. However, their efficacy is still hampered by the lack of adaptive interaction with the end user, disregarding ongoing changes in brain and muscle reactivity.

The collaborative, international research projects SOFTAct and PRO-GAIT are setting the foundation to revolutionize wearable robots: artificial intelligence techniques will provide the framework to use cerebro-muscular biosignals to control robots. This will allow wearable robots to become a natural extension of the human body in the near future.

When: June 17th, 2021 – 5:00 pm

Where: Zoom meeting

Abstract: The core idea in this talk is that brain-wide, ongoing activity is essential for brain function and behavior. This activity accounts for 20% of the energy consumption of an adult human even though the brain contributes only 2% to the weight of the body. Brain activity associated with task performance is associated with surprisingly small regional changes in brain energy consumption. These changes are so small that they have no effect on the overall brain energy consumption. The emerging challenge for neuroscience is to understand the contribution this very high-energy consumption makes to brain function.

When: Apr 29th, 2021 – 3:00 pm

Where: Zoom meeting

Abstract: Through the combination of in vivo optical imaging and chronic expression of genetically encoded calcium indicators it is now feasible to directly ‘watch’ brain activity patterns related to specific behaviors. I will introduce wide-field calcium imaging and multi-fiber photometry as two complementary methods that enable measurements across mouse neocortex and in large sets of subcortical regions, respectively. Specific patterns of brain-wide signal flow that occur in mice performing whisker-based or auditory sensory discrimination tasks will be discussed, highlighting salient patterns related to short-term memory.

When: Mar 19th, 2021 – 6:00 pm

Where: Zoom Meeting and live on Facebook

Abstract: La “Brain awareness week” è una ricorrenza annuale dedicata a sollecitare la pubblica consapevolezza nei confronti della ricerca sul cervello. All’iniziativa, coordinata dalla Dana Foundation, partecipano società neuroscientifiche, università, istituti ed enti di ricerca di tutto il mondo.

L’Università di Padova in occasione della Brain Awareness Week, la settimana internazionale di divulgazione delle neuroscienze, propone una serie di incontri online: gli interventi sono tenuti da giovani ricercatori e ricercatrici dell’Università di Padova, appartenenti a diversi dipartimenti e accomunati dallo studio del cervello.

When: Mar 18th, 2021 – 3:00 pm

Where: Zoom meeting

Abstract: In the last 30 years blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) fMRI has taught us a great detail about human brain organisation. However, it only tells us where brain activity is changing without telling us by how much or what the baseline level of activity is. We and others are working on fMRI methods to map the absolute rate of cerebral metabolic oxygen consumption as a marker of the physiological state of brain tissue in health and disease. Development of these methods has resulted in a toolkit for assessing oxygen consumption and cerebrovascular function (including vascular reactivity and arterial compliance) that is yielding interesting results in our pilot clinical studies in epilepsy and multiple sclerosis and in the study of the healthy brain.

When: Mar 5th, 2021 – 9:00 am

Where: Zoom meeting (will be published on Mar 5th). Also live on the Accademia’s channel

Abstract: L’Intelligenza Artificiale è una delle tecnologie che sta trasformando la nostra società e molti aspetti della nostra vita quotidiana. Ha già prodotto molti effetti benefici e può essere sorgente di considerevole prosperità economica. Tuttavia, pone problemi riguardanti, in varia misura, l’occupazione, la riservatezza dei dati, la “privacy”, la violazione di valori etici e la fiducia nei risultati. Problematiche simili, con riferimento a problemi occupazionali, di sicurezza e di possibile violazione di valori etici, si pongono anche per quanto riguarda le trasformazioni che avvengono nella società a seguito dello sviluppo, intimamente connesso a quello dell’AI, dei metodi della robotica e dell’automazione della produzione industriale.

When: March 2nd, 2021 – 5:30 pm

Where: Zoom meeting

PLEASE NOTE. Mandatory enrollment:

To attend the seminar and get the ECM credits you must:

• enroll by sending an email to cl.neurologica@aopd.veneto.it
• have your webcam turned on throughout the whole meeting

Short bio: Professore di parassitologia molecolare all’Imperial College dal 2000, Andrea Crisanti è attualmente Direttore del Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e del Servizio di Microbiologia e Virologia, Azienda Ospedale – Università Padova.

Dopo la laurea in Medicina all’Università di Roma La Sapienza e un dottorato presso l’Istituto di Immunologia di Basilea, Andrea Crisanti ha aperto la strada alla biologia molecolare del vettore della malaria umana Anopheles gambiae contribuendo alla conoscenza genetica e molecolare del parassita della malaria e del suo vettore.