News & Events (75)

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Events (46) News and Press release (87)

Prof. Corbetta speech at Museo “Giovanni Poleni”

When: April 5th, 2022 – 6:30 pm

Where:

Abstract: ….da dove vengono i pensieri, le emozioni, e come prendiamo le decisioni che nel piccolo e nel grande determinano la nostra vita? Che cosa sono il senso morale e l’etica? Dove finisce la biologia e dove inizia la cultura?

Per quasi venti secoli i filosofi e gli scienziati localizzarono nel cuore la sede delle attività mentali superiori, ed è solo dalla metà del 1600 che il cervello è considerato il centro delle facoltà intellettive.

Understanding learning and memory at the single-synapse scale

by dr. Marco Mainardi, Istituto di Neuroscienze, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche – Pisa

When: March 24th, 2022 – 3:00 pm

Where: Zoom meeting. Recording available on Mediaspace

Abstract: Plasticity of synaptic connections adjusts the signal flow across neural circuits to
support the acquisition and storage of information. Dendritic spines host most excitatory
synapses in the brain and incessantly remodel to meet the computational demands for
acquisition or recall of new episodic memories, or goal-oriented behavioral schemes.

Despite the obvious physiological importance of synaptic plasticity and its implications in
pathological contexts, appropriate tools for the specific analysis of potentiated synapses
are scarce.

Bridging Neuroscience & Robotics: wearable robots for innovative rehabilitation and healthy ageing

by prof. Alessandra Del Felice, Dep. of Neurosciences – University of Padova and prof. Emanuele Menegatti, Dep. of Information Engineering – University of Padova

When: March 17th, 2022 – 3:00 pm

Where: Sala Seminari at VIMM, Via Orus 2b, Padova, Zoom meeting (Recording available on Mediaspace)

Abstract: Robotic devices have seen an increasing uptake in neurorehabilitation, due to the higher intensity and larger therapeutic exercise doses they can provide. More recently, robots have also entered the market as assistive wearable devices – i.e. to enhance or integrate human body performance.

However, the human and the robot are usually considered as two separate entities interacting via a fixed and immutable interface and the robot is seen as a mere actuator of pre-designed motions.

Carola Dell’Acqua and Elisa Dal Bò’s article published on “Journal of Affective Disorders”

Carola Dell’Acqua
Elisa Dal Bò

Carola Dell’Acqua and Elisa Dal Bò, both Doctoral students at PNC working with the psychophysiology lab of the Department of General Psychology, have recently published a longitudinal study aimed at examining whether the predictive role of anxiety on the development of pandemic-related post-traumatic stress symptoms was modulated by individual differences in neural activity during the processing of emotional stimuli.

Read the abstractDownload

Link to the article

Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in the physiological and in the ischemic motor cortex in the mouse

by prof. Marco Cambiaghi, Dep. of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences – University of Verona

When: March 10th, 2022 – 3:00 pm

Where: Zoom meeting. Recording available on Mediaspace

Abstract: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a widely adopted non-invasive brain stimulation technique for the modulation of brain excitability. The direct neuromodulatory effects of tDCS beneath the electrode is considered to extend to nearby as well as distant brain areas, mainly depending on the activation state of the brain before and during stimulation. This is evident in physiological circumstances (e.g. during physical activity) but it is even more marked in pathological conditions (i.e.

Approaches to brain controllability

by dr. Michele Allegra, Dept. of Physics, University of Padova

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.

Oculomotor responses in humans and animals

by prof. Aram Megighian, Dep. of Biomedical Science, Padova

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).

The neural architecture of early speech perception

by prof. Judit Gervain, Dept. of Developmental and Social Psychology, University of Padova

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.