News & Events (75)

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Events (46) News and Press release (87)

Robotics in Rehabilitation

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.

Monica Margoni and Umberto Villani’s article published on “Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry”

Monica Margoni
Umberto Villani

Monica Margoni and Umberto Villani, both PhD students of the 34° cycle of the PhD Course in Neuroscience, have recently published the article called “Neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging discloses early changes in the normal-appearing white matter in paediatric multiple sclerosis” on the “Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry”.

Read the full Article

Our Restless Brain – Exploring the Brain’s Dark Energy

by prof. Marcus E. Raichle, Washington University in St. Louis

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.

Brain dynamics related to short-term memory and learning

by prof. Fritjof Helmchen, Brain Research Institute of the University of Zurich, Switzerland

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.

The Brain Prize Seminar Series “Migraine and Headache”: Prof. Daniela Pietrobon among the speakers

In 2021 The Brain Prize, the world’s largest award for neuroscience, was awarded to
Jes Olesen, Lars Edvinsson, Peter Goadsby and Michael Moskowitz for their work on
the causes and treatment of migraine.
The Brain Prize seminar series on migraine and headache consists of 12 seminars from
international leaders in the field including the 2021 Brain Prize winners.
The series started in April 2021 and it will end in March 2022 and covers topics including
mechanistic studies in patients and animal models, genetics of migraine, cluster- and
post-traumatic headache, and treatment of migraine and headache disorders.

Prof. Daniela Pietrobon, affiliated with the “Padova Neuroscience Center-PNC”, on October 28th, 2021 at 4:00 PM CET will talk about “Migraine – a disorder of E-I balance?