PhD Students

PhD Students (XXXIX Cycle)

Agostini Lisa

Project Title Restore brain connectivity between cortical organoids and brain with intravital three-dimensional bioprinting
Supervisor Dr. Cecilia Laterza
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Marco Dal Maschio

Baba Alfonc

Project Title Spasticity management and motor recovery in stroke patients: from basic neuroscience to clinical pathway
Supervisor Prof. Alessandra Del Felice
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Nick Ward, Dr. Margherita Bertuccelli

Bellin Irene

Project Title Neurofunctional correlates of the reciprocal influence between executive functions and language
Supervisor Prof. Antonino Vallesi
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Maurizio Corbetta, Dr. Arianna Menardi

Biondi Margherita

Project Title The transdiagnostic continuum of auditory verbal hallucinations from functional psychosis to health: EEG language lateralization, affectivity, and personality traits contribution
Supervisor Prof. Chiara Spironelli
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Fabio Sambataro, Prof. Dante Mantini

Bisogno Antonio Luigi

Project Title The neurophysiological mechanisms of connectional diaschisis following stroke
Supervisor Prof. Maurizio Corbetta
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Camillo Porcaro

Cancedda Enzo

Project Title Sensorimotor cortical microcircuits and the pathogenesis of the migraine
Supervisor Prof. Stefano Vassanelli
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Daniela Pietrobon

Cao Yikang

Project Title Deep learning to investigate the functional connectivity of cerebral networks in aging brains: Predictions and explanations of the aging brain
Supervisor Prof. Alessandra Bertoldo
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Marco Zorzi

Di Pietro Irene

Project Title Exploring fine-grained cognitive interference effects across linguistic and spatial domains
Supervisor Prof. Ettore Ambrosini
Co-supervisor(s) Dr. Maria Montefinese, Prof. Antonino Vallesi

Floris Matilda

Project Title PSYCHEAL (Promotion of PSYChological HEALth and accessibility to low intensity treatment in clinical psychology)
Supervisor Prof. Claudio Gentili
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Valentina Cardi

Fusaro Ester

Project Title Spontaneous and evoked brain activity: from healthy to focal disorders
Supervisor Prof. Maurizio Corbetta
Co-supervisor(s) Dr. Lorenzo Pini

Livoti Vincenzo

Project Title From ink to link: Computer-based tools for a better cognitive assessment
Supervisor Prof. Mario Bonato
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Marco Zorzi

Lussignoli Marialaura

Project Title The schizophrenia-bipolar disorder continuum: biological correlates of mood-related symptoms in schizophrenia as a function of genetic load for bipolar disorder
Supervisor Prof. Fabio Sambataro
Co-supervisor(s) Dr. Enrico Collantoni

Marson Alex

Project Title As if there was no tomorrow: Future time perspective and proenvironmental behaviors
Supervisor Prof. Giorgia Cona
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Andrea Spoto

Mologni Valentina

Project Title Pathways to Anhedonia: deconstructing vulnerability and training the appetitive system in the brain
Supervisor Prof. Simone Messerotti Benvenuti
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Fabio Sambataro

Morri Giulio

Project Title Investigating the role of sleep-like slow waves in a mouse model for adult stroke
Supervisor Prof. Maurizio Corbetta
Co-supervisor(s) Dr. Manuela Allegra

Rijtano Barbara

Project Title Investigating the role of connexins channels in neuronclia interaction linked to Parkinson’s disease pathogenesis using human midbrain organoids
Supervisor Prof. Mario Bortolozzi
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Angelo Antonini, Prof. Luigi Bubacco

Schincariol Alexa

Project Title The Influence of Emotions on Action Control: Brain Network Connectivity and Potential Trans-diagnostic Applications
Supervisor Prof. Cristina Scarpazza
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Chiara Bagliomini

Sun Yunfeng

Project Title The impact of exercise on the intramuscular connective tissue and muscle spindle in aged rats
Supervisor Prof. Carla Stecco
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Alessandra Del Felice

Tshimanga Louis Fabrice

Project Title Multimodal representation learning of neurodata for intelligent systems
Supervisor Dr. Manfredo Atzori
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Maurizio Corbetta

Visibelli Emma

Project Title Neural Basis of Verbal Memory at Birth
Supervisor Prof. Silvia Benavides-Varela
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Judit Gervain, Dr. Ana Fló

PhD Students (XXXVIII Cycle)

Amato Sonia

Project Title Development and characterization of 3D in vitro neurodegenerative disease models as a platform to test novel therapeutic approaches. Focus on Huntington’s and Parkinson’s disease
Supervisor Prof. Angelo Antonini
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Graziano Martello, Prof. Elisa Greggio

Bonato Giulia

Project Title Neurogenetics in movement disorders: Focus on primary familial brain calcifications
Supervisor Dr. Miryam Carecchio
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Angelo Antonini

D’Onofrio Valentina

Project Title The effect of transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) on electroencephalographic activity and subthalamic nucleus-local field potentials in Parkinson’s Disease
Supervisor Prof. Camillo Porcaro
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Angelo Antonini

Garon Michela

Project Title Precision medicine in Parkinson’s Disease: Biomarkers for cognitive decline
Supervisor Prof. Angelo Antonini
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Roberta Biundo

Librizzi Giovanni

Project Title Imaging predictors of radiation-related brain injury in gliomas
Supervisor Prof. Renzo Manara
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Alessandra Bertoldo

Lucarini Gaia

Project Title Neural mechanisms supporting language acquisition
Supervisor Prof. Judit Gervain
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Janet Werker (University of British Columbia)

Maccarone Maria Chiara

Project Title Deepening the role of body schema in the progression of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a case control study and a longitudinal analysis
Supervisor Dr. Emanuela Formaggio
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Stefano Masiero, Dr. Maria Rubega

Salamanca Marco

Project Title Investigating the refinement and the consolidation of internal models during development and in developmental disorders: focus on the cerebellum
Supervisor Prof. Marco Dal Maschio
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Ettore Ambrosini, Dr. Maria Elena Miletto Petrazzini

Vitale Marina

Project Title Mechanism of susceptibility to cortical spreading depression in migraine
Supervisor Prof. Daniela Pietrobon
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Marco Dal Maschio

Zanola Andrea

Project Title Unsupervised extraction knowledge from biomedical data
Supervisor Dr. Manfredo Atzori
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Samir Suweis

Zhao Xiaoxiao

Project Title Fascia as pain generator
Supervisor Prof. Stefano Masiero
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Carla Stecco

PhD Students (XXXVII Cycle)

Barzon Giacomo

Project Title Controllability of brain networks
Supervisor Prof. Samir Suweis
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Manlio De Domenico

Bettella Francesco

Project Title Smart exoscheleton for mobility in agriculture
Supervisor Prof. Alessandra Del Felice
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Emanuele Menegatti, Prof. Nicola Petrone

Colpo Maria

Project Title Characterization of the infiltrative direction of propagation in glioma: identification and validation of multimodal PET-MR biomarkers
Supervisor Prof. Alessandra Bertoldo
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Maurizio Corbetta

Costa Cristiano

Project Title Is there a predictive network? Investigation through neuroimaging and neuropsychological testing
Supervisor Prof. Cristina Scarpazza
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Nicola Filippini, Prof. Giorgia Cona

Dimakou Anastasia

Project Title Multivariate analysis of resting state activity and visually evoked response to natural stimuli to map the representation of information in intrinsic brain activity
Supervisor Prof. Maurizio Corbetta
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Alessandra Bertoldo

Facca Massimiliano

Project Title Non-invasive identification of molecular pathways in neurological disorders: a mechanistic target to improve outcome
Supervisor Prof. Alessandra Del Felice
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Maurizio Corbetta, Prof. Alessandra Bertoldo

Fornaro Silvia

Project Title Task-related brain functional dynamics of compulsivity
Supervisor Prof. Antonino Vallesi
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Ettore Ambrosini, Prof. Fabio Sambataro

Melloni Alice

Project Title Transgenerational effects of sleep deprivation on imprinted genes regulation
Supervisor Dr. Valter Tucci
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Claudia Lodovichi

Meneghini Giulia

Project Title Assessing connectivity in brain tumor patients using MRI and TMS-EEG co-registration
Supervisor Prof. Andrea Landi
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Antonino Vallesi, Prof. Camillo Porcaro

Menti Giulio Maria

Project Title Investigating brain mechanisms supporting attraction/repulsion responses in insects
Supervisor Prof. Aram Megighian
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Marco Dal Maschio, Dr. Maria Elena Miletto Petrazzini

Miscioscia Alessandro

Project Title Neurocognitive impairment and cerebellum in early phases of relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis: A conventional and microstructural MRI study
Supervisor Prof. Paolo Gallo
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Cristina Scarpazza

Mura Francesca

Project Title EXPERIENCE: Virtual reality as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool for anxiety and mood disorders
Supervisor Prof. Claudio Gentili
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Valentina Cardi

Santacesaria Paola

Project Title Future-oriented cognition: identifying cognitive and neural mechanisms in healthy and pathological populations
Supervisor Prof. Giorgia Cona
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Giorgio Arcara, Prof. Cristina Scarpazza

Tentori Elisa

Project Title Control of dynamical switches in the brain by minimally invasive neuromodulation devices
Supervisor Prof. Stefano Vassanelli
Co-supervisor(s) Dr. Michele Allegra, Prof. Samir Suweis

PhD Students (XXXVI Cycle)

Aarabi Mohammad Hadi

Project Title Structural mechanisms of recovery in human stroke (European School of Network Neuroscience (EuSNN) ITN project)
Supervisor Prof. Maurizio Corbetta
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Alessandra Bertoldo

Albanesi Marica

Project Title Mapping ensembles across the brain
Supervisor Prof. Marco Dal Maschio
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Claudia Lodovichi

Angiolillo Silvia

Project Title Development of an in vivo model of patient-specific neurons to study and screen for Alzheimer’s disease
Supervisor Prof. Annachiara Cagnin
Co-supervisor(s) Dr. Onelia Gagliano, Prof. Nicola Elvassore

Buccellato Andrea

Project Title EEG-Based Markers of Consciousness: diagnostic and prognostic factors for recovery of consciousness
Supervisor Prof. Patrizia Bisiacchi
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Alessandra Del Felice

Cattarinussi Giulia (PhD thesis defended on 6 Feb 2024)

Project Title The neurobiology of the schizophrenia-bipolar disorder spectrum: the risk and brain mechanisms
Supervisor Prof. Fabio Sambataro
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Renzo Manara

Di Soccio Antonio

Project Title Dissecting neuronal network dynamics in the olfactory bulb and connected brain areas in healthy condition and brain disorders
Supervisor Prof. Claudia Lodovichi
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Marco Dal Maschio

Lago Sara

Project Title Role of the Temporo-parietal Junctions and Pre-stimulus Dynamics in Predictive Processing
Supervisor Prof. Vallesi Antonino
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Arcara Giorgio

Liu Yanjun

Project Title The role of eye movements in unraveling brain intrinsic dynamics: applications in healthy and neurodegenerative conditions
Supervisor Prof. Maurizio Corbetta
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Ettore Ambrosini, Dr. Andrea Zangrossi

Mariani Benedetta

Project Title Brain criticality beyond resting state neural avalanches
Supervisor Prof. Samir Suweis
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Stefano Vassanelli

Meregalli Valentina

Project Title Attentional processing of food in anorexia nervosa
Supervisor Prof. Tenconi Elena
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Valentina Cardi

Miola Alessandro (PhD thesis defended on 6 Feb 2024)

Project Title Neurobiology of bipolar subtypes: multivariate structural neuroimaging approaches
Supervisor Prof. Giulia Perini
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Fabio Sambataro, Prof. Renzo Manara

Nallet Caroline

Project Title Tuned to the rhythm: How prenatally and postnatally heard speech prosody lays the foundations for language learning
Supervisor Prof. Judit Gervain
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Patrizia Trevisi

Pacinelli Giada

Project Title Oxytocin-cannabinoid cross talk: Immunomodulatory effects in social brain within prefrontal cortex at the level of glial cells
Supervisor Dr. Francesco Papaleo
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Fabio Sambataro

Polito Alessia

Project Title Maternal and paternal genomes in sleep regulation: from neurons to network
Supervisor Dr. Valter Tucci
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Marco Formentin

Saccani Maria Silvia

Project Title Modulations of spatial processing through attentional load
Supervisor Prof. Mario Bonato
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Dante Mantini

Salvalaggio Silvia (PhD thesis defended on 6 Feb 2024)

Project Title Investigation of neural substrates underpinning upper limb sensorimotor impairment and recovery of voluntary motor behaviour after stroke
Supervisor Prof. Dante Mantini
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Andrea Turolla

Viviani Giada

Project Title Waves of control: Surfing behavioral and EEG uni/multivariate signatures to map proactive and reactive control
Supervisor Prof. Ettore Ambrosini
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Antonino Vallesi, Prof. Livio Finos

Zhang Lu

Project Title Resting-state functional MRI patterns: A neural fingerprint for human behavior
Supervisor Prof. Maurizio Corbetta
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Antonino Vallesi, Prof. Samir Suweis

PhD Students (XXXV Cycle)

Bertuccelli Margherita (PhD thesis defended on 22 May 23)

Project Title Rehabilitation paradigms in congenital and acquired neurological disorders: quantitative and cognitive assessments, and prospective rehabilitative interventions
Supervisor Prof. Alessandra Del Felice
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Stefano Masiero, Prof. Patrizia Bisiacchi

Bruzzone Matteo (PhD thesis defended on 18 Apr 23)

Project Title Development of a framework to link functional activity and circuit wiring diagrams in the zebrafish larva brain
Supervisor Prof. Aram Megighian
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Marco Dal Maschio

Celli Miriam (PhD thesis defended on 22 May 23)

Project Title A deeper look into visual cognition: low dimensionality in visual exploration dynamics and memory retrieval
Supervisor Prof. Maurizio Corbetta
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Giorgia Cona

Coccaro Ambra (PhD thesis defended on 14 Jun 23)

Project Title Spatiotemporal dynamics of Affective Inhibitory Control
Supervisor Prof. Mario Liotti
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Antonino Vallesi

Dal Bò Elisa (PhD thesis defended on 22 May 23)

Project Title Olfaction in affective disorders: an investigation of psychophysiological, behavioral and social response
Supervisor Prof. Claudio Gentili
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Simone Messerotti Benvenuti

Dell’Acqua Carola (PhD thesis defended on 22 May 23)

Project Title Affect and cognition in depression: an RDOC psychophysiological perspective
Supervisor Prof. Simone Messerotti Benvenuti
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Daniela Palomba; Prof. Antonino Vallesi
Emmi Aron

Emmi Aron (PhD thesis defended on 31 Jan 23)

Project Title COVID-19 Neuropathology: disentangling the role of SARS-CoV-2 infection in neurological manifestations and neurodegenerative diseases
Supervisor Prof. Angelo Antonini
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Raffaele De Caro

Lazzarotto Andrea (PhD thesis defended on 14 Feb 23)

Project Title Combining advanced MRI techniques and positron emission tomography to explore remyelination in multiple sclerosis
Supervisor Prof. Paolo Gallo
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Benedetta Bodini

Tambaro Mattia (PhD thesis defended on 18 Apr 23)

Project Title A brain-silicon closed-loop hybrid system with synapse-inspired neuroelectronic links
Supervisor Prof. Stefano Vassanelli
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Alessandra Bertoldo

Trevisan Nicolò (PhD thesis defended on 18 Apr 23)

Project Title Surface-based morphometry and cortical complexity: from psychiatric disorders to cognition and behavior
Supervisor Prof. Fabio Sambataro
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Antonino Vallesi

Vicentin Stefano (PhD thesis defended on 22 May 23)

Project Title Toward more naturalistic approaches to investigate the mechanisms and neural correlates of prospective memory
Supervisor Prof. Patrizia Bisiacchi
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Dante Mantini

Volpi Tommaso (PhD thesis defended on 31 Jan 23)

Project Title Investigating the brain’s ‘dark energy’ through the complex coupling of [18F]FDG PET and resting-state functional MRI
Supervisor Prof. Maurizio Corbetta
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Alessandra Bertoldo

PhD Students (XXXIV Cycle)

Bovo Stefano (PhD thesis defended on 22 Apr 22)

Project Title Transcranial magnetic stimulation variability insights: how neuronal fiber bundle direction and the induced electric field affect stimulation effectiveness
Supervisor Prof. Dante Mantini
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Florinda Ferreri, Ing. Marco Rossi

Fusina Francesca (PhD thesis defended on 22 Apr 22)

Project Title Psychophysiology of emotional processing and its alterations: novel and translational approaches
Supervisor Prof. Alessandro Angrilli
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Aram Megighian

Margoni Monica (PhD thesis defended on 22 Apr 22)

Project Title Exploring multiple sclerosis brain microstructural damage through T1w/T2w-ratio: a multicenter study
Supervisor Prof. Paolo Gallo
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Diego Cecchin

Menardi Arianna (PhD thesis defended on 14 Feb 22)

Project Title Study of individual brain topology for the personalization of interventions via transcranial magnetic stimulation: a network modulation approach
Supervisor Prof. Antonino Vallesi
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Maurizio Corbetta, Dr. Emiliano Santarnecchi

Moretto Manuela (PhD thesis defended on 22 Apr 22)

Project Title Beyond Static Functional Connectivity: Hidden Markov Models to Investigate the BOLD Signal Dynamics in Resting State
Supervisor Prof. Alessandra Bertoldo
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Maurizio Corbetta
Salvalaggio Alessandro

Salvalaggio Alessandro (PhD thesis defended on 14 Feb 22)

Project Title Indirect disconnection methods in focal brain lesions: post-stroke deficit prediction and correlation with outcome in glioblastoma
Supervisor Prof. Maurizio Corbetta
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Michel Thiebaut de Schotten, Prof. Chiara Briani

Sandre Michele (PhD thesis defended on 13 Jul 22)

Project Title Investigation of novel biomarkers in Parkinson’s Disease: a study in gastrointestinal biopsies
Supervisor: Prof. Angelo Antonini
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Luigi Bubacco

Villani Umberto (PhD thesis defended on 22 Apr 22)

Project Title From microstructure imaging to structural connectivity: the use of diffusion MRI to investigate the impact of gliomas on the human brain
Supervisor Prof. Alessandra Bertoldo
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Michel Thiebaut de Schotten
Zorzi Giovanni

Zorzi Giovanni (PhD thesis defended on 13 Jul 22)

Project Title Cognitive biomarkers in late-onset psychiatric disorders at high risk for dementia
Supervisor Prof. Giulia Perini
Co-supervisor(s) Prof. Annachiara Cagnin