Neural Basis of the Empathic Processes

This line of research explores the neural underpinnings of empathy with particular emphasis on empathy for pain. Studies using, TMS (Avenanti et al. 2005; 2009), SEP (Bufalari et al, 2007), LEP (Valeriani et al, 2008) fMRI (Costantini et al, 2008; Ionta et al, In preparation) and MEG (Betti et al, submitted) are conducted in healthy subjects and in individuals with Asperger Syndrome (Minio-Paluello et al, Biological Psychiatry, 2009) and with Williams syndrome (In preparation)

Behavioural and lesion studies of corporeal awareness

This line of research explores the neural basis of corporeal awareness in healthy subjects (Urgesi et al, Nature Neuroscience, 2007; Candidi et al, Social Neuroscience 2008) and in people with brain damage (Moro et al, Neuron, 2008).

Neural Correlates of Excellence in Sports

This line of Research revolves around the relation between domain-specific observation and the capacity to attain high executive and strategic standards of performance (Fourkas et al, Cerebral Cortex, 2007; Aglioti et al, Nature Neuroscience, 2008; Abreu et al, In preparation). This type of study is also performed in elite wheelchair athletes. Moreover, studies exploring how coding specific domains of the motor expertise of a model influences the motor system of an onlooker are currently going on (Candidi et al, Submitted; Vicario et al., In preparation).

Shared Attention and Social Communication

This line of research explores how specific actions of a model (e.g. eye gaze, pointing) influence the motor performance of an observed. This research is carried out in subjects without pathology (Crostella et al 2009, Experimental Brain Research, Cazzato et al, submitted) and in subjects with possible alteration of the empathic processes. Moreover, this paradigm is currently being used to explore the relationship between joint attention, personality, and political preferences (neuro-politics for short).

Neural Basis of Imitative Processes in Neurotypicals and Brain Lesioned Participant

This line of research is aimed at highlighting the neural systems involved in recognizing motor actions. Studies are performed in healthy subjects using TMS (Urgesi et al, Nature Neuroscience, 2007; Candidi et al, Social Neuroscience, 2008) and in brain-lesioned participants (Pazzaglia et al, Journal of Neuroscience, 2008; Pazzaglia et al, Current Biology, 2008)

Neurophysiological basis of economic and social decision making

This line of research explores the complex decision processes called into action when people deal with economic and social choices. We use a monetary gain-loose paradigm involving human-computer or human-human interactions to investigate the neural correlates of regret and disappointment (Pavone et al. in preparation) and of lie and deception (Panasiti et al, in preparation). EEG and thermography techniques are used.

Bodily illusions and self-other distinction

The research line aims at exploring the ability of human beings to recognize one’s own body in healthy subjects. Using a novel approach we demonstrated (Sforza et al, in revision) that even the fundamental ability of self-face recognition may be challenged in healthy humans by using the simple psychophysics visuo-tactile procedures we used for non facial body parts (Bosbach et al, Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 2009). Bodily illusions in healthy subjects (Bufalari et al, in preparation) and bodily delusions in brain damaged patients (Moro et al, In preparation) are also investigated. EEG, and behavioural techniques are used for these studies.