Laura Zapparoli, PhD

University Of Milano-Bicocca, Dep. of Psychology laura.zapparoli@unimib.it

Laura Zapparoli is Assistant Professor of Psychobiology at the University of Milano-Bicocca.

Her main research interest is the cognitive neuroscience of action from the more cognitive aspects (e.g., motor imagery, intentionality - volition - sense of agency), down to explicit execution of motor acts and the ensuing motor awareness. She has explored these topics in healthy subjects, with particular attention to the changes associated with the adult life-span and the physiological processes of aging (Zapparoli et al., 2013, 2014, 2016b, 2019a, 2020b, 2022a), but also in clinical populations (Zapparoli et al., 2015, 2016a, 2017b, 2019b, 2020d) and orthopedic patients (Zapparoli et al., 2020a).

Recently, she has oriented her research to the study of more cognitive aspects of motor control, such as motor intentionality and the sense of agency (Zapparoli et al., 2018, 2020c), also in the domain of joint actions (Zapparoli et al., 2022b). These topics have been investigated using behavioral, fMRI, EEG, TMS, tDCS and meta-analytical techniques. All the cited papers are available by clicking the hyperlink on the year of the publication.

Research Interests

Food perception and obesity

In this research project, we are currently studying the cognitive and neural processes associated with implicit and explicit processing of food stimuli. Moreover, we are also investigating the behavioural and neurofunctional effects of deep repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (deep rTMS) on implicit and explicit attitudes towards food in obese patients.

Motor cognition across the adult life-span

There is a rich body of literature documenting age-related patterns of brain activity associated with the changes in cognitive function that are typical of normal aging. We are currently investigating the neurofunctional compensatory processes associated with aging in the domain of motor functions, using a variety of motor tasks, ranging from simple to complex movements, with both explicit and implicit tasks, also during joint action paradigms.

Motor control in movement disorders

The aim of this research project is to characterize, with Functional Magnetic Resonance (fMRI), the abnormalities of control and motor awareness in patients with extrapyramidal syndromes, such as Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome or Parkinson’s Disease. This is done by comparing fMRI activation patterns recorded in these patients during the execution of different motor tasks with those measured in healthy subjects. This research project is the result of the collaboration with the Movement Disorders Centre of Galeazzi Hospital (Prof. Mauro Porta and Dr. Domenico Servello).

Motor control and rehabilitation in orthopaedic patients

The purpose of this research project is to investigate with Functional Magnetic Resonance (fMRI), the effects on cortical activity of prolonged immobilization or a reduced use of the upper or lower limbs resulting from orthopaedic surgery (rheumatoid arthroplasty and knee arthroplasty). In addition, we are currently evaluating the behavioural and neurophysiological impact of a mental training based on motor imagination tasks in immobilized patients. This research topic is the result of the collaboration with the Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Unit and the Orthopaedic Surgery Units of the Galeazzi Hospital.