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Characterization of the interaction between internal and external signals in constructing bodily self awareness
Funding: PNRR
The aim of the project is to study how sensory and motor signals interact in the
construction of bodily self-awareness and its neural bases, with a focus on the thermosensory dimension. We analyse the
functional organisation of brain networks that integrate multisensory information, using the neuropsychological approach
that links brain lesions and behavioural changes, applied to body ownership disorders. A dedicated protocol assesses
thermoregulation, thermoception, sensorimotor functions, and bodily awareness in patients with right-brain lesions. To
identify the neural correlates of thermosensory information and their role in body perception, we employ advanced
lesional neuroimaging techniques, correlating physiological data and lesions in specific brain regions. Furthermore, in
patients with focal brain lesions in the acute post-stroke phase, we analyse which brain disconnections are associated with
sensorimotor disorders.
These findings could improve diagnosis and prognosis in stroke patients by
identifying key brain regions and network disconnections underlying thermosensory and ownership deficits. They may
inform targeted rehabilitation strategies, such as neurostimulation or sensory-based therapies, and support the
development of assistive technologies like neurofeedback systems. Additionally, they provide a framework for exploring
multisensory integration in other neurological and psychiatric disorders.
Cluster applicativi:
Health, Healthcare
Health, Healthcare
Settori Scientifico Disciplinari
Spoke 4 : Perception and Brain-Body Interaction
