Brain connectivity

The work of the multidisciplinary Brain Connectivity Research Unit is based on a collaboration between the IRCCS Mondino Foundation, the University of Pavia (UNIPV, https://dangelo.unipv.it) and the European Commission’s Human Brain Project (HBP, https://www.humanbrainproject.eu/en).

The advanced research projects it pursues, with the aim of shedding light on central nervous system functions and disorders, involve experimental observations at cellular-molecular level, analysis of large-scale signals detected by quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (qMRI), and mathematical modeling.

The Unit uses the 3T MRI scanner as well as other recording and neurostimulation technologies available at the Mondino Foundation research hospital (IRCCS), and it maintains numerous national and international collaborations, in particular with University College London, for nuclear magnetic resonance studies. The Brain Connectivity Center (BCC) has its basic research laboratories at the Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences and Center for Health and Technology of the University of Pavia. It is involved in Italian Health Ministry “Current Research” (Ricerca Corrente) and “Targeted Research” (Ricerca Finalizzata) projects and coordinates two of the project areas within the network of IRCCS Neuroscience and Neurorehabilitation Institutes.

Its research activity covers the following areas:

• Experimental analysis and modeling of neuronal functions and synaptic plasticity
• Structural, functional and connectivity analysis of brain circuits using MRI techniques
• Extraction of biologically relevant information by means of qMRI in humans
• Simulation of brain functions through virtual brain modeling
• Experimental and modeling-based study of sensorimotor and cognitive control
• Experimental and modeling-based study of disorders of the nervous system, including neurodegenerative and neurovascular disorders, movement disorders, epilepsy and headache