Erica Varoli

CURRICULUM

Born in Busto Arsizio (VA, Italy) on December, 11th 1989, I earned my Master’s degree in “Clinical Psychology, Developmental Psychology and Neuropsychology” in 2015, at the University of Milano-Bicocca (110/110 cum Laude). Since 2015, I am doing research activity at the University of Milano-Bicocca in cognitive neuroscience. My research work is focused on the neural correlates of higher cognitive functions by the use of non-invasive cerebral stimulation techniques, such as Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS). Moreover, I am also interested in neuroeconmics, investigating the neurophysiological marker of economic behaviours. Since September 2016, I am a PhD student in Neuroscience at the University of Milano-Bicocca, with a research project focused on the study of cortical excitability, connectivity and plasticity, on healthy subjects, using an integrated system combining Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Electroencephalography (TMS-EEG).

RESEARCH PROJECT

Tracking the effect of cathodal direct current stimulation on cortical excitability and connectivity by means of TMS-EEG

  • Track: Clinical Neuroscience
  • Tutor: Leonor J. Romero Lauro

Despite transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is increasingly used in experimental and clinical settings, its precise mechanisms of action remain largely unknown. At a neuronal level, tDCS modulates the cortical excitability by shifting the resting membrane potential in a polarity-dependent way: anodal stimulation increases the spontaneous firing rate in the stimulated region, while cathodal decreases it. However, it seems that the neurophysiological underpinnings of anodal and cathodal tDCS differ, as well as their effect on behaviour. In a previous study it has been investigated the tDCS anodal’s role in the cortical excitability, by a combination of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and Electroencephalography (EEG). The main advantage in using the TMS-EEG technique is to provide real-time and direct information on cortical reactivity. Results of a previous study, indeed, showed a diffuse rise of cortical excitability in a bilateral fronto-parietal networks. The present project aims at exploring the effects of cathodal stimulation to better understand if there are cathodal tDCS effects and whether they are opposite to the anodal ones at rest, also in different areas from the motor cortex. On the other hand, it is also possible to understand why, during a task, the cathodal stimulation seems to be less effective.

RECENT PUBLICATIONS AND CONGRESSES

Publications

Congresses

Oral Presentations

  • Varoli E, Romero Lauro L.J, Pisoni A, Mattavelli G, Rosanova M, Bolognini N, Vallar G. (2017). “Tracking the effect of cathodal direct current stimulation on cortical excitability and connectivity by means of TMS-EEG”, talk in International Symposium on Neurobiology, NeuroMi 2017, University of Milano-Bicocca, 13th-15th September, 2017.
  • Varoli E, Vergallito A, Lo Gerfo E, Anzani S, Brambilla M, Sacchi S, Romero Lauro L.J. (2016). “The height of power: how grandeur experience affects the perception of peri & extrapersonal space”, talk in Cognitive Science Arena (CSA), Brixen/Bressanone 19th-20th February 2016.

Poster Presentations

  • Varoli E, Pisoni A, Mattavelli G, Vergallito A, Rosanova M, Vallar G, Romero Lauro L J (2018). “Using TMS-EEG to better understand the effects of cathodal direct current stimulation on cortical excitability and connectivity”, Poster Session in Fourth NeuroMi International Meeting. Brain Stimulation and Brain Plasticity: from Basic Research to Clinical Practice. University of Milano-Bicocca, 21th-23th November, 2018.
  • Varoli E, Pisoni A, Mattavelli G, Vergallito A, Rosanova M, Vallar G, Romero Lauro L J (2018). “Using TMS-EEG to better understand the effects of cathodal direct current stimulation on cortical excitability and connectivity”, Poster Session in XXVI Congresso della Società Italiana di Psicofisiologia e Neuroscienze Cognitive (SIPF), Aula Magna della Cavallerizza Reale, Torino, 15th-17th November, 2018.
  • Varoli E, Pisoni A, Mattavelli G, Rosanova M, Bolognini N, Vallar G, Romero Lauro L.J. (2017). “Tracking the effect of cathodal direct current stimulation on cortical excitability and connectivity by means of TMS-EEG”, Poster Session in European Workshop on Cognitive Neuropsychology 2018, Brixen/Bressanone, 21th-26th January, 2018.
  • Varoli E, Pisoni A, Mattavelli G, Rosanova M, Bolognini N, Vallar G, Romero Lauro L.J. (2017). “Tracking the effect of cathodal direct current stimulation on cortical excitability and connectivity by means of TMS-EEG”, Poster Session in VI Congresso della Società Italiana di Neuropsicologia (SINP), Palermo, 24th-25th November, 2017.
  • Varoli E, Pisoni A, Mattavelli G, Rosanova M, Bolognini N, Vallar G, Romero Lauro L.J. (2017). “Tracking the effect of cathodal direct current stimulation on cortical excitability and connectivity by means of TMS-EEG”, Poster Session in XXV Congresso della Società Italiana di Psicofisiologia e Neuroscienze Cognitive (SIPF), Ospediale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Roma, 15th-18th November, 2017.
  • Vergallito A, Lo Gerfo E, Varoli E, Brambilla M, Sacchi S, Romero Lauro L.J. (2017). ”Power in The Brain: Recalling Powerful Behaviour Expands Body Schema Boundaries”, Poster Session in Ten year of Mind/Brain Scienses at the University of Trento. How the past can determine our future, CiMeC, Rovereto, October 19th – 21th,
  • Varoli E, Romero Lauro L.J, Pisoni A, Mattavelli G, Rosanova M, Bolognini N, Vallar G. (2017). “Tracking the effect of cathodal direct current stimulation on cortical excitability and connectivity by means of TMS-EEG”, Poster Session in Cutting EEG Symposium, Institute of Neuroscience & Psychology, University of Glasgow, 19th-22th June, 2017.
  • Vergallito A, Lo Gerfo E, Varoli E, Anzani S, Brambilla M, Sacchi S, Romero Lauro L.J. (2015).”L’altezza del potere: uno studio TMS” (“The high of power: a TMS study”), Poster Session in XXI Congresso Nazionale della Sezione di Psicologia sperimentale (AIP), Rovereto, September 10th – 12th
Elisabetta Donzelli
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