SOMALab—Sensory Organization of the Mind in Action—studies the neurobiological mechanisms through which the central nervous system integrates sensory information from the body and the environment. This multisensory organization contributes to the construction of body representation, guides action, and underpins the most basic forms of social cognition.
The laboratory’s research aims to understand how these processes emerge during development, how they are modified by experience, and what alterations may be associated with conditions of psychopathological vulnerability.
The scientific activities are organized into three main lines of research.
Prenatal Development of Multisensory Integration - This line of research studies the emergence of multisensory abilities during prenatal life and the role played by the maternal-fetal environment in their organization. Through the study of fetal behavior and brain activity, the research investigates the precursors of perceptual, bodily, and relational skills observable after birth and how these are shaped by prenatal sensory experiences.
Plasticity of Multisensory Integration - This area of research analyzes the ability of multisensory systems to change in response to experience. Particular attention is given to the contribution of motor and social action and experience.
Multisensory Integration and Psychopathology – This line of research investigates changes in multisensory processing associated with psychopathology, with particular reference to schizophrenia spectrum disorders and other psychotic disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder and related disorders, as well as disorders related to traumatic and stressful events. The goal is to identify the neurobiological and psychophysiological mechanisms through which an individual’s history and relational context can influence the relationship between the body, perception, and behavior.
National and international collaborations are a central component of SOMALab’s activities and allow for the integration of complementary neuroscientific, clinical, gynecological, and methodological expertise.
Main Methodologies
SOMALab’s experimental work integrates different levels of analysis.
The neuroimaging methodologies include 3T structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and fetal MRI, which are used to study the anatomical and functional organization of brain systems in adults and during prenatal development.
The study of fetal development integrates MRI with obstetric ultrasound, Doppler analysis, and kinematic analysis of fetal behavior. These approaches allow for the noninvasive examination of brain development, fetal motor activity, and responses to environmental stimuli, as well as certain aspects of maternal-fetal physiological dynamics.
The neurophysiological and psychophysiological methodologies include electroencephalography and the recording of autonomic nervous system indices, including electrodermal activity and cardiac and respiratory parameters. These measurements allow for the analysis of the temporal dynamics of brain and bodily responses during the processing of sensory, affective, and social stimuli.
Behavioral and oculometric measures include experimental paradigms for studying multisensory integration, body representation, and peripersonal space, along with eye tracking to record eye movements and visual exploration patterns.
Main equipment:
SOMALab utilizes the following equipment both in the laboratory and through the clinical facilities with which it collaborates:
- a 128-channel high-density EEG system with Geodesic Sensor Net (Magstim EGI);
- Discovery MR750 3 T MRI scanner (GE HealthCare);
- Tobii Pro X3-120 120 Hz eye-tracking system;
- PowerLab 8/30 multichannel system for EMG, ECG, and GSR recordings with Octal Bio Amp FE238 (ADInstruments);
- VIVE Pro 2 Full Kit immersive virtual reality system (HTC);
- 1×1 system for transcranial electrical stimulation (tES), Model 2001 (Soterix Medical);
- X1E 3D printer (Bambu Lab);
- systems for obstetric ultrasound, Doppler ultrasound, and neurosonography (Samsung Medison);
- devices for the controlled delivery of vibrotactile (Dancer Design), visual, and auditory fetal stimulation;
- workstations and software for processing behavioral, physiological, and neuroimaging data.
For up-to-date information on group members, research projects, collaborations, publications, and thesis opportunities, visit www.somalab.unipr.it
Keywords:
multisensory integration; body representation; brain plasticity; prenatal development; fetal behavior; action; peripersonal space; trauma; psychopathology; neuroimaging.
