Consciousness

Research lines of the group documented by publications in the period 2019-2023

Our laboratory studies the neural mechanisms through which we construct our conscious experience and make decisions. On the one hand, how we sample sensory input. On the other hand, how do we build representation maps (an internal model) of the sensory input. Finally, how do these two processes interact with each other.

Our investigations into the neural mechanisms of conscious processing and decision-making use computational models of psychophysical measures (Signal Detection Theory, Drift Diffusion Model) and noninvasive neurostimulation techniques (TMS and tACS) in combination with electrophysiological measures (EEG) in populations of healthy subjects, in different age groups, and in clinical and subclinical populations.

The main lines of research currently investigated include:

•  the study of the functional role of brain oscillations in sensory processes (extending to time perception) and of the predictive coding underlying conscious experience, examining their contribution in the diffusion of generative models built with experience within the brain hierarchy;
• the induction of plastic changes in the functional connections that control the sensory and cognitive processes underlying conscious experience to test the causal role of feedback connections;
• test the oscillatory properties of functional networks by developing new neurostimulation protocols guided by electrophysiological parameters. Particular attention is dedicated to the study of individual differences and different cognitive styles in the coordination of the bottom-up and top-down processes that govern our conscious experience.

Head

Vinecenzo Romei, Full professor

ERC Sectors

SH4 The Human Mind and Its Complexity: Cognitive science, psychology, linguistics, education

• SH4_3 Neuropsychology
• SH4_4 Cognitive and experimental psychology: perception, action, and higher cognitive processes

LS5 Neurosciences and Neural Disorders: Neurobiology, neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, neurochemistry, neuropharmacology, neuroimaging, systems neuroscience, neurological and psychiatric disorders

• LS5_4 Sensory systems (e.g. visual system, auditory system)
• LS5_7 Cognition (e.g. learning, memory, emotions, speech)
• LS5_8 Behavioural neuroscience (e.g. sleep, consciousness, handedness)
• LS5_12 Psychiatric disorders (e.g. schizophrenia, autism, Tourette’s syndrome, obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, bipolar disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)

Scientific Disciplinary Sector: M-PSI/02

Selected publications of the group for the period 2019-2023

• Samaha, J., & Romei, V. (2023). Alpha-Band Frequency and Temporal Windows in Perception: A Review and Living Meta-analysis of 27 Experiments (and Counting). Journal of cognitive neuroscience, 1–15. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1162/jocn_a_02069

• Tarasi, L., Martelli, M. E., Bortoletto, M., di Pellegrino, G., & Romei, V. (2023). Neural Signatures of Predictive Strategies Track Individuals Along the Autism-Schizophrenia Continuum. Schizophrenia bulletin, 49(5), 1294–1304. https://doi.org/10.1093/schbul/sbad105

• Tarasi, L., di Pellegrino, G., & Romei, V. (2022). Are you an empiricist or a believer? Neural signatures of predictive strategies in humans. Progress in neurobiology, 219, 102367. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pneurobio.2022.102367

• Chiappini, E., Sel, A., Hibbard, P. B., Avenanti, A., & Romei, V. (2022). Increasing interhemispheric connectivity between human visual motion areas uncovers asymmetric sensitivity to horizontal motion. Current biology : CB, 32(18), 4064–4070.e3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2022.07.050

• Di Luzio, P., Tarasi, L., Silvanto, J., Avenanti, A., & Romei, V. (2022). Human perceptual and metacognitive decision-making rely on distinct brain networks. PLoS biology, 20(8), e3001750. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3001750

• Di Gregorio, F., Trajkovic, J., Roperti, C., Marcantoni, E., Di Luzio, P., Avenanti, A., Thut, G., & Romei, V. (2022). Tuning alpha rhythms to shape conscious visual perception. Current biology : CB, 32(5), 988–998.e6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2022.01.003

Funding for the period 2019-2023

 International Projects

•  2022-2025 John Templeton Foundation. Searching for the Neural Foundaons of Spirituality and Religiosity in the predicve coding of the internal and external world. (PI: Cosimo Urgesi)
• 2023-2025 BIAL Foundation. The influence of emotions on actions: Boosting brain network plasticity to ameliorate action control. (PI: Sara Borgomaneri).
• 2019-2021 BIAL foundation. Boosting WM capacity by strengthening the oscillatory functional fronto-parietal pathway. Grant 204/18. (PI: Vincenzo Romei).

 National Projects

•  2023-2025 MIUR, PRIN. Predictive waves in human perception and individual differences along the autism-schizophrenia continuum (PI: Vincenzo Romei).
• 2023-2025 MIUR, PRIN PNRR. Investigating the plasticity of human predictive coding through neuromodulation. (PI: Vincenzo Romei).
• 2020-2023 Ministerio De Ciencia, Innovacion Y Universidades, Spain. The role of alpha oscillations in gating sensory processing during Working Memory maintenance. (PI: Claudia Poch).
• Fondi Ricerca Fondamentale Orientata (RFO), Università di Bologna

Active National and International Collaborations for the period 2019-2023

 International collaborations

• Jason Samaha (Santa Cruz, California, USA)
• Juha Silvanto (Surrey, UK)
• Gregor Thut (Glasgow, UK)
• Paul Sauseng (LMU; Germany)
• Marinella Cappelletti (Goldsmith, UK)
• Claudia Poch (Madrid, Spain)
• Nick Cooper (Essex, UK)
• Gethin Hughes (Essex, UK)
• Helge Gillmeister (Essex, UK)
• Paul Hibbard (Essex, UK)
• Elia Valentini (Essex, UK)
• Alex Sel (Essex, UK)
• Giulia Poerio (Essex, UK)

 National collaborations

•  Marta Bortoletto (IRCCS Centro San Giovanni di Dio, Fatebenefratelli, Brescia)
• Marcello Costantini (Università “G.D’Annunzio”)
• Francesca Ferri (Università “G.D’Annunzio”)
• Luca Ronconi (San Raffaele, Milano)
• Luca Battaglini (Università di Padova)
• Marco Bertamini (Università di Padova)
• Cosimo Urgesi (Università di Udine)

 Unibo collaborations

• Stefano Diciotti - Department of Electrical, Electronic, and Information Engineering "Guglielmo Marconi"
• Elisa Magosso - Department of Electrical, Electronic, and Information Engineering "Guglielmo Marconi"
• Mauro Ursino - Department of Electrical, Electronic, and Information Engineering "Guglielmo Marconi"
• Giuseppe di Pellegrino, PSI/02
• Alessio Avenanti, Dipartimento PSI, SSD M-PSI/02
• Maragrazia Benassi, Dipartimento PSI, SSD M-PSI/03

Editorial activities in the period 2019-2023

 Vincenzo Romei

• Editorial Board Member of Nature Scientific Report
• Academic Editor in Biomedicines
• Associate Editor for Frontiers in Cognitive Neuroscience
• Associate Editor for Frontiers in Psychology
• Associate Editor for Frontiers in Neuroimaging

Caterina Bertini

• Editorial Board Member of Nature Scientific Report
• Reviewing Editor for Frontiers in Psychology

Fellow in scientific academies and / or executive committees of scientific associations for the period 2019-2023

 Member of the Society for Neuroscience (SfN)

Member of Società Italiana di Psicologia Fisiologica e Neuroscienze Cognitive (SIPF)