Responsible: Claudia Casellato, Egidio D’Angelo
Research group: Stefano Masoli, Danilo Benozzo, Filippo Marchetti, Dimitri Rodarie, Alberto Vergani, Martina Rizza, Marialaura De Grazia, Dianela Osorio, Pio Francesco Ercolino, Emiliano Buttarazzi

The laboratory provides the ideal environment to develop neural models, based on biophysical cellular mechanisms, able to generate network dynamics and behavioral correlates. We mainly focus on cerebellar regions.
We have a long track record in reconstruction of the cerebellar microcircuit, with multiple neuron types, structural and functional connectivity, based on the most updated neurophysiological data. We develop plasticity mechanisms within the network in closed-loop control systems to investigate the learning properties, also in cerebellar pathological states or under neural perturbations. We use multiple neural simulators

A PhD student will have the possibility to choose amongst different specific projects by covering various aspects of the investigation of neural modeling. See our web site for further details https://dangelo.unipv.it/ . For orientation, the main project lines are:

• Single neuron modelling and simulation
• Computational modelling of neurons and circuits of the rodent and human brain
• Computational models of cerebellar dysfunction in pathology (ataxia, dystonia, paroxysmal dyskinesia, autism, schizophrenia)
• Cerebellar networks in hybrid virtual brain models
• The computational basis of learning in the cerebellar circuit
• Closed-loop robotic controllers for motor learning and control

The projects (https://dangelo.unipv.it/researchlab/projects/) are developed and financed within a collaborative national and international network, which comprises PNRR projects (MNESYS, CN1, FIT4MEDROB, EBRAINS-Italy), EU projects (EBRAINS 2.0, VBT, the CEN consortium) and Italian PRIN grants (Ataxia, PRRT2)