I hold both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Theoretical Physics from the University of Pisa. My Master’s thesis, within the field of statistical physics, focused on the quenching dynamics of the Ising model with long-range interactions. Subsequently, I shifted my research focus toward neuroscience, earning an MSc in Cognitive Neuroscience from the University of Sussex, where I conducted an fMRI study on vicarious reward and social power.
Currently, my doctoral research integrates the development of computational tools with experimental investigation:
Technical Development: I designed and developed a new MATLAB-based pipeline for the analysis of electrogastrogram (EGG) data, which will soon be released as an open-source resource for the scientific community.
Experimental Research: I have collaborated on neurostimulation studies (tVNS and tDCS) aimed at characterizing physiological (ECG, EGG) and behavioral (VAS) responses to physical and moral disgust. Specifically, I investigated the impact of these emotional experiences on moral decision-making through an economic card game. Another area of my research involves studying brain-gut coupling (EEG-EGG), analyzing how this interaction varies across different homeostatic states (hunger/satiety) and in response to emotional triggers.