Ricerc@Sapienza

Abstract: Increasingly, refined virtual reality (VR) techniques allow for the simultaneous and coherent
stimulation of multiple sensory and motor domains. In some clinical interventions, such as those
related to spinal cord injuries (SCIs), the impact of VR on people′s multisensory perception, movements,
attitudes, and even modulations of socio‐cognitive aspects of their behavior may influence
every phase of their rehabilitation treatment, from the acute to chronic stages. This work describes

Although strangulation is generally homicidal, the scientific literature reports several cases in which it is suicidal or even accidental. The former eventuality is particularly interesting because extremely atypical ligatures (such as locks of hair), complex dynamics, and uncommon findings can be involved. Only a meticulous evaluation of the body and of both direct and circumstantial evidence can help in the complex differential diagnosis that includes murder, suicide, and accident. In accidental strangulation, the number and severity of injuries depend on the magnitude of applied force.

Growing evidence indicates that perceptual-motor codes may be associated with and influenced by actual bodily states. Following a spinal cord injury (SCI), for example, individuals exhibit reduced visual sensitivity to biological motion. However, a dearth of direct evidence exists about whether profound alterations in sensorimotor traffic between the body and brain influence audio-motor representations. We tested 20 wheelchair-bound individuals with lower skeletal-level SCI who were unable to feel and move their lower limbs, but have retained upper limb function.

Neuroplastic changes in somatotopic organization within the motor and somatosensory systems have long been observed. The interruption of afferent and efferent brain-body pathways promotes extensive cortical reorganization. Changes are majorly related to the typical homuncular organization of sensorimotor areas and specific "somatotopic interferences". Recent findings revealed a relevant peripheral contribution to the plasticity of body representation in addition to the role of sensorimotor cortices.

Background: Pain is a marker of bodily status, that despite being aversive under most conditions, may also be perceived as a positive experience. However, how bodily states represent, define, and interpret pain signals, and how these processes might be reflected in common language, remains unclear.Methods: Qualitative and quantitative methods were used to explore the relationship between bodily awareness, pain reactions, and descriptions.

Although several outcome measures are used to assess various areas of interest regarding spinal cord injuries (SCIs), little is known about the frequency of their use, and the ways in which they transform shared knowledge into implemented practices. Herein, 800 professionals from the International Spinal Cord Society, especially trained for caring in patients with SCI, were invited to respond to an Internet survey collecting information on the use of standardized measures in daily clinical practices.

The development of technological applications that allow people to control and embody external devices within social interaction settings represents a major goal for current and future brain-computer interface (BCI) systems

The efficient control of our body and success- ful interaction with the environment are possible through the integration of multisensory information. Brain–computer interface (BCI) may allow people with sensorimotor dis- orders to actively interact in the world. In this study, visual information was paired with auditory feedback to improve the BCI control of a humanoid surrogate. Healthy and spinal cord injured (SCI) people were asked to embody a humanoid robot and complete a pick-and- place task by means of a visual evoked potentials BCI system.

«Embodiment» is a term that highlights how our sense of the body is plastic and can be extended beyond the biological self to incorporate a salient tool. Theoretical bases are grounded in the widely discussed concepts of embodiment, tool use, and body representation. To support these claims, we will first explore highlight a pathway in the confusing scenario of the consequences of dynamic bodily representations. The primary interest is to explore the potentialities of embodiment, and to assess human experiences that can be directly measured concerning partial or complete bodily illusions.

Veterans with disability represent a big burden worldwide and often require long-term rehabilitation. Unhealthy dietary and lifestyle habits, including smoke and alcohol abuse, are common in veterans. In the context of integrative medicine approaches, the "complementary and alternative medicine" has been suggested for the management of chronic diseases. However, the potential risk of interaction between herbal products, dietary supplements and drugs must be considered in veterans. The Mediterranean diet has been suggested as a natural, non-pharmacological nutraceutical for healthy ageing.