ANNA FERTONANI - CURRICULUM VITAE PERSONAL DETAILS: Data of birth: 24 th September 1982 Place of birth: Leno (BS), Italy Address: via Grignole 61, 25070 Caino (BS), Italy Nationality: Italian CURRENT POSITION: PhD - Researcher at the Cognitive Neuroscience Section headed by Professor C. Miniussi, IRCCS "San Giovanni di Dio - FBF" Brescia, Italy. Via Pilastroni, 4 25125 Brescia, Italy +39-030 3501594 - Phone +39-030 3533513 - Fax E-mail: anna.fertonani@cognitiveneuroscience.it; afertonani@fatebenefratelli.it ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: PhD in Science of neuroplasticity and neurofunctional recovery awarded on May 2012. University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy Graduated in Psychology (BSc in Clinical Psychology and MSc in Experimental Psychology and Cognitive- Behavioural Neuroscience), 110/110 cum laude awarded on December 2006. University of Padua, Faculty of Psychology, Italy. Final thesis entitled: Processing of numerical quantity in symbolic and non-symbolic format. Supervisor: Prof. M. Zorzi. RESEARCH EXPERIENCE: Present Researcher at the Cognitive Neuroscience Section headed by Professor C. Miniussi, IRCCS "San Giovanni di Dio - FBF" Brescia, Italy. 2011 (January December). Ph.D student in Science of neuroplasticity and neurofunctional recovery at the Cognitive Neuroscience Section headed by Professor C. Miniussi, IRCCS "San Giovanni di Dio - FBF" Brescia, Italy. 2010 (July- December). Research Assistant in the Cognitive Psychology Lab, at the Cognitive Neuroscience Section headed by Professor C. Miniussi, IRCCS "San Giovanni di Dio - FBF" Brescia, Italy. 2008-2009 Ph.D student in Science of neuroplasticity and neurofunctional recovery at the Cognitive Neuroscience Section headed by Professor C. Miniussi, IRCCS "San Giovanni di Dio - FBF" Brescia, Italy. 2007 (January December). Trainee in the Cognitive Psychology Lab, at the Cognitive Neuroscience Section headed by Professor C. Miniussi, IRCCS "San Giovanni di Dio - FBF" Brescia, Italy. 2006 (January November). Attending Student at the Department of General Psychology - University of Padova. Supervisor: Prof. M. Zorzi. 1
TEACHING EXPERIENCE: 2015, January Two seminars on transcranial electrical stimulation tes and tes and visual perceptual learning for the students of the Corso di Laurea Magistrale in Cognitive neuropsycology and clinical neuroscience", Faculty of Psychology, University of Padua, Padova, Italy A.Y. 2012/2013 2013/2014 2014/2015. Teaching for a 2nd Level Master Course in Neuropsychology: Assessment, Diagnosis and Rehabilitation, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Milano and Brescia, Italia. 2014, 26-27 June. Teaching for Theoretic and practical workshop on transcranial electrical stimulation, Brescia, Italy 2013, 8 July. Teaching for Theoretic and practical workshop on transcranial electrical stimulation, Brescia,Italy FELLOWSHIPS AND PRIZES: 2015. Winner of a Grant funded by the Bial Foundation Fellowship Programme 2014-2015 for the project "Cortical excitability and connectivity in the lifespan: a neurophysiological study". 2012. Young researcher award by Il Mulino Editor, at the XVIII National Congress of the Experimental Section of the Associazione Italiana di Psicologia (A.I.P.) 2011. Young Researcher Award for the Best Contribute at XIX Meeting of the Italian Society of Psychophysiology 2010. Research Assistant: Stimolazione elettrica ed eccitabilità corticale: un indagine elettroencefalografica. Cognitive Neuroscience Section, IRCCS "San Giovanni di Dio - FBF" Brescia, Italy. 2007. Research Assistant: Cognitive rehabilitation and transcranial magnetic stimulation in the firsts phases of Alzheimer Disease. Cognitive Neuroscience Section, IRCCS "San Giovanni di Dio - FBF" Brescia, Italy. RESEARCH INTERESTS: Modulation and study of cortical neuroplasticity phenomena in healthy and pathological subjects; Application of non-invasive brain stimulation techniques (Transcranial magnetic stimulation TMS, Transcranial Electrical Stimulations with direct current tdcs or random noise trns) to investigate cognitive functions such as language, learning and visual perception in healthy young and elderly subjects; Methodology of the psychophysiological research; Application of TMS and tdcs techniques in the neurorehabilitation field. EXPERTISE: Application of non-invasive brain stimulation techniques: transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial electrical stimulations (tdcs, trns, tacs). Execution of Neuropsychological assessments in healthy and patients. Drafting and preparation of research projects both in clinical and experimental field, grant application. Drafting and submission of scientific articles. Revision of scientific papers. Teaching experience. Supervision of pre- and post-graduate students during internship. Organization of conference events and seminars. Preparation of experimental paradigms; software: E-Prime, Presentation, Goldwave, BrainStim. 2
Familiarity with softwares: Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Presentation, Outlook); SPSS and Statistica (statistical analyses); EndNote. ATTENDED WORKSHOP/COURSES: International Workshop: Non-invasive Electrical Brain Stimulation (tdcs, tacs, trns): Basic and Applied Research Brescia, Italy, September 30, 2013 Workshop Corso teorico-pratico su Stimolazione Elettrica Transcranica Brescia, Italia, July 8, 2013 Bio-statistica course, held by Prof. Patrizio Pasqualetti. Brescia, Italy, April 19-21, May 17-19, June 15-16, 2011 Nuove prospettive della stimolazione transcranica elettrica (tes): tra sperimentazione e clinica. Brescia, Italy, November 12, 2010. Workshop neuronavigation SofTaxic Optic 2.0. Brescia, Italy, November 11, 2010. Corso teorico-pratico tdcs. Milano, Italy, December 3, 2009. The third annual workshop Attention and Awareness. Rovereto, Italy, October 29-31, 2009 PhD School: Scuola di Dottorato Piattaforma didattica comune. Roma, Italy, June 22-25, 2009. TMS Summer School. London, May 29-30, 2009. Physiological basis and therapeutic application of TMS and correlated techniques. Roma, Italy, October 26-27, 2007. CONFERENCES PARTICIPATION: Oral Presentations: A. Fertonani (2014). Stimolazione elettrica transcranica a corrente continua (tdcs). Corso Teorico e Pratico sulla Stimolazione Elettrica Transcranica (tdcs, tacs, trns) Brescia, September 25-26 A. Fertonani (2014). Stimolazione elettrica transcranica a corrente continua (tdcs). Le nuove frontiere della ricerca nella neuroscienza cognitiva Brescia, June 25 A. Fertonani (2013). tes e neuroriabilitazione del paziente con ictus cerebrale. Corso Teorico Pratico su Stimolazione Elettrica Transcranica (tdcs, tacs, trns) Brescia, July 8 A. Fertonani, M. Brambilla, M. Cotelli, C. Miniussi (2012). TDCS-induced naming facilitation in healthy-aging subjects: The importance of timing. XX Congresso Nazionale Società Italiana di PsicoFisiologia. Venezia, 22-24 November A. Fertonani (2012). Il ruolo del timing nell induzione di effetti di facilitazione linguistica: uno studio con stimolazione transcranica a corrente continua. XVIII Congresso Nazionale della Sezione di Psicologia sperimentale. Chieti, 20-22 September A. Fertonani, M. Brambilla, M. Cotelli, C. Miniussi (2012). Naming facilitation induced in healthy-aging subjects by transcranial direct current stimulation: The importance of timing. Riunione primaverile Società Italiana di Neuropsicologia (SINP). Bologna, May 4-5 A. Fertonani (2011). Random noise stimulation improves neuroplasticity in perceptual learning. XIX Meeting Italian Society of Psychophysiology (S.I.P.F.). Brescia, November 14-16 A. Fertonani (2011). Stimolazioni elettriche transcraniche (tes) e apprendimento percettivo. IRCCS Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, September 29. A. Fertonani (2010). Plasticity effects in visual perceptual learning: a transcranial random noise stimulation study. X National AfaR COnference. Brescia, Italy, September 27-29. M. Cotelli, A. Fertonani, M. Calabria, S. Rosini, A. Miozzo, A. Padovani, D. Malgrati, C. Miniussi (2008). TMS and tdcs in aphasia rehabilitation: new therapeutic perspectives. IX National AfaR Conference. Roma, Italy, October 16-18. 3
Poster Presentations: A.Fertonani, C. Pirulli & C. Miniussi (2014). "Facilitatory effects in a perceptual learning task through an inhibitory stimulation." International Congress of Clinical Neurophysiology". Berlin, Germany, March 20-23 C. Pirulli, A. Fertonani & C. Miniussi (2013). Facilitation effects of cathodal stimulation in a perceptual learning task: behind a simplistic approach of tes. International Workshop Non-invasive Electrical Brain Stimulation (tdcs, tacs, trns) Basic and Applied Research. Brescia, Italy, September 30 A. Fertonani (2012). Perceptual learning can be improved by transcranial random noise stimulation. European Conference on Visual Perception EVCP. Alghero, 2-6 September A. Fertonani, M. Brambilla, M. Cotelli, C. Miniussi (2012). Indurre effetti di facilitazione linguistica nell anziano grazie alla stimolazione transcranica a corrente continua: Il ruolo fondamentale del timing. XI Congresso Nazionale AFaR. Brescia, 10-12 September C. Pirulli, A. Fertonani, C. Miniussi (2011). Neuroplasticity induction in a perceptual learning task. Which is the best timing to apply tes? XIX Congresso Società Italiana di Psicofisiologia SIPF. Brescia, Italy, November 14-16 C. Pirulli, A. Fertonani, P.M. Rossini, C. Miniussi (2010). Plasticity effects in visual perceptual learning: a tes study XVIII congresso della Società Italiana di Psicofisiologia SIPF. Palermo, Italy, November 24-27. R. Manenti, S. Rosini, M. Cotelli, A. Fertonani, M. Calabria, A. Miozzo, A. Padovani, C. Miniussi (2010). Combined brain stimulation and cognitive rehabilitation in anomia. Second Meeting of the Federation of the European Societies of Neuropsychology (ESN). Amsterdam, September 21-24. M. Sandrini, A. Fertonani, L. Cohen, C. Miniussi (2010). Bilateral parietal tdcs shows a differential hemispheric involvement according to the verbal WM load. TMS Summer School. Oxford, June 28-29. S.F. Cappa, M. Cotelli, A. Fertonani, C. Miniussi, A. Miozzo, A. Padovani (2010). Combined brain stimulation and cognitive rehabilitation in anomia. 14th International Aphasia Rehabilitation Conference (IARC). Montreal, June 27-29. C. Pirulli, A. Fertonani, P.M. Rossini, C. Miniussi (2010). Plasticity effects in visual perceptual learning: a transcranial random noise stimulation study. Taormina, Italy, May 1. A. Fertonani, S. Rosini, M. Cotelli, U. Boldi, P.M. Rossini, C. Miniussi (2009). Facilitation effects of tdcs in a naming task. TMS Summer School. Londra, May 29-30. A. Fertonani, S. Rosini, C.Cotelli, C.Miniussi (2008). tdcs and naming. Conference of the Italian Society of Psychology (AIP) Experimental Section. Padova, Italy, September 18-20 A. Fertonani, S. Rosini, C.Cotelli, C.Miniussi (2008). tdcs and naming. IX National AfaR Conference. Roma, Italy, October 16-18. PUBLICATIONS: A. Fertonani, C. Ferrari and C. Miniussi (2015). "What do you feel if I apply transcranial electric stimulation? Safety, sensations and secondary induced effects". Clinical Neurophysiology. doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2015.03.015 A. Fertonani, M. Brambilla, M. Cotelli and C. Miniussi (2014). "The timing of cognitive plasticity in physiological aging: a tdcs study of naming". Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 6:131. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2014.00131 C. Pirulli, A. Fertonani and C. Miniussi (2014). "Is neural hyperpolarization by cathodal stimulation always detrimental at the behavioral level?". Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 8:226, doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2014.00226 C. Pirulli, A. Fertonani and C. Miniussi (2013). The role of timing in the induction of neuromodulation in perceptual learning by transcranial electric stimulation. Brain Stimulation, 6(4), 683-9. M. Sandrini, A. Fertonani, L.G. Cohen and C. Miniussi (2012). Double dissociation of working memory load effects induced by bilateral parietal modulation. Neuropsychologia, 50(3), 396-402. A. Fertonani, C. Pirulli and C. Miniussi (2011). Random noise stimulation improves neuroplasticity in perceptual learning. The Journal of Neuroscience.31(43):15416 15423. 4
M. Cotelli, A. Fertonani, A. Miozzo, S. Rosini, R. Manenti, A. Padovani, A.I. Ansaldo, S.F. Cappa and C. Miniussi (2011). Anomia training and brain stimulation in chronic aphasia. Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, 21 (5), 717 741. M. Sandrini, A. Fertonani, C. Miniussi (2010). A transcranial direct current stimulation study on working memory. Neuropsychological trends, 8, 104-106 A. Fertonani, S. Rosini, M. Cotelli, P.M. Rossini and C. Miniussi (2010). Naming facilitation induced by transcranial direct current stimulation. Behavioural Brain Research, 208, 311 318. C. Pirulli, A. Fertonani, P.M Rossini, C. Miniussi (2010). Plasticity effects in visual perceptual learning: a transcranial electrical stimulation (tes) study. Neuropsychological Trends. I authorise the processing of my personal information under D.Lgs. 196/03. Anna Fertonani 5