I was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I obtained my bachelor degree in Physical Education in 2005 and started my scientific career in the same year at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) in Brazil, studying brain mapping and sensorimotor integration. I obtained my M.S. and Ph.D. in Psychiatry and Mental Health from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) in 2008 and 2011 respectively, at Brain Mapping and Sensorimotor Integration Laboratory. I am presently working as a postdoctoral scientist at Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) in Panic and Respiration Laboratory. Moreover, I am researcher of National Institute of Translational Medicine (INCT-TM), Brazil. I am also invited professor of Central University of Chile in Faculty of Health Sciences (Quiropraxia Program).
I am specialist in Motor Learning and Motor Control. So, I am interested in the mechanisms involved in sensorimotor integration not only in healthy people, but also in neurological and psychiatric disorders.
At the moment, in post-doc, my main research projects deal with cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), motor imagery, mirror neurons, psychoactive and psychotropic drugs, quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS).
In Central University, my main research project as invited professor deals with quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).
Abstract:
This study aimed to elucidate cortical mechanisms involved in anticipatory actions when 23 healthy right-handed subjects had to catch a free falling object through quantitative electroencephalogram (qEEG). For this reason, we used coherence that represents a measurement of linear covariation between two signals in the frequency domain. In addition, we investigated gamma-band (30-100 Hz) activity that is related to cognitive and somatosensory processes. We hypothesized that gamma coherence will be increase in both parietal and occipital areas during moment after ball drop, due to their involvement in manipulation of objects, visuospatial processing, visual perception, stimuli identification and attention processes. We confirmed our hypothesis, an increase in gamma coherence on P3-P4 (t= -2.15; p=0.033) and PZ-OZ (t= -2.16; p=0.034) electrode pairs was verified for a paired t-test. We conclude that to execute tasks involving anticipatory movements (feedforward mechanisms), like our own task, probably, there is no need of a strong participation of visual areas in the process of information organization to manipulate objects and to process visuospatial information regarding the contact hand-object.
Abstract:
This study investigated the effects of bromazepam on qEEG when 14 healthy subjects were asked to perform a visuomotor task (i.e., motor vehicle driving task). The subjects were exposed to two experimental conditions: the placebo (PL) and 6 mg of bromazepam (Br 6 mg), following a randomized, double-blind design on different days. Specifically, we observe absolute power extracted from qEEG data for theta band. We expected to see a decrease in absolute theta power in the temporal and parietal areas due to the influence of bromazepam for the experimental group when compared with the placebo group. We found a main effect for the condition factor for electrodes T3, T4, P3 and P4. We also observed a main effect for the period factor for electrodes P3 and P4. We observed that the ingestion of 6 mg of bromazepam induces different patterns in theta power at the temporal and parietal sites. We concluded that 6 mg of bromazepam was an important factor in the fluctuation of the activities in the temporal and parietal areas. We then hypothesize about the specific role of this drug during the execution of a visuomotor task and within the sensorimotor integration process.
Abstract: Abstract Objectives. Recent evidence is reviewed to examine relationships among sensorimotor and cognitive aspects in some important psychiatry disorders. This study reviews the theoretical models in the context of sensorimotor integration and the abnormalities reported in the most common psychiatric disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, autism spectrum disorder and squizophrenia. Methods. The bibliographical search used Pubmed/Medline, ISI Web of Knowledge, Cochrane data base and Scielo databases. The terms chosen for the search were: Alzheimer's disease, AD, autism spectrum disorder, and Squizophrenia in combination with sensorimotor integration. Fifty articles published in English and were selected conducted from 1989 up to 2010. Results. We found that the sensorimotor integration process plays a relevant role in elementary mechanisms involved in occurrence of abnormalities in most common psychiatric disorders, participating in the acquisition of abilities that have as critical factor the coupling of different sensory data which will constitute the basis of elaboration of consciously goal-directed motor outputs. Whether these disorders are associated with an abnormal peripheral sensory input or defective central processing is still unclear, but some studies support a central mechanism. Conclusion. Sensorimotor integration seems to play a significant role in the disturbances of motor control, like deficits in the feedforward mechanism, typically seen in AD, autistic and squizophrenic patients.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: The present study examined absolute alpha power using quantitative electroencephalogram (qEEG) in bilateral temporal and parietal cortices in novice soldiers under the influence of methylphenidate (MPH) during the preparatory aiming period in a practical pistol-shooting task. We anticipated higher bi-hemispheric cortical activation in the preparatory period relative to pre-shot baseline in the methylphenidate group when compared with the control group because methylphenidate has been shown to enhance task-related cognitive functions. METHODS: Twenty healthy, novice soldiers were equally distributed in control (CG; n = 10) and MPH groups 10 mg (MG; n = 10) using a randomized, double blind design. Subjects performed a pistol-shooting task while electroencephalographic activity was acquired. RESULTS: We found main effects for group and practice blocks on behavioral measures, and interactions between group and phases on electroencephalographic measures for the electrodes T3, T4, P3 and P4. Regarding the behavioral measures, the MPH group demonstrated significantly poorer in shooting performance when compared with the control and, in addition, significant increases in the scores over practice blocks were found on both groups. In addition, regarding the electroencephalographic data, we observed a significant increase in alpha power over practice blocks, but alpha power was significantly lower for the MPH group when compared with the placebo group. Moreover, we observed a significant decrease in alpha power in electrodes T4 and P4 during PTM. CONCLUSION: Although we found no correlation between behavioral and EEG data, our findings show that MPH did not prevent the learning of the task in healthy subjects. However, during the practice blocks (PBs) it also did not favor the performance when compared with control group performance. It seems that the CNS effects of MPH demanded an initial readjustment period of integrated operations relative to the sensorimotor system. In other words, MPH seems to provoke a period of initial instability due to a possible modulation in neural activity, which can be explained by lower levels of alpha power (i.e., higher cortical activity). However, after the end of the PB1 a new stabilization was established in neural circuits, due to repetition of the task, resulting higher cortical activity during the task. In conclusion, MPH group performance was not initially superior to that of the control group, but eventually exceeded it, albeit without achieving statistical significance
Abstract: Problem statement: Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) is a noninvasive procedure whereby a pulsed magnetic field stimulates electrical activity in the brain. Dystonia is characterized by several disabling symptoms for which effective, mechanism-based treatments remain elusive. Approach: Consequently, more advanced non-invasive therapeutic methods were required. A possible method to modulate brain activity and potentially viable for use in clinical practice was rTMS. We focus on the basic foundation of rTMS, the effects of rTMS on neuroplasticity and sensorimotor integration and the experimental advances of rTMS that may become a viable clinical application to treat dystonia. Results: The findings showed that rTMS can improve some symptoms associated with dystonia and might be useful for promoting cortical plasticity in dystonic patients. These changes were transient and it is premature to propose these applications as realistic therapeutic options, even though the rTMS technique has shown itself to be, potentially, a modulator of sensorimotor integration and neuroplasticity. Conclusion/Recommendations: Functional imaging of the region of interest could highlight the capacity of rTMS to bring about plastic changes of the cortical circuitry and hint at future novel clinical interventions. We recommend further studies to clearly determine the role of rTMS in the treatment of these conditions. Finally, we must remember that however exciting the neurobiological mechanisms might be, the clinical usefulness of rTMS will be determined by their ability to provide patients with neurological and psychiatric disorders with safe, long-lasting and substantial improvements in quality of life.
Abstract: INTRODUCTION. Functional electrical stimulation (FES) is a technique used for rehabilitation of motor and sensory dysfunction and consisted in the application of neuromuscular electrical stimulation concurrently with a functional activity. Previous studies suggest that sensory motor processing during FES stimulation of hand is similar to that of voluntary hand movement. AIM. To examine the changes in theta band (4-8 Hz) coherence in the centro-parietal and temporo-parietal junction during a FES task. Our hypothesis is that different conditions of electro-stimulation can produce changes in the theta band coherence in the sensory-motor and multisensory integration. SUBJECTS AND METHODS. The sample was composed of 24 students, male (n =14) and female (n =10), between 25 and 40 years old. Subjects were randomly distributed in three groups: control group (n = 8), G24 (n = 8) and G36 (n = 8). The control group simulated four blocks without electrostimulation been applied. The G24 group was exposed to four blocks of electrostimulation. The G36 group was exposed to six blocks of electrostimulation. We employed FES equipment to stimulate the extension of the right index finger and the electroencephalographic signal was simultaneously recorded. RESULTS. A main effect was found for the condition, block and electrode in the centro-parietal junction, although we only found a main effect for condition and electrode in the temporo-parietal junction. CONCLUSION. Our results suggest that the functional coupling between the central and parietal areas is directly connected to the priming memory function, although the coupling between temporal and parietal areas is related to the working memory.
Abstract: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive procedure whereby a pulsed magnetic field stimulates electrical activity in the brain. Anxiety disorders are the most common of all mental health problems for which effective, mechanism-based treatments remain elusive. Consequently, more advanced noninvasive therapeutic methods are required. A possible method to modulate brain activity and potentially viable for use in clinical practice is rTMS. Here, we focus on the main findings of rTMS from animal models of anxiety and the experimental advances of rTMS that may become a viable clinical application to treat anxiety disorders, one of the most common causes of disability in the workplace in the world. Key advances in combining rTMS with neuroimaging technology may aid such future developments.
Abstract: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive procedure whereby a pulsed magnetic field stimulates electrical activity in the brain. Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative process characterized by numerous motor and nonmotor clinical manifestations for which effective, mechanism-based treatments remain elusive. Consequently, more advanced non-invasive therapeutic methods are required. A possible method of rehabilitation that may be effective and potentially viable for use in clinical practice is rTMS. Here, we focus on the basic foundation of rTMS, the main findings of rTMS from animal models, the effects of rTMS on sensorimotor integration in patients with PD, and the experimental advances of rTMS that may become a viable clinical application to treat the disease.
Abstract: Unlike for depression, only few studies are available today investigating the therapeutic effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for anxiety disorders. This review aims to provide information on the current research approaches and main findings regarding the therapeutic use of rTMS in the context of various anxiety disorders. Although positive results have frequently been reported in both open and randomized controlled studies, our review of all identified studies indicates that at present no conclusive evidence of the efficacy of rTMS for the treatment for anxiety disorders is provided. Several treatment parameters have been used, making the interpretation of the results difficult. Moreover, sham-controlled research has often been unable to distinguish between response to rTMS and sham treatment. However, there is a limitation in the rTMS methods that likely impacts only the superficial cortical layers. It is not possible to directly stimulate more distant cortical areas, and also subcortical areas, relevant to the pathogenesis of anxiety disorders, though such effects in subcortical areas are thought to be indirect, via trans-synaptic connections. We thus recommend further studies to clearly determine the role of rTMS in the treatment of anxiety disorders. Key advances in combining TMS with neuroimaging technology may aid in such future developments.
