Curriculum
Neuroscience, Technology, and Society, XLI series
Grant sponsor
UNIPD
Supervisor
Sara Mondini
Co-supervisor
to be defined
Contact
giulia.sebastianutto@phd.unipd.it
Project description
This project, “Brain plasticity in neuro-oncological patients: the role of cognitive reserve in modulating brain reorganisation and cognitive efficiency before and after surgery”, investigates how cognitive reserve (CR) influences neural and cognitive outcomes in individuals with brain tumours. Brain plasticity—the brain’s capacity to reorganize structurally and functionally after damage—plays a crucial role in recovery from slowly growing lesions such as low-grade gliomas. These tumours offer a unique model to study adaptive reorganization occurring both before and after surgery. The project aims to clarify how CR, a construct reflecting the brain’s ability to compensate for damage through lifelong cognitive engagement, modulates brain plasticity and cognitive efficiency in this clinical population. Specifically, it will (1) examine the relationship between CR proxies and brain reorganisation prior to surgery; (2) explore how CR and neural plasticity affect cognitive trajectories across three timepoints—pre-surgery, post-surgery, and four-month follow-up; and (3) assess whether CR and pre-surgical brain organization influence rehabilitation outcomes. The research involves neurosurgical patients undergoing MRI and neuropsychological assessment. It includes an 8-week cognitive rehabilitation program, followed by outcome evaluation. A subset of patients with high CR will receive a more demanding, technology-enhanced virtual reality (VR) protocol to test whether complex interventions yield greater benefits for this group. This interdisciplinary project integrates cognitive neuroscience and computer science, combining neuroimaging, computational modelling, and VR-based rehabilitation. It is expected to identify predictive relationships between CR and brain reorganization. Findings will inform personalized rehabilitation strategies and preoperative planning, contributing to more targeted interventions that optimize recovery, quality of life, and functional outcomes in neuro-oncological patients.