Contact
Biography
Background:
2020-2023: Postdoctoral Research Associate (ESRC and BBSRC funded), University of York, UK
2017 - 2020: Postdoctoral Research Associate, Adaptive Brain Lab, University of Cambridge, UK & Maastricht University, Netherlands
2013 - 2017: PhD in Psychology and Visual Neuroscience, 'Biases in Perception of Visual Motion;, University of Nottingham, UK
2011 - 2013: MSc (Hons) in Cognitive Science and Neuroscience, University of Trento, Italy
2009 - 2010: LLP Erasmus Grant, University of Osnabrück, Germany
2008 - 2011: BSc (Hons) in Cognitive Science, University of Trento, Italy
Expertise Summary
functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), high and ultra-high field imaging (UHF fMRI), psychophysics, sensory and visual neuroscience
Research Summary
My research is driven by an interest in understanding our senses, both as individual processes as well as how information from multiple senses are integrated to generate experiences and meaningful… read more
Recent Publications
LAWRENCE, SJD, ZAMBONI, E, VERNON, RJW, GOUWS, AD, WADE, AR and MORLAND, AB, 2023. The emergence of tuning to global shape properties of radial frequency patterns in the ventral visual pathway. Journal of Neuroscience. 43(29), 5387-5390 NG, AKT, JIA, K, GONCALVES, NR, ZAMBONI, E, KEMPER, VG, GOEBEL, R, WELCHMAN, AE and KOURTZI, Z, 2021. Ultra-high field neuroimaging reveals fine-scale computations for 3D perception Journal of Neuroscience. 41(40), 8362-8374 JIA, K, ZAMBONI, E, RUA, C, GONCALVES, NR, KEMPER, VG, NG, AKT, RODGERS, CT, WILLIAMS, G, GOEBEL, R and KOURTZI, Z, 2021. A protocol for ultra-high field laminar fMRI in the human brain STAR Protocols. ZAMBONI, E, KEMPER, VG, GONCALVES, NR, JIA, K, KARLAFTIS, VM, BELL, SJ, GIORGIO, J, RIDEAUX, R, GOEBEL, R and KOURTZI, Z, 2020. Fine-scale computations for adaptive processing in the human brain eLife.
Current Research
My research is driven by an interest in understanding our senses, both as individual processes as well as how information from multiple senses are integrated to generate experiences and meaningful representations. In the visual domain, I study how different features (e.g., orientation, curvature) are functionally organised in specific regions of the brain and how these domains interact with each other. I am also looking at the brain pathways integrating visual and touch information, with a specific interest at the effects that abnormal sensory inputs (i.e., visual illusions/distortions) might have in the topographical representation of body parts in the cortex and how these manipulations could potentially provide alternative treatments in chronic pain conditions.
In my research, I combine behavioural (psychophisics) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) techniques, with a specific focus on ultra-high field imaging (using scanners at 7+ Tesla) to explore functional and structural brain organisations at very high spatial resolution that would otherwise only be possible invasively. I also collaborate in developing imaging acquisition sequences for Direct Imaging of Neuronal Activity (DIANA) using Real Time fMRI.
Past Research
Effects of attention on perception of visual symmetry; sensory adaptation, perceptual learning, and 3D vision; perceptual decision making and visual motion; visual features in abstract artworks and emotional valence.