InsuLab
ions | Bruxelles Woluwe, Louvain-la-Neuve
Research
To date, the exact mechanisms by which pain arises from human neural activity have not been fully understood. Because neural oscillations are considered to serve integrative functions by flexibly routing the information flow in the brain, they appear to be particularly suitable for integrating the sensory, cognitive, and affective components of pain. Therefore, we aim to characterize pain-related modulations of ongoing oscillations, and to investigate whether pain arises from the modulation of spontaneous and dynamically fluctuating brain activities. To achieve this goal, we employ a combination of electrophysiological (scalp and intracerebral EEG, fMRI) and neuromodulation techniques (tACS, TMS, intracerebral stimulation).
Publications
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Papier de conférence
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Article de journalLiberati, G. (2026). Training alpha to treat pain: dissociable pathways to analgesia. PAIN®, 167(9), 1981-1982. https://doi.org/10.1097/j.pain.0000000000004041 (Original work published 2026)
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Liberati, G. (2026). Training alpha to treat pain: dissociable pathways to analgesia. PAIN®, 167(9), 1981-1982. https://doi.org/10.1097/j.pain.0000000000004041 (Original work published 2026)
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Leu, C., Herbillon, G., Liberati, G., & Legrain, V. (2026). Frequency‐Tagging Captures Distinct Neural Responses Elicited by Bilateral Periodic Thermonociceptive Stimulation. European Journal of Neuroscience, 63(9), e70539. https://doi.org/10.1111/ejn.70539 (Original work published 2026)
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Liberati, G. (2026). Alpha oscillations in pain neuromodulation: From resting rhythms to reactive networks. Neurotherapeutics, 23(3), e00929. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurot.2026.e00929 (Original work published 2026)
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Fathi Arateh, Y., Amin Dehghani, David M Gantz, Liberati, G., & Tor D Wager. (2026). Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation for Pain: Mixed Evidence and the Path to Precision Neuromodulation. Brain Sciences, 16(2), 152. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci16020152 (Original work published 2026)
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Null, M., Mongiardini, E., Leu, C., Liberati, G., & Belardinelli, P. (2026). From Oscillations to Brain States: Real-Time EEG-TMS for Adaptive Neuromodulation. Bioengineering, 13(9), 1054. https://doi.org/10.3390/xxxxx (Original work published 2026)
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Fathi, Y., Boutachkourt, A., Joris, V., Onofrj, V., Dricot, L., Behets, C., Hanseeuw, B., & Liberati, G. (2026). Focal and Steerable Temporal Interference Stimulation of the Human Left Posterior Insula: A Proof-of-Concept Validation Using Intracranial Recordings in a Human Cadaver. Bioengineering, 13(9), 1050. https://doi.org/10.3390/xxxxx (Original work published 2026)
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Article de journalCastellano, P., Leu, C., Mazzetti, M., & Liberati, G. (2025). Using fast periodic visual stimulation to investigate the processing of health-related images in the human brain. Scientific Reports, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-29515-z (Original work published 2025)
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Liberati, G. (2025). From heterogeneity to precision: Mapping the future of rTMS for musculoskeletal pain. British Journal of Pain, 19(6), 374-376. https://doi.org/10.1177/20494637251391429 (Original work published 2025)
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Fathi Arateh, Y., Dissassuca, F., Ricci, G., Liberati, G., & et al. (2025). Individualized Alpha-tACS for Modulating Pain Perception and Neural Oscillations: A Sham-Controlled Study in Healthy Participants. Biorxiv. Published. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.01.16.633370 (Original work published 2025)
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Dumoulin, M., Germany Morrison, E., Vespa, S., Liberati, G., Mouraux, A., Delbeke, J., Nonclercq, A., & El Tahry, R. (2025). Effects of acute Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation on EEG oscillations and synchrony in healthy subjects. Clinical Neurophysiology Practice. Submitted. (Original work published 2025)
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Fathi Arateh, Y., Dissassuca, F., Ricci, G., Liberati, G., & et al. (2025). Individualised Alpha‐tACS for Modulating Pain Perception and Neural Oscillations: A Sham‐Controlled Study in Healthy Participants. European Journal of Pain, 29(7), e70086. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejp.70086 (Original work published 2025)
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Leu, C., Forest, S., Legrain, V., & Liberati, G. (2025). The effect of stimulus saliency on the modulation of ongoing neural oscillations related to thermonociception: A registered report. Cortex, 185, 316-335. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2025.02.009 (Original work published 2025)
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Danthine, V., Germany Morrison, E., Cottin, L., Liberati, G., Cakiroglu, I., Joris, V., Mouraux, A., Santalucia, R., Fierain, A., Vrielynck, P., Ferrao Santos, S., Nonclercq, A., & El Tahry, R. (2025). Effect of Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Electroencephalogram Synchronization: A Longitudinal Study Using a Clinical-Research Response Scale. Neuromodulation. Published. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurom.2025.03.068 (Original work published 2025)
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Fathi, Y., Dissassuca, F., Ricci, G., & Liberati, G. (2025). Individualised Alpha‐tACS for Modulating Pain Perception and Neural Oscillations: A Sham‐Controlled Study in Healthy Participants. European Journal of Pain, 29(7), e70086. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejp.70086 (Original work published 2025)
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Germany Morrison, E., Dumoulin, M., Joris, V., Santalucia, R., Danthine, V., Cakiroglu, I., Liberati, G., Nonclercq, A., & El Tahry, R. (2025). Neural Correlates of taVNS: Scalp EEG and insular sEEG heartbeat evoked potentials modulation in an Epileptic patient case study. Clinical Neurophysiology, 174(June), 148-150. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinph.2025.04.013 (Original work published 2025)
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Liberati, G. (2025). Advancements in noninvasive brain stimulation: exploring repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the posterior superior insula for pain relief. PAIN®, 66(6), 1219-1220. https://doi.org/10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003489 (Original work published 2025)
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Liberati, G. (2025). From heterogeneity to precision: Mapping the future of rTMS for musculoskeletal pain. British Journal of Pain, 19(6), 374-376. https://doi.org/10.1177/20494637251391429 (Original work published 2025)
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Papier de conférenceLeu, C., Boutachkourt, A., Ferrao Santos, S., Fierain, A., Joris, V., Finet, P., & Liberati, G. (2025). Uncovering the functional relationship between pain perception and the modulation of ongoing oscillations in the human posterior insula using intracerebral EEG. 14th Congress of the European Pain Federation EFIC, Lyon, France.
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Fathi Arateh, Y., Dissassuca, F., Liberati, G., & et al. (2025). How Can Individualized Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) Modulate Pain Perception? 14th Congress of the European Pain Federation EFIC, Lyon, France.
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Fathi Arateh, Y., Ricci, G., Dissassuca, F., Liberati, G., & et al. (2025). Effects of Personalized Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) on Pain Perception. 9th International Congress on Neuropathic Pain - NeuPSIG 2025, Berlin, Germany.
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Article de journalLeu, C., Glineur, E., & Liberati, G. (2024). Cue-based modulation of pain stimulus expectation: do ongoing oscillations reflect changes in pain perception? A registered report. Royal Society Open Science, 11(6), 240626. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.240626 (Original work published 2024)
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Danthine, V., Cottin, L., Berger, A., Germany Morrison, E., Liberati, G., Ferrao Santos, S., Delbeke, J., Nonclercq, A., & El Tahry, R. (2024). Electroencephalogram synchronization measure as a predictive biomarker of Vagus nerve stimulation response in refractory epilepsy: A retrospective study. PLoS One, 19(6), e0304115 [1-15]. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0304115 (Original work published 2024)
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Papier de conférenceDanthine, V., Germany Morrison, E., Cottin, L., Liberati, G., Cakiroglu, I., Torres Sánchez, A., Fierain, A., Pascal, V., Joris, V., Santalucia, R., Ferrao Santos, S., Nonclercq, A., El Tahry, R., & et al. (2024). A Longitudinal Vagus Nerve Stimulation Study: Effects on EEG Synchronization Using a Clinical-research Response Scale. Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Epilepsy Society — Los Angeles, USA.
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Papier de conférenceDanthine, V., Cottin, L., Berger, A., Germany Morrison, E., Nonclercq, A., Liberati, G., Delbeke, J., & El Tahry, R. (2023). EEG Synchronization Measures as a Predictive Biomarker of VNS Response in Drug-resistant Epilepsy: A Retrospective Study. Proceedings of the International League Against Epilepsy 35th International Epilepsy Congress (ILAE IEC), Dublin, Ireland.
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Danthine, V., Lise, C., Germany Morrison, E., Delbeke, J., Liberati, G., Nonclercq, A., & El Tahry, R. (2023). A Longitudinal Vagus Nerve Stimulation Study: Effects on Laryngeal Motor Evoked Potentials and EEG Synchronization. Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Epilepsy Society, Orlando, USA.
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Article de journalLeu, C., Courtin, A., Cussac, C., & Liberati, G. (2023). The role of ongoing oscillation in pain perception: Absence of modulation by a concomitant arithmetic task. Cortex, 168, 114-129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2023.08.005 (Original work published 2023)
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Article de journalRichie-Halford, A., Cieslak, M., Ai, L., Caffarra, S., Covitz, S., Franco, A. R., Karipidis, I. I., Kruper, J., Milham, M., Avelar-Pereira, B., Roy, E., Sydnor, V. J., Yeatman, J. D., Satterthwaite, T. D., & Rokem, A. (2022). An analysis-ready and quality controlled resource for pediatric brain white-matter research. Scientific Data, 9(1), 616 [1-27]. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-022-01695-7 (Original work published 2022)
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Vespa, S., Stumpp, L., Liberati, G., Delbeke, J., Nonclercq, A., Mouraux, A., & El Tahry, R. (2022). Characterization of vagus nerve stimulation-induced pupillary responses in epileptic patients. Brain stimulation, 15(6), 1498-1507. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brs.2022.11.002 (Original work published 2022)
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Article de journalVespa, S., Heyse, J., Stumpp, L., Liberati, G., Ferrao Santos, S., Rooijakkers, H., Nonclercq, A., Mouraux, A., van Mierlo, P., & El Tahry, R. (2021). Vagus Nerve Stimulation Elicits Sleep EEG Desynchronization and Network Changes in Responder Patients in Epilepsy. Neurotherapeutics, 18(4), 2623-2638. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13311-021-01124-4 (Original work published 2021)
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Dumoulin, M., Liberati, G., Mouraux, A., Ferrao Santos, S., & El Tahry, R. (2021). Transcutaneous auricular VNS applied to experimental pain: A paired behavioral and EEG study using thermonociceptive CO2 laser. PLoS One, 16(7), e0254480 [1-33]. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0254480 (Original work published 2021)
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Papier de conférence
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Article de journalLiberati, G., Mulders, D., Algoet, M., van den Broeke, E., Ferrao Santos, S., Ribeiro Vaz, J. G., Raftopoulos, C., & Mouraux, A. (2020). Insular responses to transient painful and non‑painful thermal and mechanical spinothalamic stimuli recorded using intracerebral EEG. Scientific Reports, 10, 22319 [1-15]. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-79371-2 (Original work published 2020)
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Mulders, D., De Bodt, C., Lejeune, N., Courtin, A., Liberati, G., Verleysen, M., & Mouraux, A. (2020). Dynamics of the perception and EEG signals triggered by tonic warm and cool stimulation. PLoS One, 15(4), e0231698 [1-25]. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0231698 (Original work published 2020)
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Papier de conférence
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Article de journalRamos-Murguialday, A., Curado, M., Broetz, D., Yilmaz, Ö., Brasil, F., Liberati, G., Garcia Cossio, E., Cho, W., & Birbaumer, N. (2019). Brain-Machine-Interface in Chronic Stroke: Randomised Trial Long-Term Follow-up. Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair, 33(3), 188-198. (Original work published 2019)
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Liberati, G., Algoet, M., Ferrao Santos, S., Ribeiro Vaz, J. G., Raftopoulos, C., & Mouraux, A. (2019). Tonic thermonociceptive stimulation selectively modulates ongoing neural oscillations in the human posterior insula: Evidence from intracerebral EEG. NeuroImage, 188(1), 70-83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2018.11.059 (Original work published 2019)
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Papier de conférence
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Papier de conférence
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Article de journalLiberati, G., Klöcker, A., Algoet, M., Mulders, D., Maia da Cunha Oliveira Safronova, M., Ferrao Santos, S., Ribeiro Vaz, J. G., Raftopoulos, C., & Mouraux, A. (2018). Gamma-Band Oscillations Preferential for Nociception can be Recorded in the Human Insula. Cerebral Cortex, 28(10), 3650-3664. https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhx237 (Original work published 2018)
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Liberati, G., Algoet, M., Klöcker, A., Ferrao Santos, S., Ribeiro Vaz, J. G., Raftopoulos, C., & Mouraux, A. (2018). Habituation of phase-locked local field potentials and gamma-band oscillations recorded from the human insula. Scientific Reports, 8(1), 8265 [1-13]. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-26604-0 (Original work published 2018)
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Article de journalColon, E., Liberati, G., & Mouraux, A. (2017). EEG frequency tagging using ultra-slow periodic heat stimulation of the skin reveals cortical activity specifically related to C fiber thermonociceptors. NeuroImage, 146, 266-274. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2016.11.045 (Original work published 2017)
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Chapitre de livre
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Papier de conférence
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Liberati, G., Algoet, M., van den Broeke, E., Ferrao Santos, S., Ribeiro Vaz, J. G., Raftopoulos, C., & Mouraux, A. (2017). Are nociceptive gamma-band oscillations recorded from the human insula related to the activation of the spinothalamic tract? 25th National Congress of the Italian Society of Psychophysiology (SIPF) – The Adapting Brain at the different ages of man., Rome (Italy).
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Papier de conférence
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Article de journalLiberati, G., Klöcker, A., Maia da Cunha Oliveira Safronova, M., Ferrao Santos, S., Ribeiro Vaz, J. G., Raftopoulos, C., & Mouraux, A. (2016). Nociceptive Local Field Potentials Recorded from the Human Insula Are Not Specific for Nociception. PLoS Biology, 14(1), e1002345 [1-18]. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.1002345 (Original work published 2016)
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Papier de conférenceLiberati, G., Klöcker, A., Maia da Cunha Oliveira Safronova, M., Ferrao Santos, S., & Mouraux, A. (2015). Nociceptive local field potentials recorded from the human insula are not specific for nociception. EFIC Pain Congress 2015. Published. EFIC Pain Congress 2015, Vienna, Austria. (Original work published 2015)
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Article de journalCurado, M. R., Cossio, E. G., Broetz, D., Agostini, M., Cho, W., Brasil, F. L., Yilmaz, O., Liberati, G., Lepski, G., Birbaumer, N., Ramos-Murguialday, A., & Lebedev, M. A. (2015). Residual Upper Arm Motor Function Primes Innervation of Paretic Forearm Muscles in Chronic Stroke after Brain-Machine Interface (BMI) Training. PLoS One, 10(10), e0140161. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0140161 (Original work published 2015)
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Liberati, G., Pizzimenti, A., Simione, L., Riccio, A., Schettini, F., Inghilleri, M., Mattia, D., & Cincotti, F. (2015). Developing brain-computer interfaces from a user-centered perspective: Assessing the needs of persons with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, caregivers, and professionals. Applied Ergonomics : human factors in technology and society, 50, 139-146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2015.03.012 (Original work published 2015)
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Liberati, G., Federici, S., & Pasqualotto, E. (2015). Extracting neurophysiological signals reflecting users’ emotional and affective responses to BCI use: A systematic literature review. NeuroRehabilitation : an interdisciplinary journal, 37(3), 341-358. https://doi.org/10.3233/NRE-151266 (Original work published 2015)
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Papier de conférenceD’Amore, S., Green, J., Scali, T., Liberati, G., & Haxhe, S. (2014). Belgians heterosexuals’ attitudes toward homosexual couples and families. Coming-out for LGBT Psychology in the current international scenario. Published. International Academy of LGBT Psychology and Related Fields.
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Article de journalSchettini, F., Riccio, A., Simione, L., Liberati, G., & et al. (2014). An assistive device with conventional, alternative and Brain-computer interface inputs to enhance interaction with the environment for people with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: a feasibility and usability study. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 96(3), S46-S53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2014.05.027 (Original work published 2014)
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van der Heiden, L., Liberati, G., Sitaram, R., Kim, S., Jaśkowski, P., Raffone, A., Olivetti Belardinelli, M., Birbaumer, N., & Veit, R. (2014). Insula and inferior frontal triangularis activations distinguish between conditioned brain responses using emotional sounds for basic BCI communication. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 8, 247. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2014.00247 (Original work published 2014)
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Liberati, G., Huenefeldt, T., & Olivetti Belardinelli, M. (2014). Questioning the dichotomy between vegetative state and minimally conscious state: a review of the statistical evidence. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 8(865). https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2014.00865 (Original work published 2014)
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Papier de conférence
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Schettini, F., Riccio, A., Simione, L., Liberati, G., Caruso, M., Calabrese, B., Ielpo, N., Palumbo, A., Frasca, V., Mecella, M., Amato, F., Pizzimenti, A., Inghilleri, M., Mattia, D., & Cincotti, F. (2013). From touch to brain control: augmenting communication in persons with ALS. Assistive Technology Research Series, 33, 1045-1050. (Original work published 2013)
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Riccio, A., Schettini, F., Simione, L., Liberati, G., Caruso, M., Calabrese, B., Ielpo, N., Palumbo, A., Frasca, V., Mecella, M., Amato, F., Pizzimenti, A., Inghilleri, M., Mattia, D., Cincotti, F., & et al. (2013). On the use of brain-computer interfaces outside scientific laboratories: toward an application in domotic environments. Psychophysiology : an international journal, 50(S1), 6-7. (Original work published 2013)
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Liberati, G., Dalboni da Rocha, J., Veit, R., von Arnim, C., Jenner, A., Lulé, D., Kim, S., Raffone, A., Olivetti Belardinelli, M., Birbaumer, N., Sitaram, R., & et al. (2013). Mental state classification in Alzheimer patients using classical conditioning with affective auditory stimuli: an fMRI study. Belgian Association of Psychological Sciences.
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Schettini, F., Riccio, A., Simione, L., Liberati, G., Caruso, M., Calabrese, B., Ielpo, N., Palumbo, A., Frasca, V., Mecella, M., Amato, F., Pizzimenti, A., Inghilleri, M., & Cincotti, F. (2013). Brain Computer Interface as assistive technology for people with ALS. Proceedings of the Fifth International Brain-Computer Interface Meeting: Defining the Future. Published. Fifth International Brain-Computer Interface Meeting 2013, Pacific Grove, California.
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Article de journalLiberati, G., Dalboni da Rocha, J., Veit, R., Kim, S., Birbaumer, N., Von Arnim, C., Jenner, A., Lulé, D., Ludolph, A., Raffone, A., Olivetti Belardinelli, M., Sitaram, R., & et al. (2013). Development of a Binary fMRI-BCI for Alzheimer Patients: A semantic conditioning paradigm using affective unconditioned stimuli. IEEE Transactions on Affective Computing, 1, 838-842. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACII.2013.157 (Original work published 2012)
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Ramos-Murguialday, A., Brötz, D., Rea, M., Leaer, Yilmaz, O., Brasil, F., Liberati, G., Curado, M., Garcia-Cossio, E., Vyziotis, A., Cho, W., Agostini, M., Soares, E., Soekader, S., Caria, A., Cohen, L., Birbaumer, N., & et al. (2013). Brain-machine interface in chronic stroke rehabilitation: a controlled study. Annals of Neurology, 74(1), 100-108. https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.23879 (Original work published 2013)
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Papier de conférenceSchettini, F., Aloise, F., Riccio, A., Simione, L., Liberati, G., Mecella, M., Caruso, M., Amato, F., Palumbo, A., Calabrese, B., Pizzimenti, A., Inghilleri, M., Frasca, V., & Cincotti, F. (2012). The Brindisys Project. 3rd National Conference of AriSLA Foundation. Published. ARISLA Conference. (Original work published 2012)
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Article de journal
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Liberati, G., Dalboni da Rocha, J., Van der Heiden, L., Raffone, A., Birbaumer, N., Olivetti Belardinelli, M., Sitaram, R., & et al. (2012). Toward a brain-computer interface for Alzheimer’s disease patients by combining classical conditioning and brain state classification. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 31(3), 211-220. (Original work published 2012)
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