Dr S. Fabbri (Sara)

Every day we interact with objects, for example when we press the switch to turn on the light or when we grasp the glass of water to drink. Even though these actions are executed without effort, our brain needs to perform complex computations to translate the visual information about the object into the appropriate motor command. By measuring the relation between properties of the target object (e.g. spatial location and object shape) and the corresponding motor act (e.g. arm trajectory and hand configuration), I aim to understand the neuronal and behavioral bases of our ability to interact with objects in space. During my PhD, I used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to identify the network of regions in the human brain responsible for the specific direction and amplitude of reaching movements. During my postdoc, I am measuring arm kinematics and brain activity during interactions with objects in the real world, but also in virtual environments, increasingly more common with the development of touch screen devices (such as smartphones and tablets).

• Perception, Action and Decision-making

• Sensorimotor Control