We had the pleasure of talking with Prof. Dr. Pierluigi Zoccolotti, from Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. In this interview, we delve into Prof. Dr. Zoccolotti’s research on spatial neglect and his recent work at the Tuscany Rehabilitation Clinic. In his keynote address at IECBS 2024, he will explore the latest advancements in the management of spatial neglect, with a focus on allocentric neglect. Prof. Dr. Zoccolotti will also examine how these insights can improve our understanding of patient daily activities and therapeutic interventions.

Join us at the 4th International Electronic Conference on Brain Sciences to uncover valuable perspectives on the evolving field of brain sciences.

For more information, please visit the following website: https://sciforum.net/event/iecbs2024.

The following is an interview with Prof. Dr. Pierluigi Zoccolotti:

1. Could you introduce your current research direction and provide an update on your progress?

In the last twenty years, I have been a “bifront gianus”, dividing myself into research on acquired neuropsychological disorders and learning disabilities. Here, I will present research on spatial neglect, a key symptom after unilateral brain injuries.

2. Have you encountered any challenges in your research? How did you overcome them? Could you share your experience?

I recently started working at the Tuscany Rehabilitation Clinic in Montevarchi. This required re-establishing diagnostic and research procedures, a process which has now been nearly completed. For example, we set a new procedure with visual evoked potential to establish the integrity of visual fields in patients with spatial neglect.

3. Looking ahead, what do you believe will be the hot topics in the field of brain science research in the next few years? Please share the topics and the reason for it.

The development of science usually defeats any attempt to predict its new critical achievements. At any rate, the impressive advances in neuroimaging (and neurostimulation) should allow a closer look at the relationship between neuropsychological symptoms and brain circuits. This does not bypass the need for theoretical models. On the contrary, crucial advancements may come from the interplay between cognitive models and behavioral and imaging data. Space representation and procedural learning may be exemplary topics in this perspective. Furthermore, new, and ever more promising forms of interventions for neuropsychological symptoms are being developed and may change our traditional view of neuropsychology as mostly focusing on diagnostic evaluations.

4. What inspired you to choose this topic for your talk at IECBS 2024?
Spatial neglect is a symptom with widespread influence on the patient’s life. In recent years, there have been several studies on therapeutic interventions. In the live session on “Update on spatial neglect”, we will take stock of what we now know about the effectiveness of these treatments and more generally the management of these patients. In my presentation, I will focus on allocentric neglect, a particular form of disturbance which is still poorly understood.

5. What can the audience expect to gain from your presentation at IECBS 2024? What key insights or breakthroughs will attendees be able to take away from your discussion?

Information on managing and treating spatial neglect should prove of interest to both researchers and clinical neuropsychologists. In my talk, I will examine possible interpretations of allocentric neglect. Furthermore, I will describe how it may contribute to the impact on the patient’s daily activities.

6. On a lighthearted note, what catchy phrase or hashtag would you create to summarize the essence of your talk at IECBS 2024 in a few words?

We know several forms of dissociation within spatial neglect, pointing to multiple space representations. Maybe it is time to move from a focus on dissociations to understanding how multiple processes interact in shaping human behavior.