Chiara Volpato

Papers

Total Citations

237

H-Index

About

Chiara Volpato is a leading researcher at the intersection of neuroscience, rehabilitation engineering, and human-machine interaction. Her primary focus is on developing and refining Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) and Brain-Machine Interface (BMI) technologies to restore motor function in patients with neurological injuries, particularly stroke survivors. Her most influential work, the 2011 review "Brain-Computer Interface in Stroke: A Review of Progress," which has garnered over 220 citations, established a foundational framework for the field by systematically evaluating the efficacy of BCI-feedback training in post-stroke rehabilitation. This seminal paper demonstrated how BCI technology could translate neural activity into functional recovery, catalyzing a wave of subsequent research. Volpato has also made significant contributions to the design of embodied interfaces, as seen in her 2009 work evaluating robots as physical I/O devices for BCI systems, and her 2013 proof-of-principle study on an assisted-force-feedback BMI for upper-limb training. This latter work introduced a novel paradigm for contingent, proportionally modulated stimulation of proprioceptive and motor pathways, representing a key advance in closed-loop neurorehabilitation. Her research is distinguished by its commitment to translating theoretical neural engineering into tangible, real-world therapeutic tools.