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About

Javier Pagonabarraga is a leading clinical neuroscientist whose research focuses on the neurobiological underpinnings of Parkinson’s disease (PD), with a particular emphasis on non-motor symptoms such as hallucinations, psychosis, and cognitive decline. His major contributions lie in elucidating the sensorimotor and network-level mechanisms that give rise to these debilitating phenomena. In a landmark 2021 study, Pagonabarraga pioneered a robotics-based approach to induce presence hallucinations (PHs) in PD patients by applying conflicting sensorimotor stimulation. This work, which has garnered over 50 citations, demonstrated that PHs depend on altered sensorimotor processing within fronto-temporal networks, offering a novel experimental model to study psychosis in PD. By bridging robotics and clinical neuroscience, he has opened new avenues for understanding how disrupted sensory integration contributes to hallucinatory experiences. His research has profound implications for early detection and intervention, as hallucinations are a major risk factor for dementia and psychosis in PD. Pagonabarraga’s innovative methodologies and translational insights have established him as a key figure in the study of Parkinson’s disease, advancing both mechanistic understanding and potential therapeutic targets for these challenging symptoms.