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About

Laura Avanzino is a leading figure in neurorehabilitation and movement disorders, whose work bridges the gap between clinical neurology and cutting-edge sensorimotor science. Her research primarily focuses on Parkinson’s disease, cervical dystonia, and post-stroke recovery, with a strong emphasis on how the brain integrates sensory information to guide movement. In her landmark 2015 review, “Rehabilitation for Parkinson's disease: Current outlook and future challenges” (442 citations), she provided a critical roadmap for future therapies. Avanzino’s experimental work has been equally transformative: she demonstrated that Parkinson’s disease accelerates age-related decline in haptic perception by disrupting somatosensory integration (95 citations), and she uncovered distinct tactile and proprioceptive dysfunctions that differentiate cervical dystonia patients with and without tremor. She has also championed technological innovation, co-authoring a comprehensive overview of robotic devices and brain stimulation for neurorehabilitation (70 citations), and developing a surface-EMG-based co-contraction index to monitor upper limb improvements after stroke. Her contributions have reshaped our understanding of sensory-motor coupling in neurological disease, offering new targets for rehabilitation and solidifying her reputation as a pioneer in personalized, technology-driven neurorehabilitation.