Mariella Pazzaglia

Papers

Total Citations

173

H-Index

About

Mariella Pazzaglia is a leading researcher in the fields of embodied cognition, neurorehabilitation, and assistive technology. Her work fundamentally explores how the brain represents the body, particularly in individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCIs). A major contribution is her concept of “embodiment of assistive devices,” arguing that tools like wheelchairs and exoskeletons are not mere external aids but can be integrated into the user’s body schema. Her highly cited 2015 paper on this topic (125 citations) laid the groundwork for a personalized, psychologically-informed approach to wearable robotics. Pazzaglia’s research extends beyond motor function to the restoration of body awareness, investigating how multisensory integration and the vagal network can rebuild the crucial brain-body connection after injury. Her 2022 work on exoskeletons emphasizes the need for devices that are inherently flexible and responsive to users’ specific physiological and psychological needs, moving beyond purely mechanical solutions. By bridging neuroscience, psychology, and rehabilitation engineering, Pazzaglia’s impactful research is reshaping how we design and implement assistive technologies, prioritizing the user’s lived, embodied experience.