Date: December 1, 2024

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Rights Access: Open Access

DOI: 10.1002/alz.092396

Place: Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC), Barcelona

Reflection on the activity: Participated as a co-author in the research paper titled “Semantic Control Across Different Phenotypes of Alzheimer’s Disease: A Cognitive Study”. The study aimed to investigate semantic control capacitiesin typical and atypical Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) patients, including those with the logopenic variant of primary progressive aphasia (lvPPA). The research focused on assessing the ability to monitor and modulate semantic representations, a function that remains poorly understood in AD. My role included data analysis and interpretation, as well as contributing to the drafting of the manuscript. The paper, published in an open-access journal, contributes valuable insights into the heterogeneity of semantic processing across AD phenotypes.

Armas, P., Zsadanyi, S. E., Morcillo‐Nieto, A. O., Illán‐Gala, I., Marques‐Kiderle, S. K., Ciongoli, F., Rubio‐Guerra, S., Lleó, A., Fortea, J., Grasso, S. M., Binney, R. J., Calabria, M., Hernando, J., Bejanin, A., & Santos‐Santos, M. A. (2025). Semantic control across different phenotypes of Alzheimer’s disease: A cognitive study. Alzheimer’s & Dementia, 20(Suppl 3), e092396. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.092396

Date: May 9-10, 2024

Place: Instituto de Neurociencias de Castilla y León (INCYL), Salamanca

Event: Jornadas de estimulación cerebral 2024: Brain Stimulation Meeting 2024 – Future is Now

Reflection on the activity: Co-authored and presented a poster titled “Remote Intervention Based on Non-Invasive Neuromodulation in Post-COVID19 Syndrome: Approach to Cognitive Alterations and Fatigue”. The poster was developed in collaboration with Elena M. Marrón, Sergio Grueso, Juan García Fernández, Marco Calabria, Neus Cano, and Matie Garolera. The presentation focused on the application of non-invasive brain stimulation techniquesto address cognitive deficits and fatigue in individuals affected by post-COVID19 syndrome. This experience allowed me to share innovative therapeutic approaches with experts in brain stimulation and neuromodulation.

Date: Published 2024

Journal: Arts & Health

Article ID: RAHE (2488361)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17533015.2025.2488361.

Place: Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC), Barcelona

Reflection on the activity: Contributed as a co-author to the research paper titled “Efficacy of a Theatre-Based Intervention in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease”. The study evaluated the impact of theatre-based interventions on the emotional well-being of individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Findings demonstrated that such interventions have specific benefits for emotional well-being and non-specific benefits in reducing motor symptoms. My role encompassed research design, data collection, and analysis, contributing to the understanding of non-pharmacological therapies for PD.

Calabria, M., Ciongoli, F., García-Sánchez, C., Bonnin, C. del M., Pascual Sedano, B., Kulisevsky, J., Fèrriz Roure, T., & Macip, S. (2024). Efficacy of a theatre-based intervention in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Arts & Health.

Date: November 22, 2024; March 21, 2025

Place: Mediterranean Food Studies, Torribera Mediterranean Center, Universitat de Barcelona

Reflection on the activity: This lecture focused on the psychological benefits of the Mediterranean diet, exploring how dietary habits influence mental health and cognitive function. The presentation included evidence-based insights on the positive impact of Mediterranean dietary patterns on mood regulation and the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases. Attendees gained practical knowledge on incorporating Mediterranean principles into their daily lives to enhance mental well-being.

The main goal of the doctoral thesis is to investigate the optimal conditions under which background music can enhance cognition in patients with neurodegenerative disorders. Specifically, the project focuses on attentional functions in patients with Parkinson’s disease and learning new information in patients with episodic memory deficits (Mild Cognitive Impairment – MCI). To achieve this, the study follows specific objectives inspired both by previous findings in healthy individuals and the effects of context and emotions on cognitive functions.

Over the past year, significant progress has been made, especially regarding the attentional functions in Parkinson’s Disease (PD). The primary focus has been on Experiment 5, which aims to investigate the effects of mood and arousal induced by music (‘arousal-mood hypothesis’) on attentional performance in PD. Data collection has been successfully completed, and preliminary analysis suggests promising outcomes regarding the modulation of attentional networks through background music. The results have been presented at multiple international conferences, including The Neurosciences and Music VIII in Helsinki and The Future of Music and Arts in Medicine and Health (IAMM & ISfAM) in Berlin. Currently, I am in the process of writing a scientific paper based on these results, aiming to disseminate the findings within the academic community.

Regarding the learning and memory objectives (Experiments 1 to 4), Experiments 1, 2, and 3 have been completed and published in a scientific paper: (Calabria et al., 2023) Currently, data collection for Experiment 4 has been completed, and I am in the process of analyzing the data to investigate the effects of background music on associative memory tasks.

Overall, the project has advanced significantly toward achieving its research goals, with the attentional function study in PD nearing completion and substantial developments in the memory studies in MCI. The outcomes are expected to contribute valuable insights into the interplay between music, mood, and cognitive functions in clinical populations.

Date: September 24, 2024

Place: Casa Golferichs, Barcelona

Reflection on the activity: This workshop explored the impact of diet on mental health, highlighting how dietary habits can influence cognitive and emotional well-being. We presented scientific evidence on how up to 33% of psychiatric and neurological conditions may be influenced by nutrition. The interactive session encouraged participants to reflect on their eating habits and introduced the key principles of the Mediterranean diet, emphasizing local and seasonal food, mindful eating, and the social aspects of culinary traditions. Participants left with practical tools and scientific knowledge to make healthier food choices, aimed at enhancing mental well-being and overall quality of life.

Date: September 28, 2024

Place: Vil·la Urània, Barcelona

Reflection on the activity: In this workshop, co-hosted with Ana Hernández Sauret, we introduced participants to the fascinating world of fNIRS (Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy), a non-invasive neuroimaging technique. Through live demonstrations, we showcased how the brain reacts to cognitive and motor tasks, allowing the audience to observe real-time brain activity. The interactive format engaged attendees by encouraging them to guess which brain areas were activated during specific challenges. This experience not only raised awareness about cutting-edge neuroscience methods but also fostered curiosity about brain function and cognition.