MARIA LEGGIO

Maria Leggio

Curriculum Vitae

Part I – Education

2023 Specialization in “Family therapy - Systemic Relational Symbolic Experiential Model”, (score 60/60 cum laude), Scuola Romana di Psicoterapia Familiare
1997 PhD Degree in “Neuropsychology”,(score Excellent), Sapienza University of Rome
1992 Specialization in Neurology (score 50/50 cum laude) “Sacro Cuore” Catholic University, Rome
1988 Qualification for medical doctor (abilitazione all’esercizio della professione medica), “Sacro Cuore” Catholic University, Rome
1988 MD degree (score 110/110 cum laude), “Sacro Cuore” Catholic University, Rome

Part II – Appointments

IIa – Academic Appointments

2017-at present Full Professor (Professore Ordinario), Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome
2001-2017 Associate Professor (Professore Associato), Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome
1996-2001 Permanent Research Position (Ricercatore a tempo pieno), Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome

IIb – Academic Responsabilities

2024-at present Member of the Faculty Executive Board (Giunta di Facoltà), Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome
2022-at present Member of the Executive Board (Giunta di Dipartimento) of the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome
2022-at present Member of the Quality and Monitoring Board of the Department of Psychology (Commissione di Monitoraggio e Qualità)
1998-at present Member of the board of the PhD Course in “Psychobiology and Psychopharmacology”, at present “Behavioral Neuroscience”, Sapienza University of Rome
2018-2021 President of the Research Board of the Department of Psychology (Commissione Ricerca di Dipartimento)
2011-2014 Member of the Executive Board (Giunta di Facoltà) of the Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome
2011-2012 Member of the Scientific Research Board (Commissione di Ricerca Scientifica) of the Sapienza University of Rome
2004-2009 Member of the Evaluation Board (Nucleo di valutazione) of the Faculty of Psychology 1, Sapienza University of Rome
2004-2004 President of the I State Board (Esami di Stato) for Psychologists, Sapienza University of Rome
1998-2004 Member of the Executive Board (Giunta di Dipartimento) of the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology 1, Sapienza University of Rome

Part III – Teaching experience

IIIa – Teaching: Degree Courses

2023 – at present Sapienza University of Rome Laboratory of “Experimental neuroscience in clinical field” at the Specialized Degree Course (two years) "Cognitive Neuroscience Evaluation and Neuropsychological Rehabilitation ", Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology Appointed GOMP 3 CFU – 36 ore (Total appointed GOMP 6CFU)
2021 – at present Sapienza University of Rome Clinical and Social Neuroscience for Health (Clinical Neuroscience module) at the Specialized Degree Course (two years) "Health Psycology for clinical and healthcare settings ", Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology. Appointed GOMP 3 CFU – 24 ore (Total appointed GOMP 6 CFU)
2012 – at present Sapienza University of Rome “Cognitive Neuroscience” at the Degree Course (three years) "Psychology and Health", Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology. Appointed GOMP 6 CFU – 48 ore (Total appointed GOMP 9 CFU)
2014 – 2023 Sapienza University of Rome Laboratory of “Neuropsychological evaluation and Rehabilitation” at the Specialized Degree Course (two years) "Cognitive Neuroscience Evaluation and Neuropsychological Rehabilitation ", Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology. Appointed GOMP 2 CFU
2009 - 2012 Sapienza University of Rome “Cognitive Neuroscience” at the Degree Courses (three years) "Psychological Sciences and Techniques of analysis and evaluation of the cognitive processes", Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology. Appointed GOMP 8 CFU (6 + 2 CFU of Laboratory)
2008 - 2009 Sapienza University of Rome “Basis of Psychobiology and Psychophysiology” at the Degree Courses (three years) "Psychological Sciences and Techniques of analysis and evaluation of the cognitive processes ", Faculty of Psychology 1. Appointed GOMP 8 CFU
2003 - 2009 Sapienza University of Rome “Neuroscience laboratory: preclinic models of cognitive dysfunctions” at the Specialized Degree Course (two years) "Evaluation and Treatment of cognitive dysfunctions", Faculty of Psychology 1. Appointed GOMP 2 CFU
2002 - 2008 Sapienza University of Rome “Basis of Psychophysiology” at the Degree Courses (three years) "Normal and pathological cognitive processes", Faculty of Psychology 1. Appointed GOMP 4 CFU
2002 -2008 Sapienza University of Rome “Behavioral physiological basis” at the Degree Courses (three years) "Psychological Sciences and Techniques of the Clinical Intervention for the Individual, the Group and the Institutions", Faculty of Psychology 1. Appointed GOMP 4 CFU
2003 - 2005 Sapienza University of Rome “Basic Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology” at the Specialized Degree Course (two years) "Dynamic and Clinical Psychology of Individual, Organizations and Community", Faculty of Psychology 1. Appointed GOMP 4 CFU
2000 - 2002 Sapienza University of Rome “Psychophysiology”, at the Degree Courses “Psychology”, Faculty of Psychology 1. Academic year duration (annualità)
1999 - 2000 Sapienza University of Rome “Basic Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology”, at the Degree Courses “Psychology”, Faculty of Psychology 1. Academic year duration (annualità)

IIIb – Teaching: PhD Courses

1998 – at present Sapienza University of Rome Member of the teaching staff of the PhD Course in “Psychobiology and Psychopharmacology”, at present “Behavioral Neuroscience”

IIIc – Teaching: Master and Specialization Courses

2019 – at present Sapienza University of Rome “Neuropsychological disorders in cerebellar pathologies” at the Specialization Course in "Neuropsychology ", Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology Appointed GOMP 1 CFU – 8 ore
2013 – 2019 Sapienza University of Rome “Neuropsychology of the Neurodegenerative diseases” at the Specialization Course in "Neuropsychology ", Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology Appointed GOMP 2 CFU
2013 – 2018 Sapienza University of Rome “Neurobiological basis in Autism Spectrum Disorders: role of the Cerebellum” at the 2nd level University Master degree"Autism Spectrum Disordersin the Adolescence", Faculty of Medicine and Psychology Appointed GOMP 2 CFU
2009 – 2013 Sapienza University of Rome “Clinical framework of the main neurodegenerative diseases” at the Specialization Course in "Neuropsychology ", Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology Appointed GOMP 4 CFU

Part IV - Society memberships, Awards and Honors

IVa – Society Memberships

1994 – at present Society for Neuroscience (SfN)
1995 – at present European Brain and Behaviour Society (EBBS)
1997 – at present Società Italiana di Neurologia (SIN)
2007 – at present Società Italiana di Neuropsicologia (SINP)
2007 – at present Società Italiana di Riabilitazione Neurologica (SIRN)
2008 – at present Society for Research on the Cerebellum (SRC)
2008 – at present Federation of the European Societies of Neuropsychology (ESN)
2008 – at present Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS)
2016 – at present Society for Research on the Cerebellum and Ataxias (SRCA)
2016 – at present Task Force group on “Cerebellum and Neurocognition”
2017 - at present International Delegate for “The Society for Research on the Cerebellum and Ataxias”
2014 - at present Ataxia Global Iniziative – AGI

IVb – Editorial Duties

Editorial Board Member The Cerebellum

Part V - Funding Information [grants as PI-principal investigator or I-investigator]

2025 (Bando 2024) “SOCIAL BRAIN: a multi-tiered behavioral, autonomic, neuroimagingand noninvasive brain stimulation study of cerebello-cerebral network involved insocial prediction” (Prot. RG124190F579BA6E) Ricerca Universitaria, Sapienza University of Rome (41.000,00 euros) Principal Investigator

2024 (Bando 2023) Alterations of dynamic and effective brain connectivity during reward processing and cognitive control in substance use disorders. (Prot. RG123188B4281EAD) Ricerca Universitaria, Sapienza University of Rome - Terza Missione (22.000,00 euros) Investigator

2024 (Bando 2023) Alterations of dynamic and effective brain connectivity during reward processing and cognitive control in substance use disorders. (Prot. RG123188B4281EAD) Ricerca Universitaria, Sapienza University of Rome (26.000,00 euros) Investigator

2023 (Bando Ricerca Finalizzata 2021) SINCRO: Spatiotemporal entrainment as Innovative Neuromodulation targeting Cerebello-cerebral circuits for enhancing Rehabilitation Outcomes of cognitive and social skills in progressive and acquired cerebellar diseases (Prot. RF-2021-12374279.) Ministero della Salute (450.000,00 euros) Principal Investigator

2022 (Bando 2020) Mechanisms of social prediction in the cerebellum: an integrated multilevel approach (Prot. 20203LT7H3) PRIN, Ministero dell’Istruzione, dell’Università e della Ricerca (364.877,00 euros) Principal Investigator

2021 La Stimolazione Magnetica Transcranica ripetitiva (rTMS) in un approccio multi-tecnica per lo studio e la modulazione delle basi cerebrali della percezione, cognizione, dei processi sociali, della personalità e dei disturbi psicologici (Prot. MA22117A8A97CD42) Ricerca Universitaria, Sapienza University of Rome – Medie Attrezzature (71.980,00 euros) Investigator

2021 Ascoltare la comunità autistica per migliorare la conoscenza dell'autismo, l'accessibilità degli studenti autistici all'università e la ricerca scientifica sull'autismo (Prot. TM12117D2322F8D6) Ricerca Universitaria, Sapienza University of Rome – Terza Missione (15.000,00 euros) Investigator

2021 Rappresentazione di gesti della mano comuni e non comuni nell'attività spontanea del cervello: uno studio EEG ad alta densità (Prot. RM12117A8B3DEE4F) Ricerca Universitaria, Sapienza University of Rome (10.000,00 euros) Investigator

2020 “Cerebro-cerebellar predictive systems for interpersonal interactions: integrating motion kinematics, autonomic monitoring, fMRI and lesions approaches in virtual reality”. (Prot. RG120172B8343252) Ricerca Universitaria, Sapienza University of Rome (40.000,00 euros plus 23.787,00 euros - Assegno di Ricerca) Principal Investigator

2019 “Cerebellar-cortical circuits in Autism Spectrum Disorders: new perspectives for treatment implementation”. (Prot. RM11916B7A6C94E1) Ricerca Universitaria, Sapienza University of Rome (10.000,00 euros) Principal Investigator

2018 “Neuroimaging markers of therapy-induced recovery of language after brain damage”. (Prot. PH11816436A847F3) Ricerca Universitaria, Sapienza University of Rome (43.000,00 euros) Investigator

2017 “Studio di correlazione anatomo-funzionale dei circuiti cerebello-corticali e analisi del comportamento sociale ed emozionale in soggetti con disturbi bipolari, in soggetti con danno cerebellare ed in soggetti sani”. ( Prot. RM11715C7E67E525) Ricerca Universitaria, Sapienza University of Rome (8000,00 euros plus 23.750,00 euros-Assegno di Ricerca) Principal Investigator
2016 “Study on the cerebellar role in Pathological Gambling: an insight into the neurobiological basis of Impulse Control Disorders”. ( Prot. RP116154E6F75140) Ricerca Universitaria, Sapienza University of Rome (4000,00 euros) Principal Investigator

2015 "Combined behavioral, neuroimaging and noninvasive brain stimulation studies of the ability to understand another person's mental states in participants with Autism Spectrum Disorders and patients with Cerebellar Diseases." (Prot. C26H15MSBK) Ricerca Universitaria, Sapienza University of Rome, (30.000,00 euros) Investigator
2014 "The cerebellar role in the emotional processing." ( Prot. C26A14R2FP) Ricerca Universitaria, Sapienza University of Rome (10.000,00 euros) Investigator
2013 "An integrate neuropsychological, morphofunctional and connectivity study of the cerebellar functionality" (Prot. C26A1329AR) Ricerca Universitaria, Sapienza University of Rome (11.000,00 euros) Principal Investigator

2011-2012 Not-permitted to submit university grant applications as member of the Scientific Research Board (Commissione di Ricerca Scientifica) of the Sapienza University of Rome

2010 "Relazioni anatomo-funzionali tra circuitazioni sotto- e neo-corticali" (Prot. C26A10SY7C) Ricerca Universitaria, Sapienza University of Rome (9.000,00 euros) Principal Investigator

2009 "Ruolo del cervelletto nella regolazione delle componenti cognitivo-emozionali sottese ai processi di scelta." (Prot. C26F09EYKZ) Ricerca di ateneo Federato di scienza e della Tecnologia AST, Sapienza University of Rome (3.600,00 euros) Principal Investigator

2009 "Uno studio nell'uomo e nell'animale della funzionalità cognitiva cerebellare" (Prot. C26A09RR3J) Ricerca Universitaria, Sapienza University of Rome (24.050,00 euros) Investigator

2008 "Interazione cerebello-frontale nel controllo delle funzioni esecutive. Studio clinico e sperimentale." (Prot. C26A08KFWE) Ricerca Universitaria, Sapienza University of Rome (10.000,00 euros) Principal Investigator

2007 "Stimolazione ambientale e modificazioni neuronali. Studio morfologico nel ratto in un paradigma di "ambiente arricchito" ( Prot. C26F07BB5L) Ricerca di ateneo Federato di scienza e della Tecnologia AST, Sapienza University of Rome (1.200,00 euros) Principal Investigator

2007 "Ipotesi colinergica della malattia di Alzheimer: modificazioni comportamentali, strutturali e biochimiche in modelli sperimentali e clinici." (Prot. C26A07Z3FK) Ricerca Universitaria, Sapienza University of Rome (26.600,00 euros) Investigator

2006 “Il ruolo del cervelletto nelle funzioni esecutive: studio clinico e sperimentale.” (Prot. C26A06XEEE) Ricerca di Ateneo, Sapienza University of Rome (7.000,00 euros) Principal Investigator

2006 "Interazione cerebello-corticale nell'elaborazione di informazioni sensoriali. Studio neuropsicologico e neurofisiologico." (Prot. C26F06B7PL) Ricerca di Facoltà, Sapienza University of Rome (7.000,00 euros) Principal Investigator

2005 “Contributo del Cervelletto all’elaborazione corticale dell’informazione sensoriale. Studio Neuropsicologico e neurofisiologico” (Prot. C26H15MSBK) PRIN, Ministero, dell’Istruzione, dell’Università e della Ricerca (Total 154.000,00 euros; Unit 27.900 euros) Operative Unit

2005 "Stop and Go! Ruolo del cervelletto nei processi di inibizione." –(Prot. C26F052933) Ricerca di Facoltà, Sapienza University of Rome (1.078,00 euros) Principal Investigator

2005 "Il ruolo del cervelletto nella funzione spaziale: uno studio sperimentale e clinico" ( Prot C26A050120) Ricerca di Ateneo, Sapienza University of Rome (9.500,00 euros) Investigator

2004 "Effetti dell'arricchimento ambientale sulle abilità spaziali. Studio morfologico e comportamentale in ratti." (Prot. C26F042114) Ricerca di Facoltà, Sapienza University of Rome (1.092,00 euros) Principal Investigator

2004 “Ruolo dei circuiti cerebellari in compiti discriminativi" (Prot. C26A041020) Ricerca di Ateneo, Sapienza University of Rome (27.600,00 euros) Investigator

2003 “Ruolo delle circuitazioni cerebellari nei processi di memoria spaziale “ ( Prot. C26F038537) Ricerca di Facoltà, Sapienza University of Rome (1.279,00 euros) Principal Investigator

2003 “Le funzioni cognitive nelle lesioni cerebellari:correlazioni fra modelli animali e dati clinici" (Prot. C26A039974) Ricerca di Ateneo, Sapienza University of Rome (10.000,00 euros) Investigator

2002 "Valutazione del ruolo cerebellare nell'elaborazione di informazioni sensoriali ritmiche e sequenziali" ( Prot. C26F023114) Ricerca di Facoltà, Sapienza University of Rome (1.226,00 euros) Principal Investigator

2001 "Studio neuropsicologico delle abilità discriminative sensoriali in soggetti con danno cerebellare" (Prot. C26F011797) Ricerca di Facoltà, Sapienza University of Rome (1.441,00 euros) Principal Investigator

Part VI – Research Activities

VIa- Research Experience and Responsibility

2003 – at present Chief of the laboratory “Cognitive Neuroscience and Cerebellum”, Department of Psychology, University of Rome "La Sapienza"
2006 – at present Chief of Ataxia Lab, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome
1999 – at present Scientific advice at the Research Institute , IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome

VIb - Research Experience in qualified International Institutions

1993, 1994, 1995 Visiting Researcher, Frontier Research Program (chief of the lab. Prof. E.G. Jones), RIKEN Institute, Wako, Saitama, Japan
1993,1994 Visiting Researcher, Institute of Anatomy and Neurobiology (chief of the lab. Prof. E.G. Jones), University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA

VIc- Scientific Collaborations

- Neuroimaging Laboratory, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
- Psychology Department, Catholic University, Milan, Italy
- Neuroscience Department, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences, University of Trento,Italy
- Neurological and Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Department A, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
- Physiology and Pharmacology Department, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
- Clinical Imaging Science Center , Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton , UK.
- Centre de Neuroscience Cognitive, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Lyon France
- Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders- UCL Institute of Neurology – London
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine
- Laboratory for Neural Systems, Frontier Research Program

Part VIII – Publications

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=7003285323