Nadia Dominici

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
room D-629
GENERAL INTERESTS
My research centers on the development of motor abilities in children. My main goal is to elucidate the neuromotor aspects underlying the emergence of walking, and to implement this knowledge to identify an optimal rehabilitation strategy to promote normal walking in children with neuromotor disorders, in particular cerebral palsy.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Over the years I have built a strong expertise in locomotor control and neurorehabilitation, through several studies that I conducted in excellent research laboratories: the Laboratory of Neuromotor Physiology of the Santa Lucia Foundation in Rome, and the Experimental Neurorehabilitation Laboratory at the University of Zürich, and EPFL in Lausanne. This led to the publication of various articles in high-impact journals, including Science [2011, 2012] and Nature Medicine [2012, 2016].
In 2013, I was awarded the Ig Nobel prize in Physics “for discovering that some people would be physically capable of running across the surface of a pond — if those people and that pond were on the moon”.
I was awarded the Suzanne Klein-Vogelbach -Prize for the Research of Human Movement prize in 2013, a 5-year NWO (Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research) Vidi grant and NWO Aspasia Grant in 2015, and a 5-year ERC Starting Grant (European Research Council) in 2016.
CURRENT RESEARCH
I am currently working on the interplay between brain and muscular activity underlying the development of locomotor patterns in children, as well as on the biomechanics of human locomotion. From October 2015 I am project leader and principal investigator of the project “FirSTeps – The emergence of walking in children”, and from February 2017 I am project leader and principal investigator of the project ”Learn2Walk. Brain meets spine: the neural origin of toddlers’ first steps”. My research group consists of BSc, MSc and PhD students, who work on studies related to the development of walking from neonates stepping until independent walking in healthy children and in children with neuromotor disorders.
RÉSUMÉ
After a master diploma in Physics, I received my PhD in Neuroscience at the University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Italy, for work on the neurophysiology of locomotor development in children.
I held research positions at the Laboratory of Neuromotor Physiology of the Santa Lucia Foundation in Rome under the supervision of Prof. Francesco Lacquaniti, where I focused on central pattern generation networks and on the development of locomotion in children starting from neonate stepping until the first independent steps in toddlers, and at the Experimental Neurorehabilitation Laboratory at the University of Zürich, and at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), in Lausanne, under the supervision of Dr. Gregoire Courtine, where I developed neurorehabilitation techniques to restore walking in animals after spinal cord injuries.
In 2015, I became Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Science at Vrije Universiteit of Amsterdam, where I established my own research laboratory. In 2016 I was nominated Associate Professor.
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Research…
FirSteps – The Emergence of Walking in Children
The first independent step of a child may be small, but it represents a giant leap for its development. This project addresses the emergence of coordination patterns and motor primitives or muscle synergies in typically developing children and in children with cerebral palsy.Learn2Walk – Brain meets spine
We analyze brain and muscular activity in typically developing children and in children with cerebral palsy. We seek to unravel the reorganization of cortical and cortico-muscular activity accompanying the development of walking with the ultimate aim to design novel rehabilitation techniques for cerebral palsy.
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Excerpts of scientific work
- Editorial: Rhythmic Patterns in Neuroscience and Human Physiology
Editorial: Rhythmic Patterns in Neuroscience and Human Physiology
Dominici, N., Iosa, M., Vannozzi, G. & De Bartolo, D., May 2022, In: Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 16, May, p. 1-3 3 p., 936090.Research output: Contribution to Journal › Editorial › Academic › peer-review
- The Role of Walking Experience in the Emergence of Gait Harmony in Typically Developing Toddlers
The Role of Walking Experience in the Emergence of Gait Harmony in Typically Developing Toddlers
de Bartolo, D., Zandvoort, C., Goudriaan, M., Kerkman, J., Iosa, M. & Dominici, N., Feb 2022, In: Brain Sci. 12, 2, p. 1-14 14 p., 155.Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
- How wide should you view to fight? Establishing the size of the visual field necessary for grip fighting in judo
How wide should you view to fight? Establishing the size of the visual field necessary for grip fighting in judo
Krabben, K., Mann, D., Lojanica, M., Mueller, D., Dominici, N., van der Kamp, J. & Savelsbergh, G., Jan 2022, In: Journal of Sports Sciences. 40, 2, p. 236-247Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
- A small step towards understanding impaired walking development in children with cerebral palsy
A small step towards understanding impaired walking development in children with cerebral palsy
Bekius, A., 24 Nov 2021, s.l.: s.n.. 175 p.Research output: PhD Thesis › PhD-Thesis - Research and graduation internal
- What you see is not what you get: The impact of vision impairment on judo performance
What you see is not what you get: The impact of vision impairment on judo performance
Krabben, K. J., 4 Nov 2021, Ridderprint. 257 p.Research output: PhD Thesis › PhD-Thesis - Research and graduation internal
- Muscle synergy structure and gait patterns in children with spastic cerebral palsy
Muscle synergy structure and gait patterns in children with spastic cerebral palsy
Goudriaan, M., Papageorgiou, E., Shuman, B. R., Steele, K. M., Dominici, N., Van Campenhout, A., Ortibus, E., Molenaers, G. & Desloovere, K., 6 Oct 2021, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology. 64, 4, p. 462-468Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
- Muscle Synergies in Children Walking and Running on a Treadmill
Muscle Synergies in Children Walking and Running on a Treadmill
Bach, M. M., Daffertshofer, A. & Dominici, N., 10 May 2021, In: Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 15, May, p. 1-14 14 p., 637157.Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
- Differential sets of cortical muscle synergy signatures during adult locomotion
Differential sets of cortical muscle synergy signatures during adult locomotion
Zandvoort, C. S., Daffertshofer, A. & Dominici, N., 4 May 2021, 2021 10th International IEEE/EMBS Conference on Neural Engineering, NER 2021. IEEE Computer Society, p. 1070-1073 9441206. (International IEEE/EMBS Conference on Neural Engineering, NER).Research output: Chapter in Book / Report / Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Academic › peer-review
- Neuromuscular Control before and after Independent Walking Onset in Children with Cerebral Palsy
Neuromuscular Control before and after Independent Walking Onset in Children with Cerebral Palsy
Bekius, A., Zandvoort, C. S., Kerkman, J. N., van de Pol, L. A., Vermeulen, R. J., Harlaar, J., Daffertshofer, A., Buizer, A. I. & Dominici, N., 12 Apr 2021, In: Sensors (Basel, Switzerland). 21, 8, 2714.Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
- The development of mature gait patterns in children during walking and running
The development of mature gait patterns in children during walking and running
Bach, M. M., Daffertshofer, A. & Dominici, N., Apr 2021, In: European Journal of Applied Physiology. 121, 4, p. 1073-1085Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
- Early Development of Locomotor Patterns and Motor Control in Very Young Children at High Risk of Cerebral Palsy, a Longitudinal Case Series
Early Development of Locomotor Patterns and Motor Control in Very Young Children at High Risk of Cerebral Palsy, a Longitudinal Case Series
Bekius, A., Bach, M. M., van de Pol, L. A., Harlaar, J., Daffertshofer, A., Dominici, N. & Buizer, A. I., 2021, In: Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 15, p. 659415 659415.Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
- Muscle Synergies During Walking in Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Systematic Review
Muscle Synergies During Walking in Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Systematic Review
Bekius, A., Bach, M. M., van der Krogt, M. M., de Vries, R., Buizer, A. I. & Dominici, N., 2 Jul 2020, In: Frontiers in Physiology. 11, 632.Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
- Muscle Synergies and Coherence Networks Reflect Different Modes of Coordination During Walking
Muscle Synergies and Coherence Networks Reflect Different Modes of Coordination During Walking
Kerkman, J. N., Bekius, A., Boonstra, T. W., Daffertshofer, A. & Dominici, N., Jul 2020, In: Frontiers in Physiology. 11, July, p. 1-13 13 p., 751.Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
- Age-related differences in muscle synergy organization during step ascent at different heights and directions
Age-related differences in muscle synergy organization during step ascent at different heights and directions
Baggen, R. J., Dieën, J. H. V., Roie, E. V., Verschueren, S. M., Giarmatzis, G., Delecluse, C. & Dominici, N., 14 Mar 2020, In: Applied Sciences (Switzerland). 10, 6, p. 1-15 15 p., 1987.Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
- Muscles on the edge: a network approach for studying motor activity
Muscles on the edge: a network approach for studying motor activity
Kerkman, J. N., 2020, 162 p.Research output: PhD Thesis › PhD-Thesis - Research and graduation internal
- Motion tracking in developmental research: Methods, considerations, and applications
Motion tracking in developmental research: Methods, considerations, and applications
van Schaik, J. E. & Dominici, N., 2020, Progress in Brain Research: New Perspectives on Early Social-cognitive Development. Hunnius, S. & Meyer, M. (eds.). Elsevier B.V., p. 89-111 23 p. (Progress in Brain Research; vol. 254).Research output: Chapter in Book / Report / Conference proceeding › Chapter › Academic › peer-review
- The human sensorimotor cortex fosters muscle synergies through cortico-synergy coherence
The human sensorimotor cortex fosters muscle synergies through cortico-synergy coherence
Zandvoort, C. S., van Dieën, J. H., Dominici, N. & Daffertshofer, A., 1 Oct 2019, In: NeuroImage. 199, p. 30-37 8 p.Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
- Muscle Synergies in Response to Biofeedback-Driven Gait Adaptations in Children With Cerebral Palsy
Muscle Synergies in Response to Biofeedback-Driven Gait Adaptations in Children With Cerebral Palsy
Booth, A. T. C., van der Krogt, M. M., Harlaar, J., Dominici, N. & Buizer, A. I., 27 Sep 2019, In: Frontiers in Physiology. 10, SEP, 1208.Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
- Modular control in children with cerebral palsy during the development of walking
Modular control in children with cerebral palsy during the development of walking
Bekius, A., Zandvoort, C., Kerkman, J., Daffertshofer, A., Buizer, A. I., Harlaar, J. & Dominici, N., 12 May 2019.Research output: Contribution to Conference › Abstract › Academic
- Designing Functional Training Programs to Improve Muscle Characteristics in Older Adults Using Electromyography
Designing Functional Training Programs to Improve Muscle Characteristics in Older Adults Using Electromyography
Baggen, R. J., 2019, 167 p.Research output: PhD Thesis › PhD-Thesis - Research and graduation internal
- Biofeedback to improve gait in children with cerebral palsy
Biofeedback to improve gait in children with cerebral palsy
Booth, A. T. C., 2019, 169 p.Research output: PhD Thesis › PhD-Thesis - Research and graduation internal
- Muscle synergies during walking in very young children with cerebral palsy
Muscle synergies during walking in very young children with cerebral palsy
Bekius, A., Kerkman, J. N., Zandvoort, C. S., Daffertshofer, A., Harlaar, J., Buizer, A. I. & Dominici, N., May 2018, p. 10.Research output: Contribution to Conference › Abstract › Academic
- Spatiotemporal neuromodulation therapies engaging muscle synergies improve motor control after spinal cord injury
Spatiotemporal neuromodulation therapies engaging muscle synergies improve motor control after spinal cord injury
Wenger, N., Moraud, E. M., Gandar, J., Musienko, P., Capogrosso, M., Baud, L., Le Goff, C. G., Barraud, Q., Pavlova, N., Dominici, N., Minev, I. R., Asboth, L., Hirsch, A., Duis, S., Kreider, J., Mortera, A., Haverbeck, O., Kraus, S., Schmitz, F., DiGiovanna, J. & 7 others, , 2016, In: Nature Medicine. 22, 2, p. 138-145Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
- Engagement of the Rat Hindlimb Motor Cortex across Natural Locomotor Behaviors
Engagement of the Rat Hindlimb Motor Cortex across Natural Locomotor Behaviors
DiGiovanna, J., Dominici, N., Friedli, L., Rigosa, J., Duis, S., Kreider, J., Beauparlant, J., van den Brand, R., Schieppati, M., Micera, S. & Courtine, G., 2016, In: The Journal of Neuroscience. 36, 40, p. 10440-10455Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
- The effect of EMG processing choices on muscle synergies before and after BoNT-A treatment in cerebral palsy
The effect of EMG processing choices on muscle synergies before and after BoNT-A treatment in cerebral palsy
van der Krogt, M. M., Oudenhoven, L., Buizer, A. I., Dallmeijer, A., Dominici, N. & Harlaar, J., 2016, p. 31. 1 p.Research output: Contribution to Conference › Poster › Other research output
- Editorial: Neuro-motor control and feed-forward models of locomotion in humans
Editorial: Neuro-motor control and feed-forward models of locomotion in humans
Iosa, M., Gizzi, L., Tamburella, F. & Dominici, N., 2015, In: Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 9, 306.Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
- The neural origin of switches in coordination of arm and leg movement during walking
The neural origin of switches in coordination of arm and leg movement during walking
Dominici, N. & Daffertshofer, A., 2015.Research output: Contribution to Conference › Poster › Other research output
- Pronounced species divergence in corticospinal tract reorganization and functional recovery after lateralized spinal cord injury favors primates
Pronounced species divergence in corticospinal tract reorganization and functional recovery after lateralized spinal cord injury favors primates
Friedli, L., Rosenzweig, E., Barraud, Q., Schubert, M., Dominici, N., Awai, L., L. Nielson, J., Musienko, P., Nout-Lomas, Y., Zhong, H., Zdunowski, S., Roy, R., Strand, S., van den Brand, R., Havton, L., Beattie, M., Bresnahan, J., Bézard, E., Bloch, J., Edgerton, R. & 4 others, , 2015, In: Science Translational Medicine. 26, 7, p. 302ra134 302.Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
- Decoding bipedal locomotion from the rat sensorimotor cortex
Decoding bipedal locomotion from the rat sensorimotor cortex
Rigosa, J., Panarese, A., Dominici, N., Friedli, L., van den Brand, R., Carpaneto, J., DiGiovanna, J., Courtine, G. & Micera, S., 2015, In: Journal of Neural Engineering. 12, 5Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
- Changes in the spinal segmental motor output for stepping during development from infant to adult
Changes in the spinal segmental motor output for stepping during development from infant to adult
Ivanenko, Y. P., Dominici, N., Cappellini, G., Di Paolo, A., Giannini, C., Poppele, R. E. & Lacquaniti, F., 13 Feb 2013, In: The Journal of Neuroscience. 33, 7, p. 3025-36aResearch output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
- Versatile robotic interface to evaluate, enable and train locomotion and balance after neuromotor disorders
Versatile robotic interface to evaluate, enable and train locomotion and balance after neuromotor disorders
Dominici, N., Keller, U., Vallery, H., Friedli, L., van den Brand, R., Starkey, M. L., Musienko, P., Riener, R. & Courtine, G., Jul 2012, In: Nature Medicine. 18, 7, p. 1142-7 6 p.Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
- Restoring voluntary control of locomotion after paralyzing spinal cord injury
Restoring voluntary control of locomotion after paralyzing spinal cord injury
van den Brand, R., Heutschi, J., Barraud, Q., DiGiovanna, J., Bartholdi, K., Huerlimann, M., Friedli, L., Vollenweider, I., Moraud, E. M., Duis, S., Dominici, N., Micera, S., Musienko, P. & Courtine, G., 1 Jun 2012, In: Science. 336, 6085, p. 1182-5 4 p.Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
- Humans running in place on water at simulated reduced gravity
Humans running in place on water at simulated reduced gravity
Minetti, A. E., Ivanenko, Y. P., Cappellini, G., Dominici, N. & Lacquaniti, F., 2012, In: PLoS ONE. 7, 7, p. e37300Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
- Locomotor primitives in newborn babies and their development
Locomotor primitives in newborn babies and their development
Dominici, N., Ivanenko, Y. P., Cappellini, G., d'Avella, A., Mondì, V., Cicchese, M., Fabiano, A., Silei, T., Di Paolo, A., Giannini, C., Poppele, R. E. & Lacquaniti, F., 18 Nov 2011, In: Science. 334, 6058, p. 997-9 3 p.Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
- Locomotor body scheme
Locomotor body scheme
Ivanenko, Y. P., Dominici, N., Daprati, E., Nico, D., Cappellini, G. & Lacquaniti, F., Apr 2011, In: Human Movement Science. 30, 2, p. 341-51 11 p.Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
- Migration of motor pool activity in the spinal cord reflects body mechanics in human locomotion
Migration of motor pool activity in the spinal cord reflects body mechanics in human locomotion
Cappellini, G., Ivanenko, Y. P., Dominici, N., Poppele, R. E. & Lacquaniti, F., Dec 2010, In: Journal of Neurophysiology. 104, 6, p. 3064-73 10 p.Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
- Kinematic strategies in newly walking toddlers stepping over different support surfaces
Kinematic strategies in newly walking toddlers stepping over different support surfaces
Dominici, N., Ivanenko, Y. P., Cappellini, G., Zampagni, M. L. & Lacquaniti, F., Mar 2010, In: Journal of Neurophysiology. 103, 3, p. 1673-84 12 p.Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
- Motor patterns during walking on a slippery walkway
Motor patterns during walking on a slippery walkway
Cappellini, G., Ivanenko, Y. P., Dominici, N., Poppele, R. E. & Lacquaniti, F., Feb 2010, In: Journal of Neurophysiology. 103, 2, p. 746-60 15 p.Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
- The many roles of vision during walking
The many roles of vision during walking
Logan, D., Kiemel, T., Dominici, N., Cappellini, G., Ivanenko, Y., Lacquaniti, F. & Jeka, J. J., 2010, In: Experimental Brain Research. 206, 3, p. 337-50 14 p.Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
- Changes in the limb kinematics and walking-distance estimation after shank elongation: evidence for a locomotor body schema?
Changes in the limb kinematics and walking-distance estimation after shank elongation: evidence for a locomotor body schema?
Dominici, N., Daprati, E., Nico, D., Cappellini, G., Ivanenko, Y. P. & Lacquaniti, F., Mar 2009, In: Journal of Neurophysiology. 101, 3, p. 1419-29 11 p.Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
- Development of independent walking in toddlers
Development of independent walking in toddlers
Ivanenko, Y. P., Dominici, N. & Lacquaniti, F., Apr 2007, In: Exercise and Sport Science Reviews. 35, 2, p. 67-73 7 p.Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
- Control of foot trajectory in walking toddlers: adaptation to load changes
Control of foot trajectory in walking toddlers: adaptation to load changes
Dominici, N., Ivanenko, Y. P. & Lacquaniti, F., Apr 2007, In: Journal of Neurophysiology. 97, 4, p. 2790-801 12 p.Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
- Modular control of limb movements during human locomotion
Modular control of limb movements during human locomotion
Ivanenko, Y. P., Cappellini, G., Dominici, N., Poppele, R. E. & Lacquaniti, F., 2007, In: The Journal of Neuroscience. 27, 41, p. 11149-61 13 p.Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
- Coordination of locomotion with voluntary movements in humans
Coordination of locomotion with voluntary movements in humans
Ivanenko, Y. P., Cappellini, G., Dominici, N., Poppele, R. E. & Lacquaniti, F., 3 Aug 2005, In: The Journal of Neuroscience. 25, 31, p. 7238-53 16 p.Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
- Kinematics in newly walking toddlers does not depend upon postural stability
Kinematics in newly walking toddlers does not depend upon postural stability
Ivanenko, Y. P., Dominici, N., Cappellini, G. & Lacquaniti, F., Jul 2005, In: Journal of Neurophysiology. 94, 1, p. 754-63 10 p.Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
- Development of pendulum mechanism and kinematic coordination from the first unsupported steps in toddlers
Development of pendulum mechanism and kinematic coordination from the first unsupported steps in toddlers
Ivanenko, Y. P., Dominici, N., Cappellini, G., Dan, B., Cheron, G. & Lacquaniti, F., 2004, In: Journal of Experimental Biology. 207, Pt 21, p. 3797-810 14 p.Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review