Neural bases of human dexterous manipulation

23 Marzo 2026
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March 23 h 11:30
Aula Pacinotti
School of Engineering Pisa

Marco Santello, School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering Arizona State University

Abstract
Sensorimotor hand function can be described as a multidimensional space where mechanical, neural, and cognitive factors interact to enable a rich repertoire of actions. Among these actions, dexterous object manipulation plays a key role in motor development as well as activities of daily living. I will review insights gained from our research on dexterous manipulation – combining biomechanical, behavioral, neuromodulation, and robotics approaches – as a model for understanding sensorimotor control and underlying neural mechanisms. I will conclude my talk with an overview of directions for future fundamental and translational research.

Bio
Marco Santello, Ph.D. is the Fulton Professor of Neural Engineering in the School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering at Arizona State University. His research focuses on the neural control of movement, particularly the mechanisms underlying dexterous hand function, sensorimotor integration, and motor learning. By combining neuroscience, biomechanics, and engineering approaches, his work seeks to understand how the brain coordinates complex hand movements and how this knowledge can be applied to neurorehabilitation, prosthetics, and human–robot interaction.
Dr. Santello earned his Ph.D. in Sport and Exercise Sciences from the University of Birmingham (U.K.) and completed postdoctoral training in neuroscience at the University of Minnesota. Since joining Arizona State University in 1999, he has held several leadership roles, including Director of the School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering and Director of the NSF Industry/University Cooperative Research Center on Building Reliable Advances and Innovation in Neurotechnology (BRAIN).
His research has contributed to advances in understanding multi-finger coordination and dexterous manipulation, informing the design of robotic and prosthetic hands and technologies for quantifying and modulating sensorimotor function. Dr. Santello has authored more than 120 peer-reviewed publications, and his work has been widely supported by the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.