The aim of the group is to develop a line that covers neurorehabilitation of neurological pathologies using the most advanced technology available. Based on clinical and therapeutic needs, a direct translation is made by collaborating with robotic engineering groups such as the GNEC of CSIC or engineers specializing in image processing in post-processing as the URJC. 

The active projects of the group are oriented towards non-invasive neuromodulation for neurorehabilitation of both the sequelae of acquired brain damage (stroke or TBI) and Parkinson’s disease 

Brain neuromodulation attempts to change the electrical and functional behavior of neuronal networks that are altered, enhancing their normal functioning. We use the following techniques: 

• Transcranial magnetic stimulation, which seeks to change the excitability of the cerebral cortex using electromagnetic energy applied externally, without causing any discomfort to the patient. 
• Transcranial direct current electrical stimulation, which seeks to change the excitability of the cerebral cortex using direct electrical energy applied transcranially with either high or low definition. 
• Endogenous neuromodulation with the use of immersive 3D EEG-powered system that allows us to teach patients to “retrain” their brain rhythms to enhance the effects of conventional rehabilitation. 

In addition to these techniques we participate in the design and validation of exoprostheses or devices designed to support the rehabilitation or diagnosis of motor or non-motor disorders. 

The purpose of our research lines is to make available to patients an effective and non-invasive technique at hospital level (magnetic, electrical stimulation and neurofeedback) that can complement conventional therapies reducing health costs, improving their welfare and potentially reducing their medication requirement. 

This activity puts our university on the map of clinical research in Neurology and allows us to form research links with numerous groups dedicated to this type of neurophysiological research around the world. Cortical neurophysiology research is one of the Hot Topics of the last years. 

The group is open to collaborations with students, professors and other researchers inside and outside the university interested in this line of research. 

RESEARCH LINES 

• Neurorehabilitation of motor and cognitive symptoms of Parkinson’s disease 

• Motor and cognitive neurorehabilitation of acquired brain injury sequelae (adult and pediatric) 

• Title: Fatig-EP Development of an electroencephalographic biomarker for the study of fatigue in Parkinson’s disease.
  Funding entity: Asociación Madrileña de Neurología
  Duration: 3 years.
• Title: CHILDBOOST Use of transcranial direct current stimulation as an adjuvant therapy in the rehabilitation of upper limb functionality in pediatric population with brain damage.
  Funding entity: Fundación GMP.
• Title: OASIS Development and clinical validation of a platform for detection of non-motor fluctuations and pain in Parkinson’s disease
  Funding entity: Ministry of Science and Innovation. Call 2020 R+D+i Projects – RTI Type Coord 

• Fernández-Pérez, J.J.; Avendaño-Coy, J.; Serrano-Muñoz, D.; Oliveira Barroso, F.; Montero-Pardo, C.; López-Moreno, B.; Lerín-Calvo, A.; Romero Muñoz, J.P.; Gómez-Soriano, J. Transcutaneous Kilohertz High-Frequency Alternating Current at 10 kHz for Upper-Limb Tremor in People with Parkinson’s Disease: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Crossover Study. J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13, 7566. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13247566 
• González-Zamorano Y, Moreno-Verdú M, Fernández-Carnero J, Herreros-Rodríguez J, Romero JP. Validation and Psychometric Properties of the Spanish Version of King’s Parkinson’s Disease Pain Scale. Parkinsons Dis. 2024 Nov 5;2024:5485811. doi: 10.1155/2024/5485811. 
• Afonso M, Sánchez-Cuesta F, González-Zamorano Y, Pablo Romero J, Vourvopoulos A. Investigating the synergistic neuromodulation effect of bilateral rTMS and VR brain-computer interfaces training in chronic stroke patients. J Neural Eng. 2024 Oct 24;21(5). doi: 10.1088/1741-2552/ad8836. PMID: 39419104. 
• Valenzuela-López L, Moreno-Verdú M, Cuenca-Zaldívar JN, Romero JP. Effects of Hand Motor Interventions on Cognitive Outcomes Post-stroke: A Systematic Review and Bayesian Network Meta-analysis. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2024 Sep;105(9):1770-1783. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2023.12.013. Epub 2024 Jan 10. PMID: 38211761. 
• Romero JP, Moreno-Verdú M, Arroyo-Ferrer A, Serrano JI, Herreros-Rodríguez J, García-Caldentey J, Rocon de Lima E, Del Castillo MD. Clinical and neurophysiological effects of bilateral repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and EEG-guided neurofeedback in Parkinson’s disease: a randomized, four-arm controlled trial. J Neuroeng Rehabil. 2024 Aug 5;21(1):135. doi: 10.1186/s12984-024-01427-5. PMID: 39103947; PMCID: PMC11299373. 
• Cerezo-Zarzuelo, A.; Rios-Lago, M.; Sanchez-Cuesta, F.J.; Gavilan-Agusti, B.; Romero, J.P. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation as Adjuvant to Gamified Rehabilitation for Upper Limb Function in Paediatric Brain Damage (CHILDBOOST Project): A Study Protocol for a Triple-Blind Randomised Controlled Trial. Appl. Sci. 2024, 14, 6698. https://doi.org/10.3390/app14156698 
• Valenzuela-López et al., “AMBER: A Device for Hand Motor and Cognitive Rehabilitation—Development and Proof of Concept,” in IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering, vol. 32, pp. 2654-2664, 2024, doi: 10.1109/TNSRE.2024.3429155.
• Ignacio Serrano, Juan P. Romero, Aida Arroyo-Ferrer, and M. Dolores del Castillo. 2024. Estimation of motor severity scales in Parkinson’s disease by linear models of bimanual non-alternating index finger tapping features. Expert Syst. Appl. 246, C (Jul 2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2023.123077
• Romero JP, Martínez-Benito A, de Noreña D, Hurtado-Martínez A, Sánchez-Cuesta FJ, González-Zamorano Y, Moreno-Verdú M. Combined non-invasive neuromodulation using transcranial direct current stimulation, motor imagery and action observation for motor, cognitive and functional recovery in cortico-basal degeneration: a single case study. EXCLI J. 2024 May 6;23:714-726. doi: 10.17179/excli2024-7027. PMID: 38887394; PMCID: PMC11180953. 
• González-Zamorano Y, José Sánchez-Cuesta F, Moreno-Verdú M, Arroyo-Ferrer A, Fernández-Carnero J, Chaudhuri KR, Fieldwalker A, Romero JP. TDCS for parkinson’s disease disease-related pain: A randomized trial. Clin Neurophysiol. 2024 May;161:133-146. doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2024.01.011. Epub 2024 Feb 28. Erratum in: Clin Neurophysiol. 2024 Sep;165:201. doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2024.07.001. PMID: 38479239.