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Stella Petkovic

PhD Student Fellow
Neuroscience and society
Stella Petkovic
Research center
About

My current research focuses on non-invasive brain stimulation combined with neurophysiological recordings (EEG, EMG) and immersive virtual reality (IVR) to investigate performance monitoring and body representation. This includes studying cognitive conflict through phase-shifted tACS, embodiment-error monitoring interactions using TMS-EEG-IVR, and using EEG-IVR to explore how ownership and agency influence (im)moral behavior. Additionally, I am investigating agency and ownership alterations in individuals with Functional Movement Disorder (FMD) using IVR-EMG. Moreover, I am actively involved in multiple projects focused on exploring the neuromodulatory effects of low-intensity transcranial focused ultrasound stimulation (tFUS).



Education

Title: Ph.D. in Psychology and Social Neuroscience
Institute: La Sapienza University of Rome
Location: Rome
Country: Italy
From: 2022 To: 2026

Title: M.Sc. in Neuroscience and Neuropsychological Rehabilitation
Institute: Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna
Location: Cesena
Country: Italy
From: 2019 To: 2022

Title: B.Sc. in Psychological Sciences and Techniques
Institute: Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna
Location: Cesena
Country: Italy
From: 2016 To: 2019

Skills

Non invasive brain stimulation
- TMS
- tACS
- TUS

Electroencephalography (EEG)

All Publications
2025
Petkovic S., Rossano F., Fragapane S., De Biase A., Genovese D., Petracca M., Bentivoglio A.R., Silveri M.C., Aglioti S.M.
Alterations of Embodiment in Functional Tremor: a Virtual Reality-Based Investigation.
XXXIII Congresso Nazionale Società Italiana di Psicofisiologia e Neuroscienze Cognitive
Poster Conference
2025
Petkovic S., Rossano F., Aglioti S. M.
An integrated recording and stimulation platform for probing correlational and causative markers of human brain and body neuro-physiological dynamics in immersive virtual reality
MNESYS – III Annual Meeting
Poster Conference
2025
Bartulovic B., Vijayakumar S., Nandi T., Null M., Petkovic S., Bergmann T.O.
Assessing Motor Cortical Excitability Using Concurrent Transcranial Ultrasonic and Magnetic Stimulation.
6th Focused Ultrasound Neuromodulation Conference
Poster Conference
2025
Scattolin M., Piperno G., Petkovic S., Villa R., Panasiti M. S., Aglioti S. M.
Exploring the role of ownership over a virtual body on the electrocortical signatures of dishonesty
Social and Moral Brain Seminar
Poster Conference
2024
Cenka K., Spaccasassi C., Petkovic S., Pezzetta R., Arcara G., Avenanti A.
Temporal dynamics of implicit moral evaluation: From empathy for pain to mentalizing processes
Neuropsychologia, vol. 205
Article Journal