Secondment #8: Aleksandra

In March I completed my secondment at King's College London under the supervision of Prof. Marco Davare, where I had the opportunity to deepen my understanding of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and its application in motor control and learning.

Together with TReND fellows Louise Hocke and Ilaria Buffacci, I became involved in several research activities. At the beginning of the secondment, I assisted with an ongoing experiment combining immersive virtual reality with TMS, which gave me hands-on experience with the new technique. In addition, I took part in TMS data analysis and gained further insight into the interpretation and processing of neurophysiological data.

One of the highlights of the secondment was the opportunity to integrate TMS measurements into my own experimental protocol with increased movement variability. I aim to investigate whether the intervention influences not only behavioral performance but also motor system excitability. I am currently still working on the data analysis and hope that this pilot work will provide promising and exciting preliminary results.

Beyond the research experience, I really enjoyed spending time in London and getting to know the team in a more informal setting. Exploring the city, sharing coffee breaks at Borough Market, and experiencing daily life in a new environment made the secondment especially memorable. It was also wonderful to share this experience with TReND fellows.

Overall, this secondment was a very valuable experience, both scientifically and personally. I returned with new knowledge, fresh inspiration, and valuable connections for my ongoing research.