Dr. phil. Manuela Pastore-Wapp
Research Associate (Prof. Dr. med. Thomas Nyffeler)
Alpenquai 4 • manuela.pastore@unilu.ch
CV
After completing her Master’s degree in Neuropsychology at the University of Bern in 2012, Manuela Pastore-Wapp pursued her PhD at the Division of Neuropediatrics, Development and Rehabilitation, Children’s University Hospital, University of Bern, which she completed in 2016. Her research interests include cognitive psychology, neurorehabilitation, and the study of brain–behavior relationships using neuroimaging methods.
She subsequently worked as a research assistant and scientific project coordinator at the Support Center for Advanced Imaging (SCAN), Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Inselspital, and later as a senior researcher at the ARTORG Center of the University of Bern. Afterwards, she worked as a neuropsychologist on the neurorehabilitation at Luzerner Kantonsspital. In 2025, she joined the University of Lucerne as a research associate in the group of Prof. Dr. med. Thomas Nyffeler, where her work focuses on clinical trials in neurorehabilitation.
Publications
- Pastore-Wapp, M., & Bohlhalter, S. (2025). A Usability Pilot Study of a Sensor-Guided Interactive System for Dexterity Training in Parkinson’s Disease. Sensors. https://doi.org/10.3390/s25041051
- Pastore-Wapp, M. (2025). Exploring imitation of within hand prehensile object manipulation using fMRI and graph theory analysis. Scientific Reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-86157-x
- Pastore-Wapp, M., Cazzoli, D., Nyffeler, T., Vanbellingen, T., Van de Winckel, A., & Veerbeek, J. (2025). Poor upper limb performance despite the absence of notable upper limb motor impairment in adults with acute stroke - the influence of cognitive deficits. Neuropsychological rehabilitation. https://doi.org/10.1080/09602011.2025.2541096
- Kaufmann, B. C., Pastore-Wapp, M., Nyffeler, T., & Cazzoli, D. (2024). Severity-dependent interhemispheric white matter connectivity predicts post-stroke neglect recovery. The Journal of Neuroscience. https://doi.org/10.1523/jneurosci.1311-23.2024
- Kaufmann, B. C., Cazzoli, D., Pastore-Wapp, M., & Nyffeler, T. (2023). Joint impact on attention, alertness and inhibition of lesions at a frontal white matter crossroad. Brain, 146 (4), 1467-1482 ff. https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awac359
- Pastore-Wapp, M., Kaufmann, B. C., Nyffeler, T., & Bohlhalter, S. (2023). Feasibility of a combined intermittent theta-burst stimulation and video game-based dexterity training in Parkinson’s disease. Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, 20 (1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12984-023-01123-w
- Pastore-Wapp, M., & Bohlhalter, S. (2023). An Overview of Wearable Haptic Technologies and Their Performance in Virtual Object Exploration. Sensors. https://doi.org/10.3390/s23031563
- Pastore-Wapp, M. (2023). Association of Acute Infarct Topography With Development of Cerebral Palsy and Neurologic Impairment in Neonates With Stroke. Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0000000000207705
- Pastore-Wapp, M., Gyurkó, D., Vanbellingen, T., Lehnick, D., Pflugshaupt, T., Pflugi, S., … Cazzoli, D. (2022). Improved gesturing in left-hemispheric stroke by right inferior parietal theta burst stimulation. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 16, 998729 ff. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2022.998729
- van Beek, J., Lehnick, D., Pastore-Wapp, M., Wapp, S., Kamm, C., Nef, T., & Vanbellingen, T. (2022). Tablet app-based dexterity training in multiple sclerosis (TAD-MS): a randomized controlled trial. Disability and rehabilitation. Assistive technology, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1080/17483107.2022.2131915
- Pastore-Wapp, M. (2022). Usability of Two New Interactive Game Sensor-Based Hand Training Devices in Parkinson’s Disease. Sensors. https://doi.org/10.3390/s22166278
- Pastore-Wapp, M., Lehnick, D., Nef, T., Bohlhalter, S., & Vanbellingen, T. (2021). Combining Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Video Game-Based Training to Improve Dexterity in Parkinson`s Disease: Study Protocol of a Randomized Controlled Trial. Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences, 2, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5957863
- Pastore-Wapp, M. (2020). The Influence of Various Cerebral and Extracerebral Pathologies on Apparent Diffusion Coefficient Values in the Fetal Brain. Journal of Neuroimaging. https://doi.org/10.1111/jon.12727
- Pastore-Wapp, M. (2019). Early prediction of long-term tactile object recognition performance after sensorimotor stroke. Cortex, 115, 264-279 ff. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2019.01.018