Marcela Lais Madruga is a neuroscientist and physiotherapist specializing in neurorehabilitation and non-invasive brain stimulation. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy and a Master of Science in Cognitive Neuroscience and Behavior from the Federal University of Paraíba. Her academic training integrates clinical rehabilitation with advanced methods in brain imaging and neuromodulation.
Her research centers on the neural mechanisms underlying chronic pain, with a focus on how cortical activity and hemodynamics relate to clinical symptoms and functional outcomes. She has worked extensively with electroencephalography and functional near-infrared spectroscopy to investigate brain dynamics in populations such as individuals with fibromyalgia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and heart failure.
In parallel with her research, Marcela practiced as a hospital physical therapist in a neurosurgery and neurology reference center, where she developed and implemented rehabilitation protocols for patients with complex neurological conditions. She is actively involved in mentoring students and supervising trainees in both clinical and research settings.
Her professional trajectory bridges neuroscience, rehabilitation science, and clinical practice, aiming to translate insights from brain research into innovative and impactful therapeutic interventions for individuals with chronic and neurologic conditions.
- Physical Therapist, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa, Brazil;
- Master of Science in Cognitive Neuroscience and Behavior, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa, Brazil
- Non-invasive Brain Stimulation
- Neurorehabilitation in chronic pain and neurological conditions
- Brain imaging and signal analysis
- Cortical hemodynamics and neurovascular coupling
- Chronic pain mechanisms and biopsychosocial models
- Cardiorespiratory and neurophysiological interactions