Science

My Fields of Interest

My Neuroscience career started with an interest in understanding the potential of Neuromodulation (tES, TMS) as a cognitive enhancer in aging and neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s). I was also interested in combining brain stimulation (writing in the brain) with neuroimaging and electrophysiology (reading the brain) for precision targeting and diagnostic purposes. Later, I diversified my portfolio by exploring how the brain clears itself and how this natural function can be restored through movement-based and body-mind therapies. Additionally, I’m also involved in a larger debate on brain resilience and prevention of accelerated aging and neurodegenerative diseases. Lastly, I’m passionate about the latest research in the field of meditation through the predictive coding theory. 

More articles and research

Articles and publications

Simko, P., Ružičková, A., Borhani, K., Gautheron, F., & Lang, M. The neural underpinnings of the normative decision-making processes: A scoping review.

Pupíková, M., Maceira-Elvira, P., Harquel, S., Šimko, P., Popa, T., Gajdoš, M., … & Rektorová, I. (2024). Physiology-inspired bifocal fronto-parietal tACS for working memory enhancement. Heliyon, 10(18).

Gomez-Rodellar, A., Mekyska, J., Gomez-Vilda, P., Brabenec, L., Šimko, P., & Rektorová, I. (2023). A pilot study on the functional stability of phonation in EEG bands after repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in Parkinson’s disease. International Journal of Neural Systems, 33(06), 2350028.

Brabenec, L., Simko, P., Sejnoha Minsterova, A., Kostalova, M., & Rektorova, I. (2023). Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for hypokinetic dysarthria in Parkinson’s disease enhances white matter integrity of the auditory–motor loop. European Journal of Neurology, 30(4), 881-886.

Gómez, P., Mekyska, J., Brabenec, L., Simko, P., Rektorová, I., Gómez, A., & Rodellar, V. (2023). Description of PD Phonation in Terms of EEG-Related Frequency Bands. In BIOSIGNALS (pp. 226-233).

Pupíková, M., Šimko, P., Lamoš, M., Gajdoš, M., & Rektorová, I. (2022). Inter-individual differences in baseline dynamic functional connectivity are linked to cognitive aftereffects of tDCS. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 20754.

Šimko, P., Kent, J. A., & Rektorova, I. (2022). Is non-invasive brain stimulation effective for cognitive enhancement in Alzheimer’s disease? An updated meta-analysis. Clinical Neurophysiology, 144, 23-40.

Gómez-Rodellar, A., Mekyska, J., Gómez-Vilda, P., Brabenec, L., Simko, P., & Rektorova, I. (2022, May). Evaluation of TMS effects on the phonation of Parkinson’s disease patients. In International Work-Conference on the Interplay Between Natural and Artificial Computation (pp. 199-208). Cham: Springer International Publishing.

Di Lazzaro, V., Bella, R., Benussi, A., Bologna, M., Borroni, B., Capone, F., … & Ranieri, F. (2021). Diagnostic contribution and therapeutic perspectives of transcranial magnetic stimulation in dementia. Clinical neurophysiology, 132(10), 2568-2607.

Mitterová, K., Lamoš, M., Mareček, R., Pupíková, M., Šimko, P., Grmela, R., … & Rektorová, I. (2021). Dynamic functional connectivity signifies the joint impact of dance intervention and cognitive reserve. Frontiers in aging neuroscience, 13, 724094.

Brabenec, L., Klobusiakova, P., Simko, P., Kostalova, M., Mekyska, J., & Rektorova, I. (2021). Non-invasive brain stimulation for speech in Parkinson’s disease: A randomized controlled trial. Brain stimulation, 14(3), 571-578.

Pupíková, M., Šimko, P., Gajdoš, M., & Rektorová, I. (2021). Modulation of Working Memory and Resting‐State fMRI by tDCS of the Right Frontoparietal Network. Neural Plasticity, 2021(1), 5594305.

Šimko, P., Pupíková, M., Gajdoš, M., & Rektorová, I. (2021). Cognitive aftereffects of acute tDCS coupled with cognitive training: An fMRI study in healthy seniors. Neural plasticity, 2021(1), 6664479.

Minsterova, A. S., Klobusiakova, P., Pies, A., Galaz, Z., Mekyska, J., Novakova, L., … & Rektorova, I. (2020). Patterns of diffusion kurtosis changes in Parkinson’s disease subtypes. Parkinsonism & related disorders, 81, 96-102.

Pupíková, M., Šimko, P., Brabenec, L., & Rektorová, I. (2018). Neinvazivní mozková stimulace v behaviorální a kognitivní neurologii. Neurologie pro praxi, 19(6), 421-425.