Dr. Bernardi’s main research interests cover the physiology and functions of sleep and dreaming in both pathological and non-pathological conditions. His research activity explores factors influencing sleep and the influence of sleep on learning, memory, and emotional regulation. He is the principal investigator in a european funded research project (Horizon 2020 - Call: ERC-2020- STG “TweakDreams”, GA 948891). It is aimed at investigating if and how sensory stimuli could be used to modulate sleep and dreams systematically.
In 2012, Dr. Bernardi spent over 2 years at the Center for Sleep and Consciousness of the University of Wisconsin (Madison, WI), under the guidance of Prof. Giulio Tononi. Since 2015 he spent 16 months at the Center for Investigation and Research on Sleep, Lausanne University Hospital, Switzerland, where he had the opportunity to expand his research to the clinical field. Dr. Bernardi employs a range of neuroimaging methods in his studies, especially magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and high-density encephalography (hd-EEG).