We intend to understand and modulate cortical plasticity in man. This is mainly done on a behavioural, imaging and electrophysiological level. We use (motor) learning paradigms, evaluate them by behavioural techniques and by recording EMG; EEG or fMRI data in the context with connectivity analyses. We develop and/or apply stimulation techniques such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), transcranial direct current stimulation, alternating current stimulation or random noise stimulation (tDCS, tACS, tRNS). TMS induces a short electric current in the human brain. Both rTMS and electric stimulation techniques offer the prospect of inducing LTD and LTP like effects in the human brain. Diseases in our focus are Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, migraine, stroke and dystonia.
The Department of Clinical Neurophysiology pursues other research areas such as Neurorehabilitation in conjunction with the Bernstein Centre of Computational Neuroscience and with the Company Otto Bock. Another focus concerns Hereditary Neuropathies in collaboration with the MPI for Experimental Medicine, speech disorders with a focus on stuttering and others.