Functional Imaging and non-invasive Brain Stimulation

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Aims and research areas

The research group "Functional Imaging and Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation" works with different imaging methods (fMRI, ultra-high field MRI, VBM, resting-state, near-infrared spectroscopy, EEG) and peripheral physiology (skin conductance, startle, heart rate) to better understand the basics of psychiatric diseases and to develop new therapeutic approaches from this. On the one hand, we focus on the processes of aging and investigate the question of whether the development of dementia can be predicted.

Furthermore, we investigate relevant mental processes in fear and anxiety disorders. To optimize the therapy of psychiatric diseases, we work in a second methodological focus with non-invasive brain stimulation techniques, such as tDCS and rTMS, whose effects we test in basic studies as well as in clinical studies in anxiety disorders and depression. Virtual reality techniques help us to conduct exposure therapies in well-controlled settings. 

Methods

• Imaging
  • fMRI (VBM, Resting State)
  • EEG
• Psychophysiology
  • Startle modulation
  • Skin conductivity
  • Heart rate variability
• Non-invasive brain stimulation
  • rTMS
  • tDCS
  • non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation

Team

Head

• Prof. Dr. Martin Herrman
  Tel.:  +49 931 201-76650
  Fax.: +49 931 201-77429
  E-Mail: Herrmann_M@ ukw.de 

Research associates

• Dr. Lisa Cybinski
  Cybinski_L1@ ukw.de

Study Assistent

• Charlotte Brosig

Laboratory staff

• Christina Schebendach (MTAR)
• Melanie Baumann (MTAR)
  Tel.: +49 931 201-77420

Grant-funding (selection of current projects)

German Research Foundation 

• Disruption of fear reconsolidation using rTMS in the treatment of anxiety disorders (SpiderMem)

Publications

Publications of the working group can be found on pubmed or in the list of publications of our hospital.