Research Themes

Aims:

• to implement MR imaging protocols and anaylsis pipelines to provide applied scientists with a variety of quantitative image contrasts such as structural and functional connectivity and myelin volume fraction

Collaboration Partners:

• Prof. Dongjung Kim, Yonsei University, Korea
• Prof. Jongho Lee, Seoul National University
• Prof. Stefan Ehrlich, TU Dresden

Funding:

• DFB grant SFB 940 Project Z2 "Core Imaging Facility"

Aims:

• to analyze functional MRI images in real-time
• to provide neurofeedback to subjects as an aid to enhance self-control of brain activity

Collaboration Partners:

• Prof. M.N. Smolka, TU DresdeN
• Prof. S. Posse, University of New Mexico

Funding:

• DFB grant SFB 940 Project Z2 "Core Imaging Facility" and A7 "Volitional control of brain activity: Effects of neurofeedback on emotional reactivity"

Aims:

• to investigate the effects of repetitive TMS on functional connectivtiy of the brain
• to affect emotional brain circuits by targetting the superior frontal gyrus

Collaboration Partners:

• Prof. S. Bender, Universitätsklinikum Köln
• Dr. Franziska Korb, TU Dresden
• Dr. Philipp Riedel, TU Dresden

Funding:

• DFB grant SFB 940 Project Z2 "Core Imaging Facility"

Aims:

• to process neuroimaging data in an efficient way using available processing software tools
• to provide an easy processing interface to users to configure processing pipelines
• to use the high-performance computing infrastructure at the TU Dresden
• to enhance quality control of raw and processed imaging data
• to enhance reproducibility of published results
• to further develop the Neuroimaging Center Phython pipelines (NICePype) software to accomplish the above goals

Collaboration Partners:

• Prof. M.N. Smolka, TU Dresden
• Prof. W. Nagel, TU Dresden
• Dr. R. Müller-Pfefferkorn, TU Dresden
• Dr. R. Grunzke, TU Dresden
• Dr. C. Löschen, TU Dresden

Funding:

• DFB grant SFB 940 Project Z2 "Core Imaging Facility" and INF "Data management, workflow optimization and science gateway"

Aims:

• to apply multi-variate classification techniques in the context of fMRI
• to identify brain states with predictive value with respect to human choices
• to predict, based on brain activity, whether individuals will choose a higher rewards at a later time or an immediate smaller reward
• to make choice predictions in real-time as a validation of the presumed brain states

Collaboration Partners:

• Prof. M.N. Smolka, TU Dresden
• Prof. I. Sbalzarini, TU Dresden, MPI of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics

Funding:

• DFB grant SFB 940 Project A7 "Brain states representing dynamics of meta-control"

Aims:

• to investigate the neural basis of attention capture by emotional stimuli
• to study the possibility of changing emotional reactivity in individuals using, for example, fMRI neurofeedback or brain stimulation techniques

Collaboration Partners:

• Prof. M.N. Smolka, TU Dresden
• Prof. S. Posse, University of New Mexico
• Dr. Lydia Hellrung, ETH Zürich

Funding:

• DFB grant SFB 940 Project A7 "Volitional control of brain activity: Effects of neurofeedback on emotional reactivity"

Aims:

• to study the effects of the drugs alcohol and Naltrexon on blood flow (perfusion) in the brain
• to employ arterial spin labeling (ASL) to measure perfusion

Collaboration Partners:

• Prof. M.N. Smolka, TU Dresden
• Prof. U. Zimmermann, TU Dresden
• Prof. M. Günther, Universität Bremen, Fraunhofer MEVIS Bremen

Funding:

• BMBF grant BMBF/DLR (01ZX1311H) and NIAAA grant U01AA017900