Neural Plasticity Lab

Neuroplasticity is the ability of brains to adapt to new experiences and constraints of the environment during the entire life-span. The Neural Plasticity Lab at the Institut für Neuroinformatik at the Ruhr-University in Bochum studies functional, integrative and cognitive neuroscience with the main focus on neuronal plasticity, learning and aging.


We aim to understand

  • factors that drive learning  processes
  • the role of use-dependent plasticity under everyday-life conditions
  • the relation between brain plasticity and behavior

Current projects in the Neural Plasticity Lab


Plasticity / Learning

Brain plasticity is the lifelong ability of the brain to reorganize neural pathways based on new experiences. As we learn, we acquire new knowledge and skills through instruction or experience. In order to learn or memorize a fact or skill, there must be persistent functional changes in the brain that represent the new knowledge. The ability of the brain to change with learning is what is known as neuroplasticity.

Aging

We witness a unique restructuring of the aging pattern in the societies of the industrial nations, characterized by an increasing probability to reach old age. This calls for a more comprehensive understanding of the different facets of aging. In this scenario, the preservation of every-day life competence of aged populations becomes increasingly important for maintaining an independent life style at old age.

Haptics

The sense of touch - the most underestimated sense. What is its role and relevance in a world largly governed by visual media? What makes it different from other senses? We study properties and particularities of tactile perception to facilitate understanding of both neural tactile processing and of "haptic design" principles.

Special: Dance - creating enriched environmental conditions for human individuals.

Compared to activities such as physical exercising or playing an instrument, dance comprises – beyond requirements for physical activity, rhythmic motor coordination, balance and memory – emotions, affection, social interaction, acoustic stimulation, and musical experience. This unique property, leading to a general acceptance and high compliance, is a powerful determinant for an ideal intervention in the elderly.

Special: Stroke rehabilitation

Utilizing the knowledge about brain plasticity accumulated over the last years, we suggested that specific stimulation protocols can be designed through which it becomes feasible to change purposefully brain organization and thus perception and behavior, thereby ameliorating sensorimotor impairment in stroke patients.



Visitor Worldmap



Visitor Map

11-1-2016

6-16-2016

8-27-2015

8-19-2014

2-22-2014

Stimulation glove for stroke patients

11-5-2013

10-1-2013

7-22-2013

6-9-2013

6-3-2013

5-3-2013

4-29-2013

Balanceanalysis with STABLE

3-19-2013

2-27-2013

2-13-2013

2-8-2013

10-23-2012

10-10-2012

9-14-2012

8-8-2012

2-7-2012

2-2-2012

1-30-2012

9-10-2011

Current Biology article in "Faculty of 1000"

9-7-2011

9-2-2011

"Special Issue" in Neural Plasticity: Plasticity of Adult Sensorimotor System

5-24-2011

5-5-2011

Current Biology: "Learning through mere exposure"

3-30-2011

3-28-2011

3-1-2011

NPL hosts Frontiers Special Topic: call for papers

2-11-2011

2-7-2011

1-25-2011

12-14-2010

11-2-2010

7-21-2010

7-9-2010

6-8-2010

4-14-2010

Article about rehabilitation (Arch Phys Med Rehabil) in "Faculty of 1000"

12-14-2009

9-22-2009

8-4-2009

5-9-2009

4-27-2009

4-9-2009

3-15-2009

2-19-2009

2-3-2009

1-24-2009

1-19-2009

1-13-2009

12-5-2008

11-3-2008

10-30-2008

9-11-2008

8-26-2008

8-4-2008

6-18-2008

4-1-2008

2-18-2008

2-4-2008

11-15-2007

6-1-2007

4-19-2007

4-18-2007

4-18-2007

New website online

12-5-2006