Neuroplasticity

Goal is to understand various types of neuroplastic changes in the brain in patients, e.g. with chronic pain and in animal models for epilepsy and epileptogenesis.

In patients it are mainly the changes that accompany the chronification of pain. In longitudinal studies brain states of chronic pain patients before and during treatment are quantified using multi-channel EEGs in combination with (neuro)-psychological tests. The clinical outcomes are correlated to the EEGs and outcomes of neuropsychological tests in order to understand mechanisms related to the chronification.

In rats the development of idiopathic generalized epilepsy is studied: young rats don’t, older rats have all symptoms. This research line is guided by a challenging new theory developed by us, the cortical focus theory. The theory is currently also tested in patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsy in collaboration with Epilepsy Center Kempenhaeghe. In addition, network analyses aimed in understanding the dynamics of cortico-thalamo-cortical interactions, early endogenous and exogenous modulatory effects and the role of metabotropic glutamate receptors (in collaboration with Neuromed, Pozzili) on seizures is currently focussed upon.

Experimental new treatment strategies for e.g. antiepileptogenesis, various types of deep brain stimulation (DBS), neurofeedback and non-invasive transcranial electrical stimulation studies are developed for this but also for other seizure models.

Links

• WAG/Rij-rat