Clinical Neurophysiology

Clinical Neurophysiology is a supporting discipline for functional assessment of brain, nerve and muscle function. The discipline applies various electrophysiological techniques such as EEG, needle- and surface-EMG, evoked potentials and non-invasive brain stimulation (e.g. TMS, tDCS). It also uses ultrasound techniques to study structure of nerves and muscles and the blood flow characteristics towards and in the brain.

The research group develops instruments and procedures to improve the clinical goals, but also applies these developments in basic neuroscientific questions in health and disease. The group manages a laboratory for TMS techniques at two locations (DCN-neurology, DCCN). A system for so-called high density EMG was developed, giving insight in the mechanisms driving individual muscles much more precisely (e.g. motoneuron firing patterns) than conventional EMG techniques do.

Combining central nervous (MEG, EEG) and peripheral (EMG) electrophysiological techniques with brain stimulation and fMRI, allows disentangling network function and coupling in the motor system, also in neurological diseases (e.g Parkinson’s disease). Mathematical modeling of ion current flow in extracellular media, of pathological loss of peripheral nerve fibres and of characteristics of corticospinal coupling is part of the expertise. The group is imbedded in Theme 4, but has also connection to Theme 2.