DCN seminar by Dr. Philipp Schnepel (Imec)

Representing the largest sensory organ of our body, the sense of touch is truly multi-modal, covering mechanical, thermal and painful stimuli as well as the “internal sense” of our body. In my academic work, I investigated somatosensation on different levels, ranging from synaptic potentials in single neurons to the emergence of circuit level dynamics underlying tactile behaviour. Studying cellular level computations and how they shape circuit activity and atypical sensory processing in mouse models of autism revealed principles that linked synaptic integration to network level dysfunction. On the level of physiology and function, I explored how cortical microcircuits combine signals across modalities to guide perception and behaviour, uncovering mechanisms of multisensory integration of touch and temperature. In my current research at imec, I turned my focus inward: The peripheral nervous system quite literally connects your mind to your body and is implicated in many conditions which could benefit from novel neuromodulation approaches such as chronic pain and inflammatory disease, but also epilepsy and depression. By combining fundamental neuroscience with advanced engineering, my goal is to develop new technologies for selective peripheral nerve stimulation and closed loop neuromodulation to enable more precise, adaptive interfaces with the nervous system and pave the way for next generation therapeutic and neurotechnological applications.”