Research

Research at the Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy is focused on neurodegeneration / Alzheimer’s disease, psychosis / schizophrenia and affective disorders. We seek fundamental insights into the function of the brain in health and disease. Using a variety of computational and neuroanatomical approaches we can assess changes in MR images that are related to age and clinical status. Our research questions are investigated with the aid of imaging techniques such as fMRI, EEG, TMS and MEG. Diffusion tensor imaging, as well as genetic biomarker studies, also allow us to investigate cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative changes in the brain.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a powerful tool for assessing in vivo changes in structure and function of the brain as these changes are occurring over time. Our MRI studies are carried about at the Brain Imaging Center which hosts a 3T Siemens Magnetom Trio scanner and a 3T Magentom Allegra Siemens scanner. Our analyses are performed on a high performance cluster also located at the Brain Imaging Center.

Distinct areas of the brain specialise in processing different types of information and transport it via specific neural circuits. Neural connections which facilitate information flow throughout the brain are therefore of critical importance.

Our work is involved in mapping structural and functional connectivity in a number of neural networks in the human brain. Neuroimaging tools, together with genetic studies, are utilised in a number of projects:

• Neurodegeneration / Alzheimer’s Disease

• Psychosis / Schizophrenia

• Affective Disorders

• Psychosomatic Medicine

geändert am 23. Juli 2010  E-Mail: Prof. Dr. med Harald Hampelharald.hampel@med.uni-frankfurt.de