Research
About ICN
At the Movement Disorders Unit, Department of Neurology, Charité Berlin, we study how the brain coordinates movement by investigating neural synchronization within the brain's motor circuit, encompassing regions like the motor cortexes, basal ganglia, cerebellum, and spinal cord. Led by Dr. med. Wolf-Julian Neumann, it is our goal to apply insights from the brain's neural network synchronization towards developing advanced neuromodulation treatments, with special focus on how its disruptions contribute to motor deficits in conditions like Parkinson's disease.
We invite you to explore our key research points, whether you're a seasoned researcher, an aspiring scholar, or simply curious about our latest findings and join us on this fascinating journey.
Basic Science
We investigate how neural activity is synchronized across multiple nodes of the motor circuit in humans.
Pathophysiology
We explore how synchronized activity is implicated in neurological disorders.
Translation
We focus on how these findings can be translated into next-generation therapeutic neuromodulation.
Deep brain recordings on the patient
Our group deals with the importance of oscillatory basal ganglia activity, which can be recorded intra- and perioperatively via DBS electrodes in patients with movement disorders. The aim of our work is the therapy optimization of deep brain stimulation, e.g. through adaptive closed-loop stimulation. To do this, we research disease-specific activity patterns and investigate the modulation of this activity by the therapy. Through motor and cognitive experiments, we work out the differential connection of the basal ganglia in motor and non-motor loops. The parallel recording of 125 channel magnetoencephalography or 64 channel electroencephalography offers the unique opportunity to Characterize cortico-subcortical connectivity in the cortex-basal ganglia loop. We assume that the modulation of disease-specific network activity is one of the mechanisms of action of DBS and can therefore serve as the key to better therapy using adaptive neuromodulation.
Sensor-based motion analysis
In order to display therapy effects independently of the examiner and in the highest possible resolution, we use various sensor systems for the quantitative recording of motor skills in case of movement disorders. This enables us to map and quantify subtle but relevant effects for the patient as well as undesirable side effects of deep brain stimulation and to optimize the therapy accordingly. Thanks to the large number of movement parameters that can be examined and the combination with imaging, electrode localization and the determination of the anatomical structures that are each achieved by the deep brain stimulation, we develop a better understanding of the basal ganglia function, which has resulted in a more targeted application of DBS for so far difficult to treat symptoms can follow.From experiment to open metadata repository - OSFComputational reproducibility for FAIR translational neuromodulation research in clinical neuroscience.We are generally working on the characterization of biomarkers and the development of algorithms for invasive adaptive neuro stimulation. Our research has immediate translational potential for therapy optimization. However, a lack of scientific transparency and reproducibility hinders the integration of promising innovations in everyday clinical practice. The SWTFTPF will help us develop a groundbreaking data strategy for multimodal neuromodulation research. The aim of this project is to provide automated data flow algorithms from data acquisition to computationally reproducible publication.
Methods
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Invasive Neurophysiology
local field potential recordings from deep brain stimulation (DBS) electrodes and electrocorticography (ECOG) from the cortex
Non-invasive Neurophysiology
We analyze data from electroencephalography (EEG) and magnetoencephalography (MEG).
Neuroimaging
We use both functional and structural neuroimaging with access to 3T MRI in the department of neuroradiology.