My Research Group uses translational MR imaging to understand how cortical microstructure links to human brain function in health and disease. We study healthy younger and older adults, people with neurodegenerative diseases and people with mental disorders to understand the neuronal mechanisms that underlie healthy and pathological brain states and their modification. 

overview research topics


lab research at a glance

KEY-FINDING
(No) Septa in the human brain
Monkeys' and rodents' primary somatosensory cortices (SI) are equipped with myelin-poor septa that separate adjacent body part representations. It has been a long-standing question whether or not also humans are equipped with such structural body part boundaries. We used in vivo 7 Tesla MRI in humans to show that structural boundaries exist between major body part representations (hand and face) in the human sensory and motor cortices  (Kuehn et al. 2017 Cereb Cortex [link]). They do not exist, however,  between individual finger representations in the human brain, other than in many monkey species (Döhler et al. 2023 J Neurosci [link]). Human septa are a stable feature of cortex architecture and do not degenerate with age (Northall et al. 2023 Neurobiol Aging [link]). 
RESEARCH
The organizational principles of de-differentiated cortical maps
A common model assumes that more 'de-differentiated' topographic maps characterize human aging and link to worse behavior. Here, we use 7 Tesla fMRI im combination with behavioral phenotyping to show that cortical de-differentiation is not the common characteristic of older adults' topographic maps and that specific shifts within the map architecture link to better rather than worse motor function in older adults. We therefore introduce a novel feature-based model of cortical reorganization. Read the full eLife paper: [link]
TREND
Model the human cortex in 3D
Modeling the human cortex in three dimensions, that is, across the cortical surface and in depth, allows novel and unprecedented insights into brain dys-/function in health and disease. Key message: In different cortical layers, different computations take place. 3D models of human cognition allow understanding human brain function in its full complexity. Read the Trends in Cognitive Sciences paper [link] and the associated Nature Reviews Neuroscience paper: [link] 
METHOD
A new computational framework for ultra-high field fMRI
Lack of statistical power and inflated false positive rates have been identified as major problems for fMRI analyses. Here, we introduce a new, non-parametric and threshold-free software package called LISA to target this problem. LISA uses a non-linear filter for incorporating spatial context without sacrificing spatial precision. Compared to widely used other methods (e.g., SPM, FLS), LISA boosts statistical power and increases the reliable detection of small activation areas. Key application: The spatial sensitivity of LISA makes it especially suitable for the analysis of fMRI data acquired at ultrahigh field (≥7 Tesla). Read the full Nature Communications paper: [link] 

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KEY-FINDING
Non-afferent topographic maps in human SI
The human primary somatosensory cortex (SI) area 3b has long been believed to code self-perceived (afferent) touch only. In a series of studies, we show using 7 Tesla fMRI that feeling touch on the hand and observing touch at another person's hand activates similar fine-grained topographic maps in area 3b, and similar inhibitory receptive field interactions during their co-activation. Key insight: Topographic maps in area 3b are also triggered from non-afferent sources. Read the full Journal of Neuroscience and Brain Structure and Function papers: [link] [link]