Projects
Axonal recordings from the lateral lemniscus: structure and function. KU Leuven
Sounds at the two ears can differ in two basic ways: in intensity and in time. Interaural level differences (ILDs) arise from a shadowing effect by the head so that sounds are more intense at the ear closest to the sound source. Interaural time differences (ITDs) arise from unequal pathlengths that the sound must travel to the near and the far ear. ILDs and ITDs are measured by the brain and convey important information for spatial hearing, ...
Investigation of axonal transport deficits in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1A and modification through selective inhibition of histone deacetylase 6 KU Leuven
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is the most common inherited neurological disorder of the peripheral nervous system (PNS). Patients suffer from mild-to-severe muscle loss at the most distal regions of their body in a ‘stock-glove’ distribution. Duplications in the gene coding for peripheral myelin protein 22 (PMP22) causes the most common form of CMT, CMT type 1A (CMT1A). PMP22 is an essential protein for the initiation and maintenance of ...
Structure and function of the medial superior olive. KU Leuven
Modeling Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Human iPSC-derived Astrocytes and Neuromuscular Junctions in Microfluidic Devices KU Leuven
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease affecting both upper and lower motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord resulting in profound neuronal death and muscle wasting. In 10% of cases, ALS is caused by various inherited mutations, while 90% of cases have a sporadic aetiology. At a cellular level, ALS presents a multifaceted picture with cytoplasmic protein aggregations, axonal transport deficiencies, ...
Scalable Technologies for High Bandwidth Neural Interfacing KU Leuven
High-bandwidth neural interfaces seek to establish a long-lived information channel between the electrical activity of large numbers of neurons (ranging from thousands to as many as millions) in highly parallel nervous systems and the predominantly serial, human-made electronics. This thesis has explored the possibility of designing one such device using readily available off-the-shelf components and low-cost microfabrication processes while ...
Uncovering short- and long-term circuit mechanisms of locomotor rehabilitation after spinal cord injury. KU Leuven
Severe spinal injuries disrupt communication between the brain and circuits below the lesion. Therapeutic approaches aim for functional recovery by facilitating axonal growth, removing growth barriers, or replacing lost cells. However, all approaches face a common challenge: the spinal cord below the injury must adapt to function with limited brain input. Rehabilitative training facilitates locomotor recovery by “teaching” the spinal cord to ...