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Can non-invasive brain stimulation combined with oxytocin-based pharmacotherapy enhance brain function in autism? Investigating the neural and behavioral effects of two promising intervention approaches. KU Leuven

Kaat Alaerts
Research Group for Neurorehabilitation (eNRGy)
The last decade, neuroscience research provided increasing insights in how different brain regions work together to constitute the neural networks that underlie human social behavior. Targeting these networks to improve or restore social function would be of high relevance for neuropsychiatric conditions that have specific implications in social and communicative domains, such as autism spectrum disorders. At present, neuro-modulating approaches ...

Neurocognition-sparing radiotherapy of brain and base of skull tumours: modelling toxicity and probing dose-dependent alterations in the brain using advanced imaging techniques. KU Leuven

Maarten Lambrecht
Laboratory of Experimental Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy (RT) plays a crucial role in the treatment of many primary brain and skull base tumours, including meningioma and low-grade glioma. Due to the nature of the tumours, and the increasing effectiveness of the treatment, long-term survival can be achieved in an increasing number of patients, making side effects an important issue in the follow-up and social reintegration of these patients. Post-RT neurocognitive decline is one of the ...

Can non-invasive brain stimulation combined with oxytocin-based pharmacotherapy enhance brain function in autism? KU Leuven

Kaat Alaerts
Research Group for Neurorehabilitation (eNRGy)
The last decade, neuroscience research provided increasing insights in how different brain regions work together to constitute the neural networks that underlie human social behavior. Targeting these networks to improve or restore social function would be of high relevance for neuropsychiatric conditions that have specific implications in social and communicative domains, such as autism spectrum disorders. At present, neuro-modulating approaches ...

Analysis of neuromotor function following traumatic brain injury in adults: changes in brain function and structure during bimanual coordination. KU Leuven

Stephan Swinnen
Movement Control & Neuroplasticity Research Group
Summary</>
In daily life, a large number of activities require the integrated use of both hands. For instance, bimanual motor control is needed to tie your shoelaces, to open a jar, to drive a car or to ride a bike. In order to accurately time and execute such movements, communication between both hemispheres via the corpus callosum (CC) is required. Therefore, an important element of the present thesis was the exploration of the ...

The Human Brain Project: Understanding the human brain. KU Leuven

Wim Vanduffel
Laboratory for Neuro- and Psychophysiology

Understanding the human brain is one of the greatest challenges facing 21st century science. If we can rise to the challenge, we can gain profound insights into what makes us human, develop new treatments for brain diseases and build revolutionary new computing technologies. Today, for the first time, modern ICT has brought these goals within sight. The goal of the Human Brain Project, part of the FET Flagship Programme, is to translate this ...

The Superior Temporal Sulcus in the Developing Brain of Autism People: Research into the maturation of STS neural connections and the possibilities of non-invasive brain stimulation to improve STS connectivity. KU Leuven

Kaat Alaerts
Research Group for Neurorehabilitation (eNRGy)

To date, autism is known as a lifelong disorder with extensive implications on social and communicative domains for which no effective pharmacological or biomedical treatment exist. In terms of pharmacological interventions, initial promising results are emerging for intranasal administration of oxytocin that promotes social functioning. Also strong therapeutic potential is anticipated for applying noninvasive brain stimulation over key brain ...

How does a sophisticated brain develop? The ontogeny of brain complexity in Octopus vulgaris KU Leuven

Eve Seuntjens
Animal Physiology and Neurobiology

Octopuses are one of the strangest and most intriguing boneless animals on our planet. They are capable of opening jars, regrowing amputated arms, solving problems and each has its own personality. Nevertheless, how and why the octopus could develop such a complex brain - almost as complex as that of a dog - is still a big mystery. By comparing known building plans of model organisms like fruit flies and mice to how octopus brains develop, we ...

Aging and brain plasticity: alterations in brain structure, function and connectivity in relation to complex motor behavior. KU Leuven

Stephan Swinnen
Movement Control & Neuroplasticity Research Group
Here, we aim to advance our understanding of age-related changes in the brain and their consequences for movement control. Our basic premise is that alterations in motor functioning are constrained by functional, structural, and connectivity changes in the normally aging brain. To address this challenge, we will use an array of techniques including (a) behavioral paradigms to study complex motor tasks requiring cognitive control (b) ...

Ageing and brain plasticity. Training-induced alterations in spectral power of the brain and motor coordination KU Leuven

Andreas Daffertshofer, Stephan Swinnen
Movement Control & Neuroplasticity Research Group

Declines in sensorimotor and cognitive function are well-known consequences of ageing. Improving our understanding of what ageing entails at cellular up to systemic levels is hence timely and urgent. And, finding strategies to decelerate or even reverse the pervasive effects of aging can have a major societal impact. The aim of this thesis was to investigate changes in spectral dynamics of the brain associated with bimanual task difficulty, ...

Modeling and visualization of multimodal brain monitoring in acute brain injury KU Leuven

Geert Meyfroidt
Research Group Experimental Neurosurgery and Neuroanatomy, Laboratory of Intensive Care Medicine

The intensive care medicine department (ICU) treat patients in life threating conditions, who usually require multi-organs support. ICU combines high clinical skills, a fully dedicated patient care system and sophisticated technology. Moreover, different physiological parameters are continuously monitored. Despite that, the ICU mortality in Europe remains around 20%. Acute brain injuries (ABI) gather most of neurological injuries that occur ...