LVR-Klinikum Düsseldorf Hospital of the Heinrich-Heine University ...

LVR-KLINIKUM DÜsseLDORF – hOsPITaL OF The heINRIch-heINe UNIVeRsITY DÜsseLDORF
3.1.2.5 Neuro-Psychiatric Research Laboratory
Director: G. Winterer (May 2006 to August 2009)
Scientific personnel: F. Musso, A. Mobascher, T. Warbrick,
M. Arends, J. Brinkmeyer, S. Botterweck, W. Friedrich,
V. Schlemper, R. Schwark, C. Wessels (2008)
Non-scientific personnel: K. Mann,
M. T. Düsterhus
The main aim of the Neuropsychiatric Research Laboratory
(NPRL) is to measure and understand brain functions
in patients suffering from mental disorders, as well as
genetic influences on these functions. As methods, the
NPRL uses, in particular, functional magnetic resonance
tomography (fMRT) and electroencephalography (EEG).
Internationally, this research strategy is often designated
as “Genetic Imaging”. The method of simultaneous EEGfMRT
measurements, established in the laboratory, also
allows complex data analyses (multimodal imaging and
multimodal data analysis). Another of the laboratory’s goals
is to use the above methods to measure pharmacological
effects on brain function (pharmaco-imaging). One example
of this is the influence of nicotine on brain function. Brain
activity is usually measured not only at rest, but also whilst
carrying out certain tasks or during the presentation of
certain stimuli. A central focus of NPRL is the investigation
of the attention network, the activation of which is often
disturbed in patients suffering from mental disorders such
Modern computer systems help to analyse and assess
numerous neuropsychiatric research data
84
as schizophrenia. Another focus during the last 2 years was
the investigation of the cerebral representation of pain. The
NPRL investigates on the one hand healthy subjects, mostly
from a population-based sample, and on the other hand
patients from the LVR-Klinikum who are suffering from
mental disorders, particularly patients with schizophrenia.
Cooperation
s G. Fink, J. Shah, Institute of Medicine, Helmholtz
Research Center Jülich
s J. Gallinat, Neuroimaging Group, Dept. of Psychiatry,
Charity – University Medicine Berlin
s T. Sander, Cologne Center for Genomics, University of
Cologne,
s T. Kircher, Dept. of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy,
University of Aachen
s G. Gruender, Dept. of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy,
University of Aachen,
s P. Falkai, Dept. of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy,
Georg-August-University Goettingen,
s N. Dahmen, Andreas Konrad, Dept. of Psychiatry and
Psychotherapy, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz,
s D. Rujescu, Dept. of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy,
Molecular Neurobiology Group, Ludwig-Maximillians-
University,
s C. Beckmann, FMRIB Analysis Group, University of
Oxford, UK