Head: PD Dr. med. Matthias Grothe
The focus of the research group is on neuropsychological impairments in multiple sclerosis as well as the application and usage of non-invasive neurophysiology in the diagnosis and treatment of MS.
Neuropsychological impairments and fatigue are often referred to as the "hidden symptoms" in MS, although their prevalence is high and they greatly affect individual quality of life.
The goal in this research area is to better understand the underlying causes, to investigate the interaction between these components and other environmental, behavioral, or disease-specific variables, and to evaluate potential neurophysiological therapeutic approaches.
In addition, we are interested in impairments in social cognition and how these impairments interact with other neuropsychological components.
Non-invasive brain stimulation enables an in vivo examination of alterations in brain excitability. TMS can help to investigate MS-related symptoms like fatigue, or can be used in the assessment of the disease activity. Furthermore, approaches like rTMS, tDCS or taVNS can be used as therapeutic approaches.
The goal of this research area is to enhance the knowledge of NIBS in MS with respect to diagnostic, prognostic or therapeutic issues.