Research

With non-invasive brain stimulation, activity in certain brain areas can be enhanced or inhibited. These methods usually come with few side effects. We mostly use transcranial direct current stimulation to increase (or decrease) cortical excitability.

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) is a method to measure regional, time-varying changes in brain metabolism. These metabolic changes can be due to task-induced cognitive changes or due to unregulated processes during rest. With layer fMRI, these changes can be examined in individual cortical layers or columns. 

Methods based on quantitative MRI can map tissue properties in the brain. We use, for example, quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM). This is a technique to measure tissue magnetic susceptibility, which is influenced by iron concentration and myelin content in the brain. We also apply Electrical Properties Tomography (EPT) to quantify individual tissue conductivity. This may allow a more precise modelling of current flow when using tDCS. 

During real-time fMRI neurofeedback, participants learn to regulate their brain activity in a specific brain region. The current brain activity is measured in real-time and data pre-processing as well as data analysis is performed with dedicated software. Feedback is provided to the participant in the scanner using a projector in the form of a thermometer icon, with the temperature reading indicating the current level of brain activity. The participants perform several training runs, which are composed of baseline blocks and up- or down-regulation blocks. During regulation blocks, the target-level indicator of the thermometer display moves up or down, indicating that the participants should in- or decrease activity in the targeted brain region. With the help of feedback provided, participants can learn to control their brain activity in targeted brain regions.

In collaboration with Amsterdam UMC (Prof. Dr. Charlotte Teunissen), we use blood-based biomarkers (e.g., amyloid or tau) to test associations with response to interventions.