Neurophysiology and Brain Stimulation

Researchers:

Description

Brain stimulation techniques have emerged as valuable tools for investigating brain function and treating various disorders such as Parkinson's Disease, Epilepsy, and Depression. These techniques can be broadly categorized into Invasive Brain Stimulation (IBS) and Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation (NIBS). While IBS methods like Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) and Intracortical Microstimulation (ICMS) require surgical intervention, Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation techniques, particularly Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), have become widely used for the investigation and modulation of human brain functions.

 However, a challenge in TMS research has been the limited access to the activity of individual neurons evoked by TMS due to the substantial electromagnetic fields generated during stimulation. To overcome this limitation and advance our understanding of brain function, we are currently developing in cooperation with the Max-Planck for biological cybernetics TMS-grade electrophysiology equipment.

This equipment aims to provide researchers with the necessary technology to simultaneously record neuronal activity during TMS. By integrating electrophysiology capabilities into the TMS setup, we can capture the precise responses and dynamics of individual neurons in real-time. This development will enable a more comprehensive understanding of how TMS influences neural circuits and facilitate the investigation of the underlying mechanisms of TMS-induced effects.

The development of TMS-grade electrophysiology equipment holds great promise for advancing TMS research, improving our understanding of brain function, and optimizing therapeutic interventions. By combining the benefits of TMS with the ability to directly observe neuronal activity, we can unlock new insights into the complex dynamics of the brain and pave the way for more targeted and effective brain stimulation treatments.

  

Current Projects

Advancing Brain Stimulation with Nano Devices

Advancing Brain Stimulation with Nano Devices

Brain stimulation and cortical plasticity

Brain stimulation and cortical plasticity

In the past, methods such as brain stimulation were used to understand the brain and its functions. Later it was found that brain stimulation can also lead to changes in the brain functions and trigger plasticity, a potential of the brain to react to new environmental conditions.
Development of TMS-grade electrophysiology equipment

Development of TMS-grade electrophysiology equipment

In order to measure neural activity during TMS, we develop electrophysiology equipment capable of recording under strong magnetic fields.
Translation: Enhancing Myelination; Utilizing Brain Stimulation Methods

Translation: Enhancing Myelination; Utilizing Brain Stimulation Methods

Standardizing TMS Electrophysiology Setup

Standardizing TMS Electrophysiology Setup

Ensuring Reproducibility: Standardizing TMS Electrophysiology Setup
  

Publications

Benali, A., Ramachandra, V., Oelterman, A., Schwarz, C. & Giese, M. A. (2023). Is it possible to separate intra-cortical evoked neural dynamics from peripheral evoked potentials during transcranial magnetic stimulation?. Brain Stimulation, 16, 162. [More] 
Benali, A., Tsutsui, K.-I., Sekino, M. & Pfeiffer, F. (2022). Editorial: Brain stimulation: From basic research to clinical use. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 16. [More] 
Ramachandra, V., Giese, M. A. & Benali, A. (2022). The Effects of Low-Intensity Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on White Matter Plasticity and Depression. Biological Psychiatry Global Open Science, 2(2), 92-94. [More] 
Benali, A., Tsutsui, K.-I., Sekino, M. & Pfeiffer, F. (2022). Brain Stimulation: From Basic Research to Clinical Use. FRONTIERS EBOOK. [More] 
Ramachandra, V., Giese, M. A. & Benali, A. (2022). The Effects of Low-Intensity Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on White Matter Plasticity and Depression. . [More] 
Benali, A., Li, B., Ramachandra, V., Oeltermann, A., Giese, M. & Cornelius, S. (2021). Deciphering the dynamics of neuronal activity evoked by transcranial magnetic stimulation. Brain Stimulation, 14(6), 1745. [More] 
Benali, A., Li, B., Ramachandra, V., Oeltermann, A., Giese, M. A. & Schwarz, C (2021). Deciphering the dynamics of neuronal activity evoked by transcranial magnetic stimulation.. Brain Stimulation 14 (6) , 1745. Elsevier. [More] 
Benali, A., Tsutsui, K.-I., Pfeiffer, F. & Sekino, M. (2021). Brain Stimulation: From Basic Research to Clinical Use. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience Brain Imaging and Stimulation. Retrieved from https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/18713/brain-stimulation-from-basic-research-to-clinical-use. [More] 
Petrasch-Parwez, E., Schöbel, A., Benali, A., Moinfar, Z., Förster, E., Brüne, M. et al. (2020). Lateralization of increased density of Iba1-immunopositive microglial cells in the anterior midcingulate cortex of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, 270(7), 819-828. [More] 
Pfeiffer, F. & Benali, A. (2020). Could non-invasive brain-stimulation prevent neuronal degeneration upon ion channel re-distribution and ion accumulation after demyelination?. Neural Regeneration Research, 15(11), 1977-1980. [More] 
Li, B., Virtanen, J. P., Oeltermann, A., Schwarz, C., Giese, M. A., Ziemann, U. et al. (2017). Lifting the veil on the dynamics of neuronal activities evoked by transcranial magnetic stimulation. eLife, 6. [More] 
Li, B., Virtanen, J. P., Oeltermann, A., Schwarz, C., Giese, M. A., Ziemann, U. et al. (2017). Lifting the Veil on the Dynamics of Neuronal Activities Evoked by Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. eLife pii: e30552. [More] 
Labedi, A., Benali, A., Mix, A., Neubacher, U. & Funke, K. (2014). Modulation of inhibitory activity markers by intermittent theta-burst stimulation in rat cortex is NMDA-receptor dependent. Brain stimulation, 7(3), 394—400. [More] 
Mix, A., Benali, A. & Funke, K. (2014). Strain differences in the effect of rTMS on cortical expression of calcium-binding proteins in rats. Experimental brain research, 232(2), 435—442. [More] 
Volz, L. J., Benali, A., Mix, A., Neubacher, U. & Funke, K. (2013). Dose-dependence of changes in cortical protein expression induced with repeated transcranial magnetic theta-burst stimulation in the rat. Brain stimulation, 6(4), 598—606. [More] 
Benali, A., Trippe, J., Weiler, E., Mix, A., Petrasch-Parwez, E., Girzalsky, W. et al. (2011). Theta-burst transcranial magnetic stimulation alters cortical inhibition. The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 31(4), 1193—1203. [More] 
Funke, K. & Benali, A. (2011). Modulation of cortical inhibition by rTMS - findings obtained from animal models. The Journal of physiology, 589(Pt 18), 4423—4435. [More] 
Benali, A., Trippe, J., Weiler, E., Mix, A., Petrasch-Parwez, E., Girzalsky, W. et al. (2011). Theta-burst transcranial magnetic stimulation alters cortical inhibition. J Neurosci, 31(1193-1203). [More] 
Mix, A., Benali, A., Eysel, U. T. & Funke, K. (2010). Continuous and intermittent transcranial magnetic theta burst stimulation modify tactile learning performance and cortical protein expression in the rat differently. The European journal of neuroscience, 32(9), 1575—1586. [More] 
Funke, K. & Benali, A. (2010). Cortical cellular actions of transcranial magnetic stimulation. Restorative neurology and neuroscience, 28(4), 399—417. [More] 
Brüne, M., Schöbel, A., Karau, R., Benali, A., Faustmann, P. M., Juckel, G. et al. (2010). Von Economo neuron density in the anterior cingulate cortex is reduced in early onset schizophrenia. Acta neuropathologica, 119(6), 771—778. [More] 
Funke, K. & Benali, A. (2009). Short-latency afferent inhibition varies with cortical state in rat somatosensory cortex. Neuroreport, 20(15), 1313—1318. [More] 
Trippe, J., Mix, A., Aydin-Abidin, S., Funke, K. & Benali, A. (2009). θ burst and conventional low-frequency rTMS differentially affect GABAergic neurotransmission in the rat cortex. Experimental brain research, 199(3-4), 411—421. [More] 
Benali, A., Weiler, E., Benali, Y., Dinse, H. R. & Eysel, U. T. (2008). Excitation and inhibition jointly regulate cortical reorganization in adult rats. The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 28(47), 12284—12293. [More] 
Aydin-Abidin, S., Trippe, J., Funke, K., Eysel, U. T. & Benali, A. (2008). High- and low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation differentially activates c-Fos and zif268 protein expression in the rat brain. Experimental brain research, 188(2), 249—261. [More] 
Benali, A., Weiler, E., Benali, Y., Dinse, H. & Eysel, U. (2008). Excitation and inhibition jointly regulate cortical reorganization in adult rats. J Neurosci, 28, 12284-12293. [More] 
Benali, A (2006). Differential Expression of neuronal Markers in Olfactory Epithelia. In. [More] 
Weiler, E. & Benali, A. (2005). Olfactory epithelia differentially express neuronal markers. Journal of neurocytology, 34(3-5), 217—240. [More] 
Benali, A., Leefken, I., Kastrup, D. & Weiler, E. (2003). Computational counting for a quantitative analysis of cells in histologically prepared brain sections. Neurocomputing, 52-54, 209-214. [More] 
Benali, A., Leefken, I., Eysel, U. T. & Weiler, E. (2003). A computerized image analysis system for quantitative analysis of cells in histological brain sections. Journal of neuroscience methods, 125(1-2), 33—43. [More]