A research team led by PD Dr. Justus Marquet and from the Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research has developed two methods that allow muscle activity and training-induced adaptations to be measured completely contactlessly. The studies demonstrate that magnetic fields generated during muscle activity can be captured using highly sensitive quantum sensors - without the need for electrodes or skin contact.

Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, the University of Tübingen and the University of Stuttgart under the Bionic Intelligence Tübingen Stuttgart (BITS) collaboration developed a biorobotic arm that can mirror human tremors. Artificial muscles on either side of the forearm contract and relax to suppress the involuntary shaking of the wrist and hand.

Tübingen researchers describe connection between action and feeling of authorship - finding sheds light on delusions of external control in schizophrenia

This month marks the launch of an outstanding project integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and neuromedicine – the Hertie Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Brain Health (Hertie AI). Founded on February 1 at the Medical Faculty of the University of Tübingen, it will be the first institute in Germany to research the prevention and early diagnosis of diseases of the nervous system using artificial intelligence methods.

The health of nerve cells is closely linked to the auxiliary cells that surround them, the so-called glial cells. It still remains largely unknown what role glial cells play in age-related diseases.

Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative diseases are associated with inflammatory processes in the brain. German researchers have succeeded in identifying a group of proteins in the liquor that could provide information about such inflammatory processes. As so-called biomarkers, the proteins could help to better understand disease processes in the future and to test the effect of potential drugs against brain inflammation.

Dossier - 23/01/2012

The neurosciences

In recent years, the neurosciences have increasingly made the leap from a purely basic science to applied research. Despite all this, basic research in south-west Germany is more diverse than ever. The discipline still has a number of breakthroughs to look forward to. The brain remains the most enigmatic human organ and one of the fascinating mysteries of the 21st century.