Understanding the Principles

Research Area A forms a foundation for our work as it builds the framework needed to match the hierarchies that we observe on the anatomical, functional, and signal level. Only then will we be able to relate them to clinically relevant neurological states – which in turn enables us both to modify them where they induce neurological disorders, and on the other hand to use neuronal activity as a source of information for the control of brain-machine interfaces.


Tools for Interacting with the Brain

Microsystems engineering and computer science play a vital role in the cluster’s work. They mainly deliver the tools developed in Research Area B, constituting the interfaces of choice for clinical studies and for the treatment of movement disorders, stroke, and epilepsy. As these tools acquire neuronal data they will in turn also contribute to consolidating the cluster’s basic research in neuroscience.


Restoration, Treatment, Support of Neurological Function

The development of therapies and paradigms to transfer neuroscientific tools into novel and sophisticated preclinical and clinical applications is the objective of Research Area C. In particular, BrainLinks-BrainTools is dealing with stroke, severe chronic paralysis, movement disorders, and epilepsy.