Palaeoneurology: Brain growth, speech and human evolution

Prof. Dr. Helmuth Steinmetz, Clinic for Neurology

Podcast

In year 1 after “Darwin Year” – and parallel to the exhibition “Safari to Primitive Man” still running in the Senckenberg Museum – the approximately 60 minute talk tried to analyze the connection between the three-fold expansion in size and new functions of our brain cortex arising over the last 4 million years. The hypotheses presented for discussion touched on fossil evidence, current imaging data on the development of the human brain and anatomical observations of the vocal tract. Professor Steinmetz is Director of the Neurological University Clinic at the Goethe University Frankfurt am Main. With his glimpse into our past he supported the theme of the global “Brain Awareness Week”, which started on the day of the talk.

In the fragile home of the soul - how modern neurosurgery works

Prof. Dr. Volker Seifert, Clinic for Neurosurgery

Podcast

Probably more than any other surgical discipline, neurosurgery has profited immensely from advances in microsurgery, modern imaging techniques and the development of computer technology. This means microsurgical operations supported by peri- and intra-operative neuronavigation are possible on complex brain tumors, as well as cerebrovascular diseases such as aneurysms, angiomas and cavernomas using minimal invasion procedures. The techniques available to neurosurgeons today allow them to carry out the most difficult brain operations without mortality and with minimal morbidity. The talk discusses developments in modern neurosurgery in the context of the technological advances mentioned above and illustrates these using specific examples.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation: Brain function activation – modulation – therapy

Prof. Dr. Ulf Ziemann, Clinic for Neurology

Podcast

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) permits painless, non-invasive stimulation of the human brain. Since the method was introduced in 1985, TMS has developed at an almost revolutionary pace. Today one can hardly imagine routine clinical neurophysiological diagnoses of disturbances in central motoric conduction and stimulation without TMS. In addition, TMS has become extremely important as a tool in experimental brain research. By inducing short-lived functional disturbances (so-called virtual lesions) one can assess the functional relevance of the stimulated brain region. Combining TMS with other neurophysiological methods such as EEG and functional imaging has increased its range of possible applications even further over the last few years. Another important field lies in the possibility of neuromodulation through inducing changes in sensitivity (plasticity) in stimulated brain tissue and the potential to link these to therapeutic applications for patients with neuroplastic and psychiatric diseases. The talk “Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation: Brain function activation – modulation – therapy” gave an overview with examples of all these application areas of TMS.

Computers more intelligent than humans?

Prof. Dr. Christoph von der Malsburg, Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies (FIAS)

Podcast (Internet Explorer | Flash-Version)

Soon the capacity of computers will reach that of the human brain. Will we then be able to simulate essentiell functions of the nervous system? The Frankfurt Bernstein- Project “Frankfurt Vision Initiative” ambitiously aims to develop a functioning visual system. However, fundamental breakthroughs will be necessary to do this. What are the problems and what ideas will be needed to overcome them? If wesucceed, how will this contribute toour understanding of the brain? Prof. von der Malsburg, senior fellow at the Frankfurt Institute for Advanced studies (FIAS) answered these and other questions in his lecture.

The eye - a window to the brain

Prof. Dr. Heinz Wässle, emer. Direktor, Max-Planck-Institue for Brain Research

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The eye is our most important sense organ and our window to the world. The retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye, transforms images into electrical signals that are carried to the brain by the optical nerve. However, the retina itself is also a part of the brain, has a simple construction, contains well-described nerve cells and synapses and can therefore serve as a model of the much more complicated brain cortex. Also in this sense, the eye is a window to the brain. In his talk, Prof. Heinz Wässle, Emeritus Director at the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, showed how the retina processes images and what we can learn from this about the function of the brain.

Deep brain stimulation in Parkinson’s disease – from the nerve cells to the patients

Prof. Dr. Jochen Roeper, Institute for Neurophysiologiy
Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Hilker, Clinic for Neurology
PD Dr. Thomas Gasser, Clinic and Policlinic for Neurosurgery
on November 24, 2008

The lecture is available as Podcast/MP3
Prof. Roeper (Internet Explorer | Flash), PD Gasser (MP3) und Prof. Hilker (Internet Explorer | Flash)

Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease in humans. In Germany alone, 250 000 mostly older people are affected. Typical symptoms are uncontrolled shaking, muscle stiffness and diminished movement. One treatment method used successfully for a number of years is “deep brain stimulation” (DBS), where patients receive an impulse generator, known as a brain pacemaker. This involves implanting electrodes in the region of the brain where the neuron groups important for movement control are located. As a result of the altered electric activity of the stimulated nerve cells, movement dysfunction can be reduced. In the three-part lecture “Deep cell stimulation in Parkinson’s disease – from the nerve cells to the patients”, Prof. Jochen Roeper, head of the Department of Neurophysiology at the Neuroscience Center of the Frankfurt University Clinic, explained the neurophysiological basis of DBS. The neurosurgical strategies of surgically implanting DBS electrodes was the theme of the talk by PD Dr. Thomas Gasser, senior physician at the Clinic for Neurosurgery at the Frankfurt University Clinic and head of the section for Functional Neurosurgery. Prof. Rüdiger Hilker, senior physician at the Clinic for Neurosurgery at the Frankfurt University Clinic, described the clinical-neurological care of DBS patients.

Formation of new nerve cells in the adult brain: mechanisms and possibilities

Prof. Dr. Herbert Zimmermann, Institute for Cell Biology and Neuroscience on June 9, 2008

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For a long time medicine assumed that the formation of new nerve cells in the brain only took place during embryonic development, and no longer happened after birth, especially in adult life. In his lecture, Prof. Herbert Zimmermann, Director of the Institute for Cell Biology and Neurosciences at the J.W. Goethe University, demonstrates that new nerve cells are also formed in adult brains from humans and mammals. These nerve cells arise in certain brain regions, the so-called neurogenic niches, from stem cells located there. New nerve cells are continually being generated particularly for the olfactory brain and hippocampus. At the moment the mechanisms that control the activation of neuronal stem cells and the subsequent migration and formation of new nerve cells is under intensive investigation. Understanding these mechanisms could lead to therapeutic approaches for treating diseases of the nervous system arising from acute or chronic damage to nerve cells.

Who reigns in the brain?

Prof. Dr. Wolf Singer, MPI for Brain Research, on March 10, 2008 (Brain Awareness Week)

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In their self-awareness, people mostly define themselves as self-determined beings with their own free will. But to what extent does our awareness, our feelings and decisions depend on neuronal processes? In his lecture Prof Dr. Wolf Singer, Director of the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research and member of the Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies (FIAS), demonstrates that neurobiological evidence about the functioning of our brain contradicts our intuition. Following a description of the functional organization of the brain, he sets out to analyze the consequences of this neurobiological data for our self-understanding. 

Learning in early childhood – how is the inner world formed?

Prof. Dr. Ruxandra Sireteanu, MPI for Brain Research, on January 21, 2008

What does a newborn baby perceive? How are the loud, colorful stimuli of the outside world assimilated into a meaningful whole? And what role does early childhood experiences play? Is it possible and useful to practice prenatal stimulation? What is inherited, what is learnt? And is it ever too late to learn? What environmental factors can influence early childhood development? And what brain mechanisms are responsible for these developments? Prof. Ruxandra Sireteanu (Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, and Institute for Psychology, J.W. Goethe University) answers these and other questions in his lecture.

Stroke – prevention and therapy

Prof. Dr. Helmuth Steinmetz, Clinic for Neurology, on November 19, 2007

Acute brain blood vessel diseases (strokes) are as frequent nowadays as acute blood supply deficiency to the heart. Parallel to the demographic development, stokes will increase dramatically over the next 40 years, and remain one of the main causes for old people needing care. The lecture from Prof. Dr. Helmuth Steinmetz, Director of the Clinic for Neurology at the J.W. Goethe University of Frankfurt, presents the latest information on prevention and acute treatment of strokes, and a valuable insight into neurovascular research.

Alzheimer's disease – hope for a cure?

Prof. Dr. Johannes Pantel, Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, on July 02, 2007

Alzheimer's disease leads to slowly progressing destruction of the brain, and today over a million people suffer from the devastating consequences of this in Germany alone. Although no cure for the underlying cause is know, modern medicine has access to a range of procedures that can significantly improve early diagnosis and treatment of the disorder. This includes imaging techniques, neurochemical laboratory analyses and using symptomatic treatment procedures. Starting from current theories about the origin of the disease, the lecture gives an overview of the methods mentioned above and sketches out how these could contribute to considerably improving treatment in the near future. In addition, up-to-date information about possible preventative measures is discussed.

Infection and Multiple Sclerosis: Inflammation in the brain as a balancing act

Prof. Dr. Ingo Bechmann, Institute for Neuroanatomy , on May 07, 2007

Inflammation serves to eliminate infectious pathogens and stimulate regeneration of the body, but it also causes considerable collateral damage. To maintain a healthy cost – benefit ratio, the control of immune cells is organ specific. In organs that are good at forming new cells, immune cells "are allowed" to completely eliminate all infected cells. In contrast, a compromise must be made in poorly regenerating organs. The brain, where individual cells may be particularly important due to their integration in neural networks, is an ideal example of the need for immunological tolerance. We are only beginning to understand the fascinating immunoregulation in the brain, and can start to re-interpret diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis as faulty regulation of these underlying mechanisms.

Neuro-anatomical basis for learning and memory

Prof. Dr. Thomas Deller, Institute for Neuroanatomy , on January 22, 2007

Where do we store memories? How do our short-term and long-term memories work? Which brain region is used for learning? Prof. Dr. Thomas Deller, Director of the Institute for Neuroanatomy at the Clinic of the J.W. Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main answers these and other questions in his lecture. The neuroscientist also points out which anatomical structures of the brain are important for memory processes. In this connection, he distinguished between various forms of learning and memory and presents the corresponding brain region and functional system involved. He then explains the cellular basis of learning and memory processes and illustrates this to his audience using simple examples.