Crossmodal learning in health and neurological disease: neurocomputational representation and therapeutic application (A03)

• Subject Area: Human Cognitive and Systems Neuroscience ; Cognitive, Systems and Behavioural Neurobiology ; Molecular Biology and Physiology of Neurons and Glial Cells
• Term: since 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 261402652

In the first funding period, we demonstrated that mechanisms of crossmodal integration are significantly altered in healthy older adults, reflected in altered structural and functional brain metrics and visuo-tactile behaviour. Now, we aim at providing deeper neurocomputational insight into crossmodal integration in healthy older adults and extending our work to neurological diseases like stroke and Parkinson’s disease. We will introduce a novel behavioural task for healthy older adults and determine the interrelation between the structural and functional changes in crossmodal brain networks by means of simultaneously recorded EEG-fMRI activation data in healthy older adults and patients. Moreover, we will use virtual reality (VR) enhanced training and transcranial AC brain stimulation (tACS) to modulate and, ideally, improve performance in crossmodal integration tasks.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 169: Crossmodal Learning: Adaptivity, Prediction and Interaction
• International Connection: China
• Applicant Institution: Universität Hamburg
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Christian Gerloff; Professor Dr. Friedhelm Christoph Hummel, until 12/2019; Professor Dr. Gui Xue