Research

Research and development in the field of cognitive neuropsychology and cognitive neuroscience.

Both disciplines, cognitive neuropsychology and cognitive neuroscience, are involved in investigating the interaction between brain and behavior. In case of disease or damage of the brain, related changes are not necessarily observable with the help of brain or spinal cord imaging techniques. Abnormalities are rather displayed initially or exclusively in changes of behavior, cognition and/or the personality.

Cognitive and neuropsychiatric changes.

Frequent symptoms are:

cognitive limitations in one or more domains (e.g. memory deficits, slowing in information processing speed, attentional problems)
emotional instabilities (e.g. depressive mood, anxiety symptoms)
changes or accentuations of personality traits (e.g. aggressiveness, neuroticism, disinhibition).

It has been known for decades that brain diseases can lead to cognitive and neuropsychiatric abnormalities, regardless of whether the disease was caused by inflammation, neurodegeneration or infection. Nevertheless, research on possible correlations and associated diagnostic and therapeutic consequences is still in its infancy.

Objectives.

1 Basics	COGITO is dedicated to the goal of contributing to the investigation of pathophysiological mechanisms underlying cognitive deficits in diseases such as multiple sclerosis and dementia, the latter with a focus on Alzheimer's disease.
2 Diagnostics	In addition to approaches oriented towards basic research, the focus of our work is on the development of sensitive diagnostic test procedures to be used in standard clinical care. In the daily care of general practitioners, short but nevertheless adequate and specific test procedures should be available for each disease respectively. In this way, it is possible to monitor the cognitive performance and mental condition of patients over the long term and to gain insights into the course of the disease.
3 Therapy	The third research area of interest is the development of preventive and therapeutic treatment approaches for cognitive deficits, focusing for example on the promotion of neuronal plasticity or neuroprotection.

Brief explanations

Pathophysiological

concerning the pathologically altered physical functions, their origin and development
Cognitive

mental performance; concerning perception, thinking and recognition
Plasticity

flexibility and adaptability
Neuroprotection

approaches to protect nerve cells from defects

Cooperation.

The realization of projects within these mentioned research areas requires a close integration of neuropsychology with various disciplines such as neurology, psychiatry, neuroimmunology, molecular neurobiology, neuroradiology, neurorehabilitation and neurosurgery.
The COGITO Center therefore works in close cooperation with other institutions... more.

We are looking for study participants.

Here you will find an overview of current clinical-scientific studies carried out in the COGITO Center for which we are looking for participants... more.