Modules

Module I covers the main theories of cognition, the neural underpinnings of a variety of cognitive processes, as well as the research that led to those theories. Faculty and teaching in this module span the major anatomical areas, functional neuroanatomy, and cognitive systems.
This includes the concepts of attention, perception, pain, language, memory, emotions, social cognition, and cognitive spaces. Learning and plasticity are a common theme cutting across several partners’ research. The development of the brain and cognitive capacity is another important area.
Advanced courses introduce a range of neuronal coding and cognitive mapping models.
The cognitive neuroscience topics are complemented by research topics and teaching from more basic neuroscience domains. An introductory course on the basics of neuroscience lays the foundation for the student’s research project, allowing them to see the wider context. This course covers neuroanatomy, systems neuroscience, sensory systems, the motor system, and modulatory systems and introduces common methods used in basic neuroscience such as histology and microscopy. more

Teaching in this module focuses on the important role of clinical and translational neuroscience. Students will be armed with basic knowledge of the most common neurological and psychiatric diseases and how they can be differentiated and diagnosed. This requires a basic understanding of the human brain, both regarding neuroanatomy and neurotransmission. Stroke is an important teaching example and area of research with interventional strategies to prevent the development of risk factors, to stop risk factor-dependent processes leading to stroke and dementia, and to improve recovery from stroke. Furthermore, the importance of brain plasticity is exemplified in the context of stroke recovery. In the context of teaching in this module, neurodegenerative diseases will be discussed, including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, and the discoveries of cognitive maps and models are introduced.

The IMPRS CoNI has very close links to the clinic and clinical research. The Day Clinic for Cognitive Neurology at the University Hospital Leipzig (UKL) is closely affiliated with the MPI CBS.

This  partnership with the Medical Faculty of LU is instrumental in covering the teaching and research topics in this domain, thereby widening the intellectual horizon of the doctoral students.
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Cutting-edge imaging, neurostimulation, data analysis, and modeling play a crucial role in the success of cognitive and human neuroscience. They offer non-invasive access to brain structure and function and even selective modulation of brain activity. Modeling provides quantitative predictions for experiments and facilitates the interpretation of experimental results within a conceptual framework. This structures research approaches and methods.
Thus, training in the different methods of neuroimaging, neurostimulation, data analysis, and modelling, and in their development, is one of the pillars of the IMPRS on Cognitive NeuroImaging . The advanced training courses go far beyond traditional programs as the collection of methods taught are only available at a few sites around the world. The IMPRS on Cognitive NeuroImaging covers all major imaging and neurostimulation methods and their appropriate use.

These include:

• magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• electroencephalography (EEG)
• magnetoencephalography (MEG)
• joint positron emission tomography (PET) and MRI
• near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS)
• transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
• direct current stimulation (tDCS)

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