Neuropsychiatry
Our research focuses on neurobiological characteristics of affective disorders to identify diagnostic and therapeutic options. We try to shed light on specific aspects and manifestations of the disease, by conducting experiments at a variety of MR scanners and other neuroimaging environments, and where necessary, we develop novel neuroimaging methods to address clinically driven research problems.
- Head
Head
Prof. Martin Walter studied medicine in Magdeburg and Lyon and received his board certification and habilitation in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at the Department of Psychiatry, Magdeburg. He obtained his PhD at the local graduate school on the neurobiology of psychiatric disorders. International appointments include visiting professorships in China as well as research fellowships and clinical training in Boston, Kansas City and Zürich.
Since 2011 he leads the research group on neuropsychiatry at the Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology and he initiated the "Cognitive Neuroimaging" module at the Integrative Neuroscience Programme of the Otto von Guericke University. Prof. Since 2019 Prof. Dr. med. Martin Walter has been Director of the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at Jena University Hospital.
Walter is further head of the Translational Psychiatry Division at the University Tuebingen.
- Members
Members
Head Prof. Dr. Martin Walter +49 391 6117-530 martin.walter@lin-magdeburg.de PhD student Lena Danyeli Guests Dr. Meng Li Dr. Zümrüt Duygu Sen Dr. Florian Götting Students Julia Scheerer - Projects
Projects
Modulation of excitation/inhibition balance by NMDA-R antagonism in depression
Our project investigates neural mechanisms of action of the recently described antidepressant substance ketamine. Parts of this project are done in collaboration in a multidisciplinary research group at the Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology. Here we investigate the mechanisms of synaptic plasticity from the molecular to the whole brain systems level in healthy controls. Using combined imaging modalities at 7T , we try to shed light on glutamatergic modulation of learning processes and plasticity, in systems with specific sensitivity to NMDAergic modulation. These brain systems are further investigated for their contribution of other symptoms associated with intravenous application of NMDA antagonists. In treatment resistant patients, we try to reveal markers of clinical change as well as predictors of treatment outcome which might, in the future guide clinical decisions in these severely affected patients. Our group used multimodal brain imaging techniques in MRI at 7T and develops new analysis methods with a focus on resting state fMRI.
- Current Third Party Funds
Current Third Party Funds
- Publications
Publications
You will find the publications of our group members here: www.canlab.de/publications.html
- Teaching
Teaching
We are involved in the education of students of the Master's program "Integrative Neuroscience" at the OVGU. Members of our department teach Cognitive Neuroimaging and Clinical Neuroscience.