Clinic of Neurology
Faculty of Medicine
Bergmannsheil University Hospital Bochum
Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1
44789 Bochum
Phone:
+49 (0)234 302-0
Email:
burkhard.v.pleger@ruhr-uni-bochum.de
The research group of Burkhard Pleger focuses on the fusion of computational neuroscience and functional magnetic resonance imaging/EEG to investigate the complex decision-making behaviour of humans. We develop and refine mathematical models that enable us to better understand and quantify the neuronal processes of associated brain networks behind decision-making processes. In particular, we focus on the interaction of subcortical structures, such as the thalamus or the hippocampus, with the prefrontal cortex, including sensory brain networks. Motivation, experiences, expectations and predictions are key factors that significantly influence decision-making and the associated network functions. They are the focus of our interest. We then use the mathematical models obtained to investigate neurological and psychiatric diseases such as stroke, post-COVID syndrome and schizophrenia. We are particularly interested in the cognitive impairments associated with these diseases and the associated pathology of the affected brain networks.
A major goal of our work is to gain a more detailed understanding of the disease-specific brain network pathologies. By investigating pathological interactions between subcortical and cortical brain structures, we aim to develop new and more specific treatment options for neurological and psychiatric diseases. These include pharmacological approaches as well as invasive and non-invasive brain stimulation techniques. Our work contributes to gaining a deeper insight into the functioning of the human brain and improving the quality of life of patients with cognitive impairments.
Banerjee, A., Wang, B. A., Teutsch, J., Helmchen, F., & Pleger, B. (2023). Analogous cognitive strategies for tactile learning in the rodent and human brain. Progress in Neurobiology, 222, 102401. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pneurobio.2023.102401
Wang, B. A., Veismann, M., Banerjee, A., & Pleger, B. (2023). Human orbitofrontal cortex signals decision outcomes to sensory cortex during behavioral adaptations. Nature Communications, 14(1), 3552. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-38671-7
Hummos, A., Wang, B. A., Drammis, S., Halassa, M. M., & Pleger, B. (2022). Thalamic regulation of frontal interactions in human cognitive flexibility. PLoS Computational Biology, 18(9), e1010500. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1010500
Wang, B. A., & Pleger, B. (2020). Confidence in Decision-Making during Probabilistic Tactile Learning Related to Distinct Thalamo-Prefrontal Pathways. Cerebral Cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991), 30(8), 4677–4688. https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhaa073
Wang, B. A., Schlaffke, L., & Pleger, B. (2020). Modulations of Insular Projections by Prior Belief Mediate the Precision of Prediction Error during Tactile Learning. The Journal of Neuroscience : The Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 40(19), 3827–3837. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2904-19.2020
Pleger, B., & Villringer, A. (2013). The human somatosensory system: From perception to decision making. Progress in Neurobiology, 103, 76–97. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pneurobio.2012.10.002
Pleger, B., Ruff, C. C., Blankenburg, F., Klöppel, S., Driver, J., & Dolan, R. J. (2009). Influence of dopaminergically mediated reward on somatosensory decision-making. PLoS Biology, 7(7), e1000164. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.1000164
Pleger, B., Blankenburg, F., Ruff, C. C., Driver, J., & Dolan, R. J. (2008). Reward facilitates tactile judgments and modulates hemodynamic responses in human primary somatosensory cortex. The Journal of Neuroscience : The Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 28(33), 8161–8168. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1093-08.2008
Pleger, B., Ruff, C. C., Blankenburg, F., Bestmann, S., Wiech, K., Stephan, K. E., Capilla, A., Friston, K. J., & Dolan, R. J. (2006). Neural coding of tactile decisions in the human prefrontal cortex. The Journal of Neuroscience : The Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 26(48), 12596–12601. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4275-06.2006
Copyright © RDN 2024
Last update: Apr 10, 2024
