The aim of the experimental in situ and in vivo studies is to identify the alterations of intrinsic neuronal properties (ion channels, membrane receptors), network circuitry and modulation of neurons by neurotransmitters (acetylcholine, GABA, noradrenaline, and serotonin) in different thalamic nuclei (first and higher order, intralaminar) which underlie the switch from physiological sleep related activity (e.g. delta oscillations) to absence epilepsy-related spike-and-wave discharges (SWD) and play an important role in the development of chronic pain.

Research Projects

Project	Staff	Colaborators
Alterations of thalamic ion channels and activity in psychostimulant abuse (funded by DFG).	Budde, Zobeiri	Francisco J. Urbano
Optogentic control of epileptic seizures by influencing nodes and choke points (funded by DFG).	Budde, Datunashvili	Faber
Unraveling brain networks of absence epilepsy	Lüttjohann, Pape
Seizure prediction and prevention	Lüttjohann
Biomarkers for the ictogenesis of absence seizures	Lüttjohann, Nikalexi