Guest Lecture of Niels Birbaumer

Guest Lecture of Niels Birbaumer

From Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen


Date: 17 January 2013 (Thursday!), 18:15-19:45, SR IIa, building A2 4

Topic: Brain Machine Interfaces in Paralysis and Emotional Disorders

Abstract:
1. Brain communication in the completely locked-in state.
2. Brain-Machine-Interfaces in chronic stroke
3.Self regulation of cortical and subcortical brain systems and their connections in schizophrenia, psychopathy and emotional disorders.

What can we learn from these clinical-experimental studies for psychological theories? Extinction of motor goal directed thinking and imagery in the locked in state? Volition and Quality of life in complete paralysis. Complete helplessness but no depression. In chronic stroke: mechanisms of retraining of motor and cognitive skills and cortical reorganization after large and permanent brain destruction. Finally, neurofeedback using brain blood flow and real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging in behavioral disorders and criminal psychopaths. Why free will speculations of neuroscientists are useless and counterproductive. Why it’s so easy to learn brain change even in genetically determined disorders.