Prof. Dr. Dr.med. Klaas Enno Stephan

 

Main Goals, Keywords

Model-based translational neuroimaging and computational neuroeconomics: Computational modeling of brain connectivity and synaptic plasticity during learning & decision-making and translating the results into clinical applications.

Group Members

Prof. Stephan, 2 postdoctoral fellows, 5 PhD students

Previous and Current Research

My research has always revolved around the role of connectivity for brain function, ranging from large-scale analyses of anatomical connectivity to dynamic system models of neuronal networks.  Currently, I am focusing on the methodological development, validation and application of dynamic causal models (DCMs) for clinical and pharmacological applications.

My long-term goal is to construct DCMs for inferring pathophysiological processes from brain activity measurements (fMRI, EEG, MEG) of individual patients and thus enable a physiologically informed diagnosis. Focusing on mechanistic models of learning and decision-making, I am particularly interested in the regulation of NMDA-dependent synaptic plasticity by modulatory transmitters like dopamine and acetylcholine. This process is likely to be of major pathophysiological importance for numerous psychiatric diseases, notably schizophrenia.

Techniques and Equipment

Techniques: statistical parametric mapping (SPM) computational modelling, dynamic causal modeling, fMRI, EEG, MEG.

Equipment: 3T fMRI scanner, 128 channel EEG system, computational modelling laboratory, behavioural laboratory.

Selected Lectures, Seminars or Colloquia

Methods & models for fMRI data analysis
Statistical Parametric Mapping

Selected Publications

• Brodersen, K.H., Schofield T.M., Leff A.P., Ong C.S., Lomakina E. I., Buhmann J.M. Stephan K.E. Generative Embedding for Model-Based Classification of fMRI Data. PLoS Computational Biology 7: e1002079 (2011).
  
• Den Ouden, H.E.M., Daunizeau, J., Roiser, J.P., Friston, K.J., Stephan, K.E. Striatal prediction error modulates cortical coupling. Journal of Neuroscience 30: 3210-3219 (2010).
  
• Stephan, K.E., Penny, W.D., Daunizeau, J., Moran, R.J., Friston, K.J. Bayesian model selection for group studies. NeuroImage 46: 1004-1017 (2009).

Funding

SystemsX.ch, NCCR "Neural Repair and Plasticity", UZH Research Priority Program "Foundations of Human Social Behaviour", Europen Union FP-7.

URL

http://www.econ.uzh.ch/faculty/groupstephan.html