The brain is where the world meets the self, an intricate network of cells and connections that turns biology into experience. Our lab is curious about how the structure of the human brain, its grey and white matter, its shape, and the organization of its different regions, supports brain function, from intrinsic processes that reflect physiology to the cognitive functions that shape our thoughts, memories, feelings, and behavior.
To explore this, we use integrative, systems-level approaches and a lot of computational techniques. We are especially interested in how the brain changes across the lifespan, adapting in constant conversation with the body it inhabits and the world it encounters. One of our favorite mysteries is social cognition; how our brains help us connect with others, and how those connections, in turn, change the brain itself.
These questions are not just academic. They guide us in learning how to protect and repair the brain, particularly in the face of neurological disorders and psychiatric conditions. Understanding the brain’s resilience and vulnerabilities is key to improving lives.
Our team includes more than twenty scientists from a range of backgrounds, united by one thing: a love for understanding complex systems through creativity, computation, and collaboration; and a shared curiosity that keeps us asking new questions.
We are based at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig and INM-7, Forschungszentrum Jülich in Jülich, both in Germany. We are part of Helmholz International Bigbrain analytics & learning laboratory set up by Forschungszentrum Jülich and Montreal Neurological Institute, Montreal, Canada.