The research group Neurocognition investigates neuropsychological symptoms with experimental methods derived from cognitive neuroscience. The research group’s focus lies upon cognitive dysfunctions in patients suffering from psychiatric disorders (except dementia). The research group represents a competence platform within the Center for Psychosocial Medicine collaborating with other local research groups on a broad spectrum of psychiatric disorders.

The research group Neurocognition was founded in 2015 and is run by Prof. Dr. med. Matthias Weisbrod and Prof Dr. med. Daniela Roesch Ely. It originated from the research group Experimental Psychopathology and Neurophysiology (dissolved in 2014) run by Prof. Dr. med. Matthias Weisbrod from 1996-2014. Presently, the research group Neurocognition is an interdisciplinary team involving externally funded staff members and clinical staff from various clinical backgrounds.

Methods & Research

The research group assesses cognitive dysfunctions in psychiatric patients investigating and differentiating between basic and more complex levels of information processing. The focus of research encompasses more basic cognitive functions of visual information processing and motor performance as well as more complex cognitive functions of the domains attention, (working) memory, and executive functioning. Experimental methods involve:

• Neuropsychological studies of behavior
• Cognitive electrophysiology (EEG, EKP, source localization, Q-EEG) (in collaboration)
• Structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) (in collaboration)
• Biomarkers in serum (in collaboration)

The paramount research aim is the development and evaluation of specific (cognitive) tests and training programs as well as pharmacological treatment options for psychiatric patients suffering from cognitive dysfunctions.

Close collaborations of the research group Neurocognition involve scientific collaborations with the Psychiatric Outpatient Department for Cognitive Training (PAKT) and with the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy of the SRH Clinical Center Karlsbad-Langensteinbach run by Prof. Dr. Matthias Weisbrod.