Research at the ESI

Why? How? To what purpose? The desire to ask questions, seek answers, and gain knowledge has driven humankind ever since. Basic research, such as being conducted here at the Ernst Strüngmann Institute (ESI) for Neuroscience, makes a significant contribution to reaching this goal. At the ESI, we try to unravel the neural mechanisms that enable our brains to perform higher cognitive functions, such as attention and memory. We observe the simultaneous activity of multiple cells, circuits, or brain sections to find the principles behind their interactions, and how those ultimately shape human and animal behavior.

Basic research advances knowledge

This knowledge not only deepens our understanding of human nature. It also helps us understand what causes neurological and psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, autism, and epilepsy. In the long term, the knowledge gained from basic research will help develop therapies for brain diseases.




Research Groups

Poeppel Lab
Brain basis of language, speech and music
Singer Lab
Neuronal processes underlying higher cognitive functions
Rademaker Lab
The mechanisms giving rise to human perceptual experiences
Cuntz Lab
The fundamental principles of wiring in the brain
Havenith & Schölvinck Lab
Simultaneous encoding of cognitive processes during natural behaviour
Laurens Lab
Electrophysiology and modeling of navigation and vestibular systems
Schmidt Lab
Mapping of the entorhinal-hippocampal neuronal network
Vinck Lab
Using prediction and timing to encode information in the brain