Dr. Manuel Brenner

Research Statement

Thinking, feeling, and behavior are not static but arise from continuously changing processes in the brain. Mental disorders also unfold dynamically: symptoms may intensify, diminish, or occur in waves. This temporal dimension is crucial for understanding brain function in both health and disease.

As part of the LOEWE Center DYNAMIC, our group investigates how such dynamics can be captured and described in mathematical models. We develop self-learning algorithms that can extract hidden states and patterns in brain activity and behavior directly from complex data. At the same time, we emphasize interpretability: our models should not only be powerful but also remain understandable. In this way, we aim to bridge modern AI, basic neuroscience, and clinical questions in psychiatry. Our overarching goal is to develop methods that open the path from modeling to practical application in clinical settings.