Circadian rhythm

We focus on human sleep research in a multidisciplinary context. We combine methods and designs from psychology, medicine, and brain research. Our team studies sleep EEG structures, and uses experimental designs to explore how sleep affects cognition, emotions and stress reactivity. We welcome collaboration suggestions from different disciplines.

My lab investigates neurobiological mechanisms underlying rapid antidepressant effects. We have recently revealed that diverse rapid-acting antidepressants evoke – after the acute pharmacological effects subside – an emergence of slow EEG activity (SWA) and concomitant regulation of plasticity-related molecular pathways (e.g. TrkB neurotrophin receptor) in adult rodents. These findings urge to focus on intrinsic homeostatic adaptations triggered within the brain in response to pharmacological or physiological “challenge” induced by rapid-acting antidepressants.