Collaborative Research Centre SFB 874
The interdisciplinary Transregional Collaborative Research Center SFB 874 “Integration and Representation of Sensory Processes” (Speaker: Prof. Dr. Denise Manahan-Vaughan, Neurophysiology, Ruhr-University Bochum) was established by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) on July 1st, 2010, at the Ruhr-University Bochum. The goal of this project is the implementation of a systems neuroscience strategy to clarify key aspects of sensory processing. The overarching question addresses how sensory signals generate neuronal maps, and result in complex behavior and memory formation. Within the 12 projects the SFB 874 addresses how sensory information (visual, olfactory or somatosensory) is integrated in the brain such that a representation of the world and a memory trace results.
Research Unit FOR 1581
Within the scope of the Research Unit FOR 1581 „Extinction Learning: Neural Mechanisms, Behavioural Manifestations, and Clinical Implications“ (speaker: Prof. Dr. Onur Güntürkün, Biopsychology, Ruhr-University Bochum) (since January 2011, funded by the DFG) scientists from Bochum, Essen and Marburg explore the neural, the behavioral, and the clinical mechanisms of extinction in various species, including humans. Using a highly interactive research strategy, they intend to harvest deep insights into both the common and the distinct mechanisms of extinction learning in different systems and organisms. By this, they aim to achieve translational insights between Basic and Clinical Sciences.
Bernstein Focus: Neuronal Basis of Learning (BFNL)
With the new funding initiative „Bernstein Focus: Neuronal Basis of Learning“ the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) supports eight joint research projects within the Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience. In three joint projects neuroscientists of the RDN (from the Institute of Neuroinformatics, Faculty of Psychology and Faculty of Medicine) are significantly involved. In the focus of the projects is the identification of the neuronal basis of learning and how to use these results. This aim is accompanied by a close interdisciplinary collaboration of experimental and theoretical analysis. One goal is that the results contribute to develop better treatments for stroke, to understand cognitive disorders, or to generate models for the development of robots, and driver assistance systems.
LEARNING BEHAVIORAL MODELS
(Bochum / Lauffen)
Coordinator:
Prof. Gregor Schöner (Ruhr-University Bochum)
SEQUENCE LEARNING
(Bochum / Berlin / Bremen / Oldenburg)
Coordinator:
Prof. Dr. Onur Güntürkün (Ruhr-University Bochum)
STATE DEPENDENCIES OF LEARNING
(Berlin / Bochum / Lübeck / Leipzig)
Coordinators:
PD Dr. Petra Ritter (Charité-Berlin)
Prof. Dr. Richard Kempter (Humboldt-University Berlin)
NEURAL DYNAMICS
A neuro-dynamic framework for cognitive robotics: scene representations, behavioural sequences, and learning
The EU-project “Neural Dynamics” involves scientists from Bochum (Coordinator: Prof. Dr. Gregor Schöner, Institut für Neuroinformatik, Ruhr-University Bochum), Skövde (Sweden), Faro (Portugal), and Lugano (Switzerland) and is funded by the European Commission. For more information please contact Prof. Dr. Gregor Schöner.
The vision of this project is to develop cognitive robots that mimics the human cognitive abilities to orient oneself in space (eg. in a room). Building cognitive robots that orient actions at objects, are capable of generating even simple sequences of such actions, interact with human users, and learn from experience continues to be an ambitious goal. The goal of this project is, therefore, to provide comprehensive solutions to the two key bottlenecks for building cognitive robots, their perceptual capabilities and their capability to generate flexible sequential behaviours.
Mercator Research Group "Structure of Memory"
In a joint project with Stiftung Mercator, Ruhr University Bochum has established two “Mercator Research Groups”. In the Mercator Research Group "Structure of Memory" three young professors (Prof. Dr. Sen Cheng, Psychology; Prof. Dr. Magdalena Sauvage, Neurophysiology; Prof. Dr. Markus Werning, Philosophy; Mentors: Prof. Dr. Onur Güntürkün; Prof. Dr. Denise Manahan-Vaughan; Prof. Dr. Albert Newen) form an independent research team supplied with state-of-the-art infrastructure, additional staff, and generous funds. They will be accompanied by a senior (emeritus) researcher of their own choice, who through his/her extensive experience can act as a mentor and advisor for the independent research of the young professors. The leadership of the MRG, however, will remain exclusively in the hands of the young professors. The research group focuses on research in the neurosciences. Composed of experimental and theoretical neuroscientists as well as philosophers, the team investigates episodic and semantic memory processes and their relation to other cognitive functions.
Bochum Research School for Medical Neuroscience (BoNeuroMed)
The Bochum Research School for Medical Neuroscience (BoNeuroMed) (Board: Prof. Dr. Denise Manahan-Vaughan, Neurophysiology, Faculty of Medicine; Prof. Dr. Jörg T. Epplen, Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine; Prof. Dr. Michael Hollmann, Receptor Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Biochemistry) is co-funded by the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Research of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia. It offers an English language PhD programme within the International Graduate School of Neuroscience (IGSN). It focuses on the area of the Medical Neurosciences, working together with neuroscientists from the academic disciplines of Biology, Chemistry/Biochemistry, Basic and Clinical Medicine, Engineering Sciences, Neuroinformatics and Psychology to achieve the highest level of multidisciplinarity. A fast-track international PhD in Neuroscience (completed within 3 years) together with additional training in management and complementary skills is aimed to produce a new generation of young neuroscientists that can compete at the highest level, both professionally and internationally.