Emotional and cognitive Neuroradiological research group (EC NeuroRad)

SpeCY-Study: MR Spectroscopy in well-characterized individuals with and without post COVID condition prior to and following a Yoga breathing intervention- randomised trial

Lead: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Elke R. Gizewski, Univ.-Prof. Dr. Barbara Sperner-Unterweger, Prof. Dr. Julis Löffler-Ragg

Team: Dr. med. univ. Malik Galijasevic, PhD; Dr. rer. nat. Ruth Steiger; Dr. Christian Kremser, Ass. Prof. Dr. Christoph Birkl, Assoz. Prof. Dr. Katharina Hüfner, Dr. Philipp Nelles, Dr. Noora Tuovinen, PD Dr. Thomas Sonnweber, PhD, Dr. rer. nat. Alexander Karabatsiakis, Assoc. Prof. Nicolas Singewald, Priv. Doz. Dr. Johanna Gostner, Mag. Michaela Waibl, Priv. Doz. Dr. Raimund Helbok, Dr. Alessandra Fanciulli, Priv. Doz. Dr. Atbin Djamshidian, Priv. Doz. Dr. Laura Zamarian, Dr. Herbert Bachler

Cooperation: Departments of Clinical Psychology II, Internal Medicine II, Neurology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Psychiatry II, Pulmonology (LKH Natters), Division of Biochemistry of the Medical University of Innsbruck; Tyrolean Society for General Medicine (TGAM); Yogamood, Innsbruck   
Many patients with Post COVID condition suffer from severe shortness of breath,if associated with palpitations, dizziness or anxiety, commonly diagnosed with "dysfunctional breathing”. From a psychosomatic perspective, dysfunctional breathing can be classified as a "functional symptom”, subclassified under somatic symptom disorders. Yoga interventions with breath-guided relaxation are a promising approach. In this project the psycho-somatic and somato-psychic pathophysiology on a morphological, psychological, functional and biological basis underlying the symptom of dysfunctional breathing, will be investigated. Furthermore, the mechanism of Yoga intervention on the mental and somatic symptoms of participants with Post COVID condition will be examined, in comparison to other groups.

Effects of combined oral contraceptives on brain and behavior (BECONTRA), ERC Starting Grant  
Lead: Priv.-Doz. Dr. med. univ. Bettina Böttcher; Univ.-Prof. Dr. med. Bettina Toth
Team: Dr. rer. nat. Ruth Steiger; Dr. Christian Siedentopf, Univ.-Prof. Dr. Elke R. Gizewski
Cooperation: Department of Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine; Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg (PI): Prof. Dr. Torsten Fischer; Prof. DDr. Bellinda Pletzer
In PHASE 1 of the project, changes in mood, cognition, and brain parameters associated with the intake of contraceptive pills (COC) are to be identified. A comparison will be made to determine whether the age of the participants (adolescent, adult) and the type of COC (androgen, anti-androgen) have an influence on the strength and direction of these changes. In PHASE 2 of the project, it will be investigated whether changes in mood, cognition, and brain parameters completely revert after discontinuation of COC intake.

Heart & Brain project

Lead: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Elke R. Gizewski, Univ.-Prof. Dr. Axel Bauer

Team: Dr. med. univ. Malik Galijasevic, PhD; Dr. rer. nat. Ruth Steiger; Ass. Prof. Dr. Christoph Birkl; Univ.-Prof. Dr. Michael Schreinlechner, Dr. Fabian Theurl, Assoz.-Prof. Dr. med. univ. Michael Knoflach

Cooperation: Departments of Cardiology and Neurology

There is a highly complex and clinically important relationship between the cardiac and the nervous system, called the heart-brain axis, which works in both directions: Neurological disorders can lead to disorders of the cardiovascular system and vice versa. New computerised biosignal analysis techniques and advanced biosignal assessment (high-resolution ECG, continuous non-invasive arterial blood pressure, respiratory activity, etc.) make it possible to analyse the cardiac autonomic nervous system and may sensitively detect the cardiovascular effects of stroke. Markers, which are recorded form the body surface, can predict poor outcomes after myocardial infarction, including sudden and non-sudden cardiac death independently of left ventricular ejection fraction. Alterations in the right insular cortex are associated with acute cardiac diseases like Takotsubo syndrome and in patients with acute stroke. This could further be assessed by lesion mapping and functional brain imaging as this novel and sophisticated technique can also provide information about functional connectivity and communication between different brain regions.

Short-term meditation training might influence brain function and structure

Lead: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Elke R. Gizewski; Univ.-Prof. Dr. Nicolas Singewald

Team: Michaela Weibel, Dr. med. univ. Malik Galijasevic, PhD; Dr. rer. nat. Ruth Steiger; Dr. med. Stefan Kunst, Ass. Prof. Dr. Christoph Birkl; Alberto Glamberti (PhD candidate IGDT-ART)

Cooperation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology (LFU); Yogamood, Innsbruck

Meditation is increasingly attracting interest among neuroimaging researchers for its relevance as a cognitive enhancement technique and several cross-sectional studies have indicated cerebral changes. This longitudinal study applied a distinct and standardized meditative technique with a group of volunteers in a short-term training program to analyze brain structural, functional and metabolic changes.