Matthias Stangl

Matthias Stangl, Ph.D. recently joined the Department of Biomedical Engineering, the Neurophotonics Center (NPC), the Center for Systems Neuroscience, and the Cognitive Neuroimaging Center.

Research in his lab focuses on how the human brain supports critical cognitive and behavioral functions in our everyday life, such as spatial navigation and memory, and on the neural mechanisms that underlie age-related impairments in these functions. From a methodological perspective, they employ novel neurotechnologies and advanced methodologies such as deep brain recordings in freely-moving individuals with permanently implanted neurostimulator devices, enabling them to study human brain function during natural movement and behavior in real-world settings. In addition, they conduct intracranial electrophysiological recordings in hospitalized patients, providing valuable insights into neural computations at the level of individual human neurons. To complement these invasive recordings, they also utilize non-invasive neuroimaging techniques like functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and scalp electroencephalography (EEG). Through this multimodal neuroimaging approach, they gain a comprehensive understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying spatial navigation and memory, and human behavior more generally, both within and outside of controlled laboratory environments. Together, this holistic approach enables unique insights into human brain function across multiple scales, ranging from the activity of single neurons to the dynamic interactions of whole-brain networks.