Research at Jyväskylä Brain & Mind

Brain research has a long history at the University of Jyväskylä. Our neuroscience is spearheaded by the study of learning and other cognitive functions, development, and physical activity.

Neuroscience in Jyväskylä

Jyväskylä Brain & Mind is a community of neuroscientists at the University of Jyväskylä. The cross-cutting theme of our research is body-brain interaction in behavior and in relation to societally relevant phenomena such as learning difficulties and music. We use a wide range of methods to study the nervous system from the cellular to the system level. Our mission is to conduct cutting-edge research in our fields of specialty and make a positive societal impact.

Research themes

Infrastructure

Centre for Interdisciplinary Brain Research provides research infrastructure and support for the use of Jyväskylä Brain & Mind, which complements the laboratories and equipment maintained in different faculties.

The MEG laboratory at the University of Jyväskylä.

tdcs-tacs — This cap is capable of EEG, tDCS and tACS.

With MEG, one can study activity time courses in single cortical areas, the spread of activity from one area to another and interactions between brain areas. Our MEG lab is located in the Kärki building in the Mattilanniemi campus area of the University of Jyväskylä. MEG measures the minute magnetic fields generated by electric neuronal activity and allows studying brain functions at a temporal precision of milliseconds.

MEG Support Pages

EEG provides temporally precise recordings of the electric activity of the brain. The temporal accuracy of EEG makes it suitable for research on how brain networks process information over time. EEG can be measured concurrently with MEG with as many as 128 channels. There are several EEG recording suites at the university.

In addition to recording brain activity, it is also possible to stimulate the brain from the outside to modulate or even generate neuronal activity. In TMS, a strong, rapidly changing magnetic field is focused on a cortical area, which causes an electric field in the tissue and drives neurons in that area to fire. With this kind of stimulation we can, for instance, cause contractions in selected muscles or alterations in perception.

The University of Jyväskylä houses a neuronavigated TMS-EEG laboratory – the Functional Brain Lab (FBL) – at the Faculty of Sports and Health Sciences. There are currently three TMS systems available for research use that can be combined with various stimulation and recording systems (e.g. EMG, dynamometers and other biomechanical recordings).

The Functional Brain Lab (FBL)

CIBR is collaborating with Hospital Nova to enable the use of a 3T MR scanner for our researchers. The scanner model is Siemens Vida, which is equipped for brain research applications. Please contact Simo Monto for further information about the principles of use and pricing of the scanner.

The brain contains billions of interconnected neurons that form functional networks. These neuronal networks control our behavior. Learning and behavior change result from changes within these networks. Our laboratory facilities are equipped with state-of-the-art tools for recording and manipulating neuronal activity as well as behavior. We specialize in chronic experiments conducted on freely behaving healthy adult rodents. For example, in mice we can monitor the activity of hundreds of neurons at once using calcium imaging or record the action potentials of tens of neurons at once using traditional electrophysiology methods. The imaging and electrophysiology recording can be done while the mouse is, for example, performing a learning task or while it is sleeping. This allows the study of the neural basis of learning in terms of both encoding and memory consolidation.

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a minimally invasive method to modulate ongoing brain activity in humans. Small, milliampere-level electric current is fed to the scalp using two electrode pads, anodal and cathodal. The modulatory effect is localised below and between the two electrodes. The university currently provides access to three sets of tDCS equipment at the EEG recording suites in the Kärki building. The same devices can be used to provide transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), a method to modulate brain activation in a rhythmic fashion to tap into the oscillatory phenomena in the cortical networks.

Our psychophysiology facilities allow recording of autonomic nervous system both in laboratory and in natural settings. EEG and MEG measurements can be combined with physiological measurement of skin conductance or heart rate variability or respiratory monitoring experiments. In addition, our ambulatory devices take the laboratory into the streets allowing continuous, unconstrained measurements. Contact CIBR technical support for more information!