Center for Non-invasive Brain Stimulation Munich – Augsburg (CNBSMA)
“What fires together, wires together.” This principle underscores the remarkable plasticity of our brain, which contains over 86 billion neurons interconnected in intricate networks. These connections—ranging from strong to weak and fast to slow—enable us to learn, form memories, and adapt to our environment. However, this same plasticity can make mental health disorders difficult to treat.
Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) offers a way to modulate neural connections. Techniques like transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) have become invaluable tools for exploring brain function and understanding mental health disorders. Moreover, they are increasingly applied in innovative treatments for conditions such as major depression.
Our ultimate goal is to bridge the gap between basic research and clinical practice, translating scientific insights into effective, evidence-based care for patients with mental health disorders.
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Early intervention with repetitive theta burst stimulation in adolescents and young adults with depressive disorders: a sequential Bayesian, randomized controlled pilot trial (EARLY-BURST)
- This study investigates whether a 6-week treatment with intermittent theta burst stimulation in adolescents and young adults with depressive disorders, who have not been treated with medication in the last 12 months (except for short-term on-demand medication), effectively reduces depressive symptoms.
- Sponsor: LMU University Hospital
- Funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) as part of the German Center for Mental Health (DZPG)
- Registration: DRKS00033313 (German Clinical Trials Register)
The DiSCoVeR Project: Examining the synergistic effects of a cognitive control videogame and self-administered non-invasive brain stimulation on alleviating depression (DiSCoVeR)
- Multicenter, double-blind, two-arm, placebo-controlled randomized trial (RCT) testing the feasibility and efficacy of an innovative, remotely-controlled treatment approach for major depression
- Sponsor: The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
- Funded by ERA-NET NEURON (Network of European Funding for Neuroscience Research, European Commission), German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Ministry of Health (MOH) of Israel, Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and State Education and Development Agency (VIAA) of Latvia
- Registration: NCT04953208 (ClinicalTrials.gov)
MR-informed, navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation with interleaved functional MR-imaging (MR-stim)
- The aim of this project is to establish a paradigm measuring the online modulation (functional MR) of prefrontal cortex regions involved in pathogenesis of depression to be used as predictor of treatment response to non-invasive brain stimulation
- Sponsor: LMU University Hospital
- Funded as part of the ERA-NET NEURON-funded The DiSCoVeR Project and FöFöLe PLUS program of LMU
Treatment of major depressive disorder with bilateral theta burst stimulation (TBS-D)
- Randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled multicenter clinical trial testing the efficacy of TBS as a treatment approach for major depression.
- Sponsor: University of Tübingen
- Funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
- Registration: NCT04392947 (ClinicalTrials.gov)
Validation of a Single-Subject Treatment Outcome Predictor for Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) to Improve Negative Symptoms in Schizophrenia (PREMISS)
- Multicenter study aimed at 1.) validating a single-subject treatment outcome predictor for high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) applied to improve negative symptoms in schizophrenia spectrum disorders, 2.) evaluating the efficacy of rTMS in reducing negative symptoms in schizophrenia spectrum disorders in a naturalistic setting and 3.) evaluating whether an extension with intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) is superior to an extension of rTMS in initial non-responders
- Sponsor: LMU University Hospital
- Funded by ERA PerMed (01KU1905B)
- Registration: DRKS00022214 (German Clinical Trials Register)
Treatment of auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia with bilateral theta burst stimulation (TBS-AH)
- Multicentre, double-blind, randomised, sham-controlled clinical trial. To assess the efficacy of bilateral continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) as a therapeutic intervention against auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia.
- Sponsor: University of Tübingen
- Funded by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)
- Registration: NCT02670291 (ClinicalTrials.gov)
Pathophysiology-specific development of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the prefrontal cortex – studies on functional MRT connectivity
- Sponsor: LMU University Hospital
- Funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) as part of the German Center for Brain Stimulation Research network
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) as a treatment for major depression (Depression DC)
- A prospective multicentre double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial investigating the efficacy and tolerability of repeated tDCS as treatment for major depression.
- Sponsor: LMU University Hospital
- Funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) as part of the German Center for Brain Stimulation Research network
- Registration: NCT02530164 (ClinicalTrials.gov)
- Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter trial to investigate if cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy (CBT) when combined with prefrontal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is more efficacious than CBT with sham tDCS or CBT alone.
- Sponsor: Charite Berlin
- Funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) as part of the German Center for Brain Stimulation Research network
- Registration: NCT02633449 (ClinicalTrials.gov)
- This study investigates whether a 6-week treatment with intermittent theta burst stimulation in adolescents and young adults with depressive disorders, who have not been treated with medication in the last 12 months (except for short-term on-demand medication), effectively reduces depressive symptoms.
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- Dose-Dependent Target Engagement of a Clinical Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation Protocol: An Interleaved Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation–Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study in Healthy People Chang KY, Tik M, Mizutani-Tiebel Y, Taylor P, van Hattem T, Falkai P, Padberg F, Bulubas L, Keeser D. Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging,
2024, ISSN 2451-9022. doi: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2024.08.009
- Transcranial direct current stimulation as an additional treatment to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in adults with major depressive disorder in Germany (DepressionDC): a triple-blind, randomised, sham-controlled, multicentre trial Burkhardt G, Kumpf U, Crispin A, Goerigk S, Andre E, Plewnia C, Brendel B, Fallgatter A, Langguth B, Abdelnaim M, Hebel T, Normann C, Frase L, Zwanzger P, Diemer J, Kammer T, Schönfeldt-Lecuona C, Kamp D, Bajbouj M, Behler N, Wilkening A, Nenov-Matt T, Dechantsreiter E, Keeser D, Bulubas L, Palm U, Blankenstein C, Mansmann U, Falkai P, Brunoni A, Hasan A, Padberg F. The Lancet, Volume 402, Issue 10401, 545 - 554. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(23)00640-2
- Effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex on symptom domains in neuropsychiatric disorders: a systematic review and cross-diagnostic meta-analysis. Kan RL, Padberg F, Giron CG, Lin TTZ, Zhang BB, Brunoni AR, Kranz GS. The Lancet Psychiatry, Volume 10, Issue 4, 252 - 25. doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(23)00026-3
- Efficacy of Augmentation of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy With Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Depression: A Randomized Clinical Trial Aust S, Brakemeier E-L, Spies J, Herrera-Melendez A L, Kaiser T, Fallgatter A, Plewnia C, Mayer S V, Dechantsreiter E, Burkhardt G, Strauß M, Mauche N, Normann C, Frase L, Deuschle M, Böhringer A, Padberg F, Bajbouj M. JAMA Psychiatry. 2022;79(6):528-537. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2022.0696
- Efficacy and Safety of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Treating Negative Symptoms in Schizophrenia: A Randomized Clinical Trial Valiengo LDCL, Goerigk S, Gordon PC, Padberg F, Serpa MH, Koebe S, Santos LAD, Lovera RAM, Carvalho JB, van de Bilt M, Lacerda ALT, Elkis H, Gattaz WF, Brunoni AR. JAMA Psychiatry. 2020 Feb 1;77(2):121-129. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.3199
- Clinical patterns differentially predict response to transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and escitalopram in major depression: A machine learning analysis of the ELECT-TDCS study Kambeitz J, Goerigk S, Gattaz W, Falkai P, Benseñor IM, Lotufo PA, Bühner M, Koutsouleris N, Padberg F, Brunoni AR. J Affect Disord. 2020 Mar 15;265:460-467. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.01.118
- Antidepressant effects of tDCS are associated with prefrontal gray matter volumes at baseline: Evidence from the ELECT-TDCS trial Bulubas L, Padberg F, Bueno PV, Duran F, Busatto G, Amaro E Jr, Benseñor IM, Lotufo PA, Goerigk S, Gattaz W, Keeser D, Brunoni AR. Brain Stimul. 2019 Sep-Oct;12(5):1197-1204. doi: 10.1016/j.brs.2019.05.006
- Testing assumptions on prefrontal transcranial direct current stimulation: Comparison of electrode montages using multimodal fMRI. Wörsching J, Padberg F, Goerigk S, Heinz I, Bauer C, Plewnia C, Hasan A, Ertl-Wagner B, Keeser D. Brain Stimul. 2018 Sep-Oct;11(5):998-1007. doi: 10.1016/j.brs.2018.05.001
- Test-retest reliability of prefrontal transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) effects on functional MRI connectivity in healthy subjects. Wörsching J, Padberg F, Helbich K, Hasan A, Koch L, Goerigk S, Stoecklein S, Ertl-Wagner B, Keeser D. Neuroimage. 2017 Jul 15;155:187-201. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.04.052
- Prefrontal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Treatment of Schizophrenia With Predominant Negative Symptoms: A Double-Blind, Sham-Controlled Proof-of-Concept Study. Palm U, Keeser D, Hasan A, Kupka MJ, Blautzik J, Sarubin N, Kaymakanova F, Unger I, Falkai P, Meindl T, Ertl-Wagner B, Padberg F. Schizophr Bull. 2016 Sep;42(5):1253-61. doi: 10.1093/schbul/sbw041
- Imaging transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the prefrontal cortex-correlation or causality in stimulation-mediated effects? Wörsching J, Padberg F, Ertl-Wagner B, Kumpf U, Kirsch B, Keeser D. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2016 Oct;69:333-56. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.08.001
- Efficacy and safety of deep transcranial magnetic stimulation for major depression: a prospective multicenter randomized controlled trial. Levkovitz Y, Isserles M, Padberg F, Lisanby SH, Bystritsky A, Xia G, Tendler A, Daskalakis ZJ, Winston JL, Dannon P, Hafez HM, Reti IM, Morales OG, Schlaepfer TE, Hollander E, Berman JA, Husain MM, Sofer U, Stein A, Adler S, Deutsch L, Deutsch F, Roth Y, George MS, Zangen A. World Psychiatry. 2015 Feb;14(1):64-73. doi: 10.1002/wps.20199
- Prefrontal transcranial direct current stimulation changes connectivity of resting-state networks during fMRI. Keeser D, Meindl T, Bor J, Palm U, Pogarell O, Mulert C, Brunelin J, Möller HJ, Reiser M, Padberg F. J Neurosci. 2011 Oct 26;31(43):15284-93. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0542-11.2011
- Theta burst stimulation of the prefrontal cortex: safety and impact on cognition, mood, and resting electroencephalogram. Grossheinrich N, Rau A, Pogarell O, Hennig-Fast K, Reinl M, Karch S, Dieler A, Leicht G, Mulert C, Sterr A, Padberg F. Biol Psychiatry. 2009 May 1;65(9):778-84. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2008.10.029
- Dose-Dependent Target Engagement of a Clinical Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation Protocol: An Interleaved Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation–Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study in Healthy People Chang KY, Tik M, Mizutani-Tiebel Y, Taylor P, van Hattem T, Falkai P, Padberg F, Bulubas L, Keeser D. Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging,
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For our studies, we are constantly recruiting patients with major depressive disorder (German language required). You can find information on studies for which we currently search participants here. Feel free to contact our study coordination office.
Für unsere Studien suchen wir kontinuierlich Patient*innen mit Depression. Hier können Sie weitere Informationen zu aktuellen Projekten finden. Kontaktieren Sie bei Interesse gerne unser Studienteam.
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Co-lead LMU Munich
Core research team
- Dr. Jonas Björklund
- Esther Dechantsreiter, M.Sc.
- Beate Dornheim
- Miaoxi Chen, M.Sc.
- Andreas Huth, M.Sc.
Doctoral candidates
- Marlen Becher
- Juna Bizhga
- Kristin Hagenah
- Barbara Huber
- Hilde Steinbeck
- Lisa Tagnin
- Katharina von Wartensleben
Research Group Multimodal Neuroimaging and Neuromodulation
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- Malek Bajbouj, Charite Berlin
- Daphné Bavelier, University of Geneva
- Andre Russowsky Brunoni, Universidade de São Paulo
- Stephan Goerigk, Fresenius Hochschule Munich
- Friedhelm Hummel, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology EPFL, Geneva
- Georg Kranz, The Hongkong Polytechnic University
- Berthold Langguth, University of Regensburg
- Mor Nahum, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
- Michael Nitsche, TU Dortmund
- Claus Normann, University of Freiburg
- Christian Plewnia, University of Tuebingen
- Elmars Rancans, Riga Stradins University
- Hartwig R. Siebner, Danish Research Center for Magnetic Resonance, Copenhagen
- Martin Tik, University of Vienna
- Axel Thielscher, Danish Research Center for Magnetic Resonance, Copenhagen
- Ulrike Vogelmann, TU Munich
- Christian Windischberger, University of Vienna
- Abraham Zangen, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
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We invite advanced medical and psychology students to apply for a research internship with our group. As an intern, you will gain valuable experience at a renowned multidisciplinary university hospital, participate in our scientific curriculum (including seminars and congresses), and engage in clinical care.
You’ll have the chance to conduct a research project based on established studies or your ideas (if feasible), tailored to your interests. We encourage and support students in writing for international journals, including publishing their research or master’s/doctoral thesis.
We welcome both national and international students. However, basic German language skills are required due to patient interactions. Interested? Please send us your CV and reach out via email!
