Department of Behavioral Neuroscience
The department is focused on the research of brain mechanisms of mental processes, behavior and movements. We study neurobiological mechanisms of perception, cognitive functions, emotions and motor activity, their role in mental health and dysfunction in mental disorders and neuropsychiatric diseases. Another research focus are process of postural control and human gait and their disturbance in neurodegenerative diseases.
Head:
tel.: +421 2 3229 6018
e-mail: igor.riecansky@savba.sk
Researchers:
MUDr. Fedor Jagla, CSc.
RNDr. Diana Bzdúšková, PhD.
RNDr. Barbora Cimrová, PhD.
Mgr. Zuzana Hirjaková, PhD.
RNDr. Jana Kimijanová, PhD.
Mgr. Martin Marko, PhD.
Mgr. Drahomír Michalko, PhD.
Mgr. Rastislav Rovný, PhD.
Prof. MUDr. Peter Valkovič, PhD.
Research associates:
Ing. Štefan Bendžala
Mgr. Milan Mitka
PhD. students:
Mgr. Dominika Besterciová
The most important publication in the last 5 years
MARKO, Martin – RIEČANSKÝ, Igor. Sympathetic arousal, but not disturbed executive functioning, mediates the impairment of cognitive flexibility under stress. In Cognition, 2018, vol. 174, p. 94–102. (3.414 – IF2016, Q1)
HORAK, F. B. – KLUZIK, J. – HLAVAČKA, František. Velocity dependence of vestibular information for postural control on tilting surfaces. In Journal of Neurophysiology, 2016, vol. 116, no. 3, p. 1468-1479. (2.653 – IF2015, Q1).
RIEČANSKÝ, Igor – PAUL, Nina – KӦLBLE, Sarah – STIEGER, Stefan – LAMM, Claus. Beta oscillations reveal ethnicity ingroup bias in sensorimotor resonance to pain of others. In Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 2015, vol. 10, no. 7, p. 893-901. (7.372 – IF2014, Q1)
RÜTGEN, Markus – SEIDEL, Eva-Maria – SILANI, Giorgia – RIEČANSKÝ, Igor – HUMMER, Allan – WINDISCHBERGER, Christian – PETROVIC, Predrag – LAMM, Claus. Placebo analgesia and its opioidergic regulation suggest that empathy for pain is grounded in self pain. In Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2015, vol. 112, no. 41, p. E5638-E5646. (9.674 – IF2014, Q1)
HALICKÁ, Zuzana – LOBOTKOVÁ, Jana – BUČKOVÁ, Kristína – HLAVAČKA, František. Effectiveness of different visual biofeedback signals for human balance improvement. In Gait & Posture, 2014, vol.39, p. 410-414. (2.299 – IF2013, Q1)
Current projects
Interaction of nitrergic, neurotrophic and endocrine signaling in the etiopathogenesis of schizophrenia
Principal investigator: MUDr. Igor Riečanský, PhD.
Project number: APVV-16-0233
Duration: 01.07.2015 – 30.06.2019
Design and implementation of visual biofeedback for the rehabilitation of mobility deficiencies in patients with low back pain
Principal investigator: Ing. František Hlavačka, CSc.
Project number: APVV-16-0233
Duration: 1.7.2017 – 30.6.2019
The influence of constitutional factors of redox regulation on endophenotypic markers of schizophrenia
Principal investigator: MUDr. Igor Riečanský, PhD.
Project number: VEGA 2/0056/16
Duration: 1.1.2016 – 31.12.2018
The effect of transcranial direct current stimulation of the brain on sensorimotor gating in human
Principal investigator: MUDr. Fedor Jagla, CSc.
Project number: VEGA 2/0039/17
Duration: 1.1.2017 – 31.12.2019
Age-related changes in sensory control of balance during sit-to-stand and gait
Principal investigator: Ing. František Hlavačka, CSc.
Project number: VEGA 2/0094/16
Duration: 1.1.2016 – 31.12.2018
Specific methods and innovative procedures for assessing performance in athletes and physical fitness in the general population
Principal investigator: Prof. Mgr. Erika Zemková, PhD., Faculty of Physical Education and Sports, Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia
Deputy principal investigator for CEM: RNDr. Diana Bzdúšková, PhD.
Project number: VEGA 1/0824/17
Duration: 1.1.2017 – 31.12.2019
The influence of variability of NOS1 and DAT1 genes on sensorimotor gating in humans: the implications for the pathophysiology of schizophrenia
Funding: Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic
Project no.: 2012/52-SAV-2
Project leader: Igor Riečanský
Duration: 19.7.2013-30.6.2016
Description:
Research shows that interactions of functionally related genes play major role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. In this project, we investigate the association between combined polymorphisms of NOS1 a DAT1 genes and sensorimotor gating, an endophenotype of schizophrenia. The project will yield novel knowledge on the regulatory mechanisms of dopaminergic signaling, importantly involved in schizophrenia.
Sensory information filtering in persons with genetic risk of schizophrenia
Project no.: VEGA 2/0093/14
Project leader: Fedor Jagla
Duration: 1.1.2014 – 31.12.2016
Description:
Schizophrenia is a devastating mental disorder, but its pathophysiology not clarified yet. An important role in the development of the disorder seems to play an insufficient filtration of irrelevant sensory stimuli. Genetic predisposition is the major risk factor for developing schizophrenia and research indicates involvement of common polymorphisms in multiple functionally coupled genes. There is increasing evidence that redox dysbalance importantly contributes to schizophrenia. In this project, we will use electrophysiological methods to assess how common variability in key enzymes regulating cellular redox status, neuronal nitric oxide synthase and glutamate cysteine ligase, is related to filtering auditory stimuli in humans. This project will provide important novel knowledge on the pathomechanism of schizophrenia.
International Cooperations
Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Unit, Department of Basic Psychological Research and Research Methods, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Austria, head: Prof. Claus Lamm
Description: The collaboration is focused at the research of higher brain functions, in particular the neuronal mechanisms of social behavior.
Balance Disorders Laboratory, Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, USA,
Prof. Fay B. Horak
Description: The collaboration is focused at research of posture control and balance disorders.
National Cooperations
1st Department of Psychiatry, Pavol Jozef Šarárik University in Košice, Slovakia
Currently, the collaboration is also based on common research project of the agency VEGA.
Faculty of Physical Education and Sports, Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia
The collaboration is focused at research of posture control and balance disorders. Currently, the collaboration is also based on a joint research project of the agency VEGA.
2nd Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia
The collaboration is focused on research of balance disorders in neurodegenerative diseases.