Brain Health and Neurophysiology

Target audience

•  A (broad) scientific background: faculty of medicine and health sciences, faculty of engineering and architecture, faculty of psychology and educational sciences
• Beginners level
• No background knowledge is expected

Organizing and scientific committee

Prof. Dr. Kristl Vonck - Department of Head and Skin

Prof. Dr. Paul Boon - Department of Neurology and 4Brain, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium and Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands.

Prof. Dr. Robrecht Raedt - Department of head and skin, Ghent University

Prof. Dr. Evelien Carrette - Department of Neurology and 4Brain, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium

Emma Lescrauwaet, PhD, Department of head and skin, Ghent University

Dr. Chloé Algoet, PhD, Department of head and skin, Ghent University

Abstract

Brain health is the state of brain functioning across cognitive, sensory, social-emotional, behavioral and motor domains, allowing someone to realize their full potential over the life course, irrespective of the presence or absence of disorders. Different determinants related to physical health, healthy environments, healthy diet, safety and security, life-long learning and social connection give way to strategies for promotion and prevention across the life course. During this course, students will learn to address these determinants, get theoretical background on these different determinants and how to investigate and improve brain health. Electroencephalography (EEG) is a key neurological technique that allows to investigate the determinants of brain health and combined with artificial intelligence analysis represents an innovative research technique that is applicable in many of the research groups at UGent where doctoral students are working.

Objectives

- Understand the importance of brain health and the necessity for awareness increase

- Understand the relationship between brain health and brain disorders

- Gain knowledge on the determinants of brain health

- Gain knowledge in the various techniques to study brain health

- Gain knowledge on electrophysiological recordings and analysis of brain signals (EEG), theoretical and practical

- Understand the application of EEG to assess (improvement of) brain health in a clinical and research context

Dates and venue

03/06 + 04/06/2025

The Core, room together and Practical room Eosine (blok B, campus Heymans)

Programme

03/06/2025

• 11:30-12:30
  Welcome and Lunch
• 12:30-13:00
  Prof. Dr. Ir. Rik Van de Walle, Rector Ghent University                Neuroscience and Brain Health @ Ghent University
• 13:00-13:30
  Prof. Dr. Paul Boon, Director 4Brain                                             The Brain Health Mission, a strategic roadmap to Brain Health in Europe
• 13:30-14:00
  Dr. Rafal Kaminski, Chief Scientific Officer Angelini Pharma     Brain Health from the industry perspective
• 14:00-14:30
  Prof. Dr. Kristl Vonck, Department of Head and Skin                  Brain Health Research, the UGent Angelini Brain Health Chair
• 14:30-15:30
  coffee break
• 15:30-15:50
  Prof. Dr. Farah Focquaert, Ghent Research in Ethics, Law and Philosophy           Brain health: the ethical desirability of moral bio-enhancement
• 15:50-16:10
  Prof. Dr. Veerle De Herdt, Department of Neurology                  The Neurologist's role in promoting Brain Health
• 16:10-16:30
  Dr. Marta Scarioni, Department of Neurology                             Brain Health, the importance of recognizing cognitive impairment
• 16:30-16:50
  Prof. Dr. Ir. Sofie Van Hoecke, Department of Electronics & Information Systems       The role of artificial intelligence in Brain Health research
• 16:50-17:10
  Prof. Dr. Robrecht Raedt, 4Brain, GATE                                         Gene, cell and tissue engineering to preserve Brain Health
• 17:10-18:00
  Drinks & networking

04/06/2025

• 8:30-9:30
  Prof. Evelien Carrette                  EEG and MEG, the basics
• 9:30-10:30
  TBC                                               EEG in Neurological disorders
• 10:30-11:00
  break
• 11:00-11:30
  TBC                                              intracranial EEG
• 11:30-12:30
  Prof. Dr. Robrecht Raedt            Pre-clinical EEG
• 12:30-13:30
  lunch
• 13:30-15:30
  Drs. MSc. Emma Lescrauwaet   EEG recording 
• 16:00-17:00
  Drs. MSc. Emma Lescrauwaet   EEG recording cont

Registration

• Follow this link for the registration and waiting list. We check if you are eligible to participate. Due to limited places, we give priority to PhD students. Your registration will be confirmed by separate e-mail (outlook invite).
• Cancellation of your registration can only be performed by sending an email to doctoralschools@ugent.be.

• The no show policy applies.

Registration fee

Free of charge for Doctoral School members.

Number of participants

Day 1: maximum 100 participants.

Day 2: maximum 50 participants

Language

English

Training method

(poster) presentations by doctoral researchers, discussion, practical exercises) and number of hours per activity type: Lectures ex-cathedra (7,25h), discussion (4,75) and practical exercise (3h)

Evaluation method

 100% attendance

After successful participation, the Doctoral School Office will add this course to your curriculum of the Doctoral Training Programme in Oasis. Please note that this can take up to one to two months after completion of the course.