Göttinger Graduiertenzentrum für Neurowissenschaften, Biophysik und Molekulare Biowissenschaften

Antal, Andrea, Prof. Dr.

Group Leader Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation Laboratory, Dept. of Neurology


  • 1990 - Diploma in Biology, Attila József University of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary
  • 1993 - University Doctor, Attila József University of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary
  • 1998 - Ph.D. Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical University, Szeged, Hungary
  • 2005 Habilitation, University of Göttingen, Germany
  • 2010 Extraordinary professor, University of Göttingen, Germany



Major Research Interests

Neuroplasticity became one central topic of neuroscience research in the last decades. Dynamic modifications of neuronal networks are an important substrate for learning and memory formation. Furthermore, pathological neuroplasticity might be one foundation of numerous central nervous system diseases.

The primary aim of our recent work is to develop and establish new non-invasive brain stimulation methods to induce physiological changes in the central nervous system in order to investigate cognition and complex information processing. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) was developed by our group as a non-invasive tool to induce neuroplasticity in the human cerebral cortex. tDCS as a tool aims to induce prolonged neuronal excitability and activity alterations in the human brain via alterations of the neuronal membrane potential. Accordingly, this method is a promising tool in the treatment of diseases that are accompanied by changes of cortical excitability. Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) and random noise stimulation (tRNS) are new external stimulation techniques influencing cortical activity. tACS and tRNS permit, due to the oscillating stimulation, external interference with the cortical oscillations. They can particularly modulate the temporary connections of cortical areas during a given task. Neuronal oscillations in the brain are associated with the processing of sensory information, learning, cognition, arousal, attention and also pathological conditions (e.g. Parkinson's tremor, epilepsy). Therefore, the external modulation of cortical oscillations could be an important component of induced cerebral plasticity. In terms of effectiveness tRNS seems to have at least the same therapeutic potential for the treatment of diseases such as depression and chronic pain as rTMS and tDCS.



Homepage Department/Research Group

https://neurologie.umg.eu/forschung/research-groups-english-version/noninvasive-brain-stimulation-lab-nbs-lab/



Selected Recent Publications


  • Diedrich L, Ben Izhak S,Antal A Lavidor M, Antal A. Boosting Working Memory in the Elderly: Driving Prefrontal Theta–Gamma Coupling via Repeated Neuromodulation. GeroScience, in press.
  • Ramasawmy P, Gamboa-Arana OL, Schumann S, L. Heim, Baehr M, Petzke F, Antal A. No add-on therapeutic benefit of at-home anodal tDCS of the primary motor cortex to mindfulness meditation in patients with fibromyalgia. Clinical Neurophysiology, 2024; 164:168-179.
  • Yong J, Ramasawmy P, Antal A. Uncorking the limitation-Improving dual tasking using transcranial electrical stimulation and task training in the elderly: a systematic review. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, section Neurocognitive Aging and Behavior, 2024 16:1267307.
  • Antal A, Ganho-Ávila A, Barbour T, Assecondi S, Bjekić J, Blumberger DM, Bolognini N, Brunelin J, Chanes L, Dale M, Dubbioso R, D’Urso G, Filipcic I, Filipović S, Hirsntein M, Konings F, Langguth B, Leocani L, Memarian Sorkhabi M, Mulder M, Nikander M, Nowak R, Oliviero A, Onarheim B, O’Shea J, Pallanti S, Rachid, F, Rajão-Saraiva J, Rossi S, Sack AT, Sauvaget A, van der Scheer R, Schellhorn K, Soria-Frisch A, Szekely D, Tankisi H, Taylor PCJ, Tendolkar I, UUsitalo S, Baeken C. The consequences of the new European reclassification of non-invasive brain stimulation devices and the medical device regulations pose an existential threat to research and treatment: an invited opinion paper. Clinical Neurophysiology, 2024;163:280-291.
  • Diedrich L. Kolhoff HI, Vekony T, Chakalov I. Nemeth D, Antal A. Prefrontal Theta—Gamma Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation Improves Non-Declarative Visuomotor Learning in Older Adult. Scientific Report, 2024;14(1):4955
  • Iszak K, Gronemann SM, Meyer S, Hunold A, Zschüntzsch J, Bähr M, Paulus W, Antal A. Why temporal inference stimulation may fail in the human brain: a pilot research study. Biomedicines, 2023;11(7):1813.
  • Divarco R, Ramasawmy P, Petzke, F, Antal A. Stimulated brains and meditative minds: a systematic review on combining low intensity transcranial electrical stimulation and meditation in humans. International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology, 2023;23(3):100369.
  • Antal A, Luber B, Brem AK, Bikson M, Brunoni AR, Cohen Kadosh R, Dubljevic V, Fecteau S, Ferreri F, Flöel A, Hallett M, Hamilton RH, Herrmann CS, Lavidor M, Loo C, Lustenberger C, Machado S, Miniussi C, Moliadze V, Nitsche MA, Rossi S, Rossini PM, Santarnecchi E, Seeck M, Thut G, Turi Zs, Ugawa Y, Venkatasubramanian G, Wenderoth N, Wexler A, Ziemann U, Paulus W. Non-invasive brain stimulation and neuroenhancement. Clinical Neurophysiology Practice, 2022 May 25;7:146-165.
  • Steinmann I, Williams K, Wilke M, Antal A. Detection of tACS aftereffects is improved by considering the individual electric field strength and self-rated sleepiness. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 2022 Jun 27;16:870758.
  • Chakalov I, Antal A, Eckardt SS, Paulus W, Saager L, Meissner K, Bähr M, Moerer O, Stephani C. The role of the TMS stimulation parameters in the activation of the corticospinal pathway to the diaphragm. Clinical Neurophysiology, 2022 Jun;138:173-185.