Evaluation, exploration and action: The role of the PPN

The project tests the hypothesis that the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) is involved in motivational processes. Using functional neuroimaging and recordings of PPN field potentials in patients receiving PPN stimulation for clinical purposes, it will be assessed whether the PPN codes contextual relations of sensory stimuli (e.g. in multimodal integration, conditioning) and/or associations between cue, action and consequences. Here, contrasting behavioral data obtained with PPN stimulation on vs. off will differentiate whether the PPN is causally involved in these processes.

A11E Publications