May 21-22, 2026
Bangor Imaging Cerebral Physiology lab visit @ REVAL

We had the pleasure of meeting with our colleagues from the Bangor Imaging Cerebral Physiology lab (Wales), led by Prof. dr. Paul Mullins.

This meeting was organised in the context of the FWO Scientific Research Networks grant, which was awarded to Prof. dr. Koen Cuypers and Prof. dr. Paul Mullins.

During these two productive days, we shared insights from our ongoing research and brainstormed innovative and impactful ideas for future collaborations.

We are looking forward to the groundbreaking work this partnership will bring to the field!

March – May 2026
Internship at Oxford

Svitlana finalised a 3-month stay at the FMRIB Centre, University of Oxford. Svitlana improved her skillset on (Ultra-High Field) Magnetic Resonance Imaging and MR Spectroscopy data-analysis (FSL-MRS, William Clarke & Saad Jbabdi). I am very thankful to Svitlana’s co-supervisor Charlotte Stagg and her team for the amazing and warm experience and providing Svitlana with this opportunity. I am also grateful to the Research Foundation Flanders – FWO for providing Svitlana with a grant for this research stay.

April 21, 2026
New paper!

We are pleased to share our new paper:
“Type 2 diabetes is related to neurochemical alterations in the default mode network: An exploratory cross-sectional magnetic resonance spectroscopy study“

•Findings suggest regional alterations in brain energy metabolism in T2DM.

•T2DM group showed reduced tNAA and tCho (PFC), tCr (PCC), and GSH (hippocampus).

•Various brain metabolite levels may be correlated to blood glucose control.

•Considering glucose control as a continuum might offer more sensitivity.

•HERCULES ¹H-MRS allowed more metabolites to be quantified simultaneously.

Read the full article here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2026.121949

April 15-16, 2026
Setting-up 7T MR Spectroscopy

Together with Ralph Noeske, Melina Hehl and Koen Cuypers have been involved in setting-up the MRS sequences on the new Inter-University GE SIGNA 7T at the Research Park in Zellik.

March 24th, 2026
New paper!

We are pleased to share our new paper, titled:
“Age-specific relationship between the modulation of brain dynamics
in response to task demands and bimanual performance“

This study highlights the potential role of BOLD variability modulation in shaping bimanual performance during aging. While younger adults appear to benefit
from neural stability, older adults may rely on dynamic modulation of variability, particularly in visuospatial and cerebellar networks, to compensate for declining
efficiency. These findings complement existing neurocognitive aging theories by identifying BOLD variability modulation as a potential biomarker of neural adaptability and resilience, with relevance for maintaining sensorimotor function in later life.

Read the full article here: https://www.aging-us.com/article/206363/text

October 31st, 2025
Dr. Shanti Van Malderen

Shanti successfully defended her Phd titled: “The aging cerebellum: how differences in inhibition and neurometabolite levels relate to motor function”

We are incredible thankfully to work with Shanti in the past years. She is a true team player and we will mis her unending positivism.

July 7th, 2025
New paper alert!

We are pleased to share that our new paper, titled:
“Cerebellar Brain Inhibition and Its Association with Motor Inhibition and Reaction Time in Younger and Older Adults”, has been published in ‘The Cerebellum’.
We used dual-site TMS to examine resting cerebellar-brain inhibition (CBI) and its link to motor performance across age groups.

While older adults showed slower reaction times and reduced response inhibition, we found no age-related differences in resting CBI, nor associations between CBI and motor outcomes.
These findings suggest that resting-state CBI may not reflect functional cerebellar contributions to motor decline.

Read the full article here: https://rdcu.be/euSXG