Cognitive Neuropsychology
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Our Research
The Staudigl Lab studies brain activity and behavior in humans to understand cognition. Our research addresses fundamental questions in cognitive neuroscience by investigating the neural processes underlying various aspects of human cognition, such as perception and memory. To achieve this, we study electrophysiology and its relation to action and behavior in healthy individuals and patients, during wakefulness and sleep. Our work is driven by the following key research questions:
Memory, Navigation and Sleep
One of the lab’s core research areas is human memory. How do we remember? How does the brain encode, store and retrieve memories? We tackle these questions using a multimodal approach with a focus on invasive and non-invasive human electrophysiology. We also study sleep and navigation in both healthy individuals and patients to advance our understanding of the neural mechanisms that support memory processes (see, e.g., Griffiths et al., 2024, Nat. Hum. Beh; Schreiner et al., 2024, Nat. Commun; Schreiner & Staudigl, 2020; Philos. Trans. R. Soc. B; Griffiths et al., 2021, Neuropsychologia; Schreiner et al., 2018, Cell Rep; Staudigl et al., 2017, PLoS Biol).
Subcortical contributions to cognition
Subcortical structures such as the thalamus are thought to critically contribute to human cognition. However, direct access to subcortical neural activity in the human brain is notoriously difficult. In the lab, we use rare direct electrophysiological recordings from deep brain regions, like the thalamus, to investigate its impact on both natural brain states and specific cognitive processes, such as perception and memory. Moving beyond a cortico-centric perspective, our research emphasizes the importance of thalamocortical loops as the neuronal basis of cognition (see, e.g., Chowdhury et al., 2025, biorxiv; Schreiner et al., 2022, Nat. Commun.; Griffiths et al., 2022, Nat. Commun.).
Action shapes cognition
A key research focus of the lab is to understand how action and neural activity interact to shape human cognition. We investigate the coordination of simultaneously recorded human electrophysiology (invasive and non-invasive) and motor behaviors – such as eye and head movements - across various experimental paradigms, aiming to address a fundamental question: does human cognition emerge from a neural system initially designed for action? If so, can we identify the neural circuits that underlie both action and cognition? (see, e.g., Popov & Staudigl, 2023, Prog. Neurobiol.; Staudigl et al., 2022, Sci. Adv.; Staudigl et al., 2018 Curr. Biol.).
Publications
Chowdhury, A., Kaufmann, E., Schreiner, T., Koeglsperger, T., Mehrkens, J. H., Remi, J., ... & Staudigl, T. (2025). Thalamic oscillations distinguish natural states of consciousness in humans. bioRxiv, 2025-01.
- Graichen, L. P., Linder, M. S., Keuter, L., Jensen, O., Doeller, C. F., Lamm, C., Staudigl, T., & Wagner, I. C. (2024). Entorhinal grid-like codes for visual space during memory formation. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.09.27.615339v1.abstract
- Schreiner, T., Griffiths, B.J., Kutlu, M., ... & Staudigl, T. (2024). Spindle-locked ripples mediate memory reactivation during human NREM sleep. Nat Commun 15. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-49572-8
- Griffiths, B. J., Schreiner, T., Schaefer, J. K., Vollmar, C., Kaufmann, E., Quach, S., ... & Staudigl, T. (2024). Electrophysiological signatures of veridical head direction in humans. Nat Hum Behav. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-024-01872-1
- Schaefer, J. K., Engert, V., Valk, S. L., Singer, T., & Puhlmann, L. M. (2024). Mapping Pathways to Neuronal Atrophy in Healthy, Mid-aged Adults: From Chronic Stress to Systemic Inflammation to Neurodegeneration?. Brain, Behavior, & Immunity-Health, 100781. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666354624000590
- Schreiner, T., Petzka, M., Staudigl, T. et al. Respiration modulates sleep oscillations and memory reactivation in humans. Nat Commun 14, 8351 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-43450-5
- Meyer, M., Colloff, M., Bennett, T., Hirata, E., Kohl, A., Stevens, L.M., Smith, H.M.J., Staudigl, T., Flowe, H.D. (2023). Enabling witnesses to actively explore faces and reinstate study-test pose during a lineup increases discriminability. bioRxiv, 2023-010. https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2301845120
- Silva, M., Wu, X., Sabio, M., Conde-Blanco, E., Roldan, P., Donaire, A., ... & Fuentemilla, L. (2023). Neocortico-hippocampal ripple-based coordination during naturalistic encoding. bioRxiv, 2023-09. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.09.27.559739v1
- Griffiths, B.J., Staudigl, T. (2023). Why and How Should I Track Eye-Movements During iEEG Recordings?. In: Axmacher, N. (eds) Intracranial EEG. Studies in Neuroscience, Psychology and Behavioral Economics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-20910-9_14
- Griffiths, B.J., Weinert, D., Jensen, O., Staudigl, T. (2023). Imperceptible gamma-band sensory stimulation enhances episodic memory retrieval. bioRxiv 2023.07.21.550057. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.07.21.550057
- Popov, T., & Staudigl, T. (2023). Cortico-ocular coupling in the service of episodic memory formation. Progress in Neurobiology, 102476. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pneurobio.2023.102476
- Schreiner, T., Griffiths, B.J., Kutlu, M., Vollmar, C., Kaufmann, E., Quach, S., Remi, J., Noachtar, S., Staudigl, T. (2023). Memory reactivation of real-world spatial orientation revealed by human electrophysiology. bioRxiv 2023.01.27.525854; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.01.27.525854
- Griffiths, B.J., Zaehle, T., Repplinger, S., Schmitt, F.C., Voges, J., Hanslmayr, S., Staudigl, T. Rhythmic interactions between the mediodorsal thalamus and prefrontal cortex precede human visual perception. Nat Commun 13, 3736 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-31407-z
- Schreiner, T., Kaufmann, E., Noachtar, S., Mehrkens, J. H., & Staudigl, T. (2022). The human thalamus orchestrates neocortical oscillations during NREM sleep. Nature communications, 13(1), 1-16. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-32840-w
- Wu, X., Viñals, X., Ben-Yakov, A., Staresina, B. P., & Fuentemilla, L. (2022). Post-encoding Reactivation Is Related to Learning of Episodes in Humans. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 1-16.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1162/jocn_a_01934 - Wagner, I.C., Jensen, O., Doeller, C.F., Staudigl, T. (2022). Saccades are coordinated with directed circuit dynamics and stable but distinct hippocampal patterns that promote memory formation. bioRxiv 2022.08.18.504386; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.08.18.504386
- Wu, X., & Fuentemilla, L. (2022). Distinct encoding and post-encoding representational formats contribute to episodic sequence memory formation. bioRxiv. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.08.09.503295v1
- Wu, X., Packard, P. A., García-Arch, J., Bunzeck, N., & Fuentemilla, L. (2023). Contextual incongruency triggers memory reinstatement and the disruption of neural stability. NeuroImage, 273, 120114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120114
- Staudigl, T., Minxha, J., Mamelak, A. N., Gothard, K. M., & Rutishauser, U. (2022). Saccade-related neural communication in the human medial temporal lobe is modulated by the social relevance of stimuli. Science Advances, 8(11), eabl6037. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abl6037
- Leszczynski, M., Chaieb, L., Staudigl, T., Enkirch, S. J., Fell, J., & Schroeder, C. E. (2021). Neural activity in the human anterior thalamus during natural vision. Scientific reports, 11(1), 17480. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-96588-x
- Griffiths, B. J., Martín-Buro, M. C., Staresina, B. P., & Hanslmayr, S. (2021). Disentangling the roles of neocortical alpha/beta and hippocampal theta/gamma oscillations in human episodic memory formation. NeuroImage, 242, 118454. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118454
- Schreiner, T., Petzka, M., Staudigl, T., Staresina B. (2021). Endogenous memory reactivation during sleep in humans is clocked by slow oscillation-spindle complexes. Nat Commun 12, 3112. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-23520-2
- Griffiths, B. J., Martín-Buro, M. C., Staresina, B. P., Hanslmayr, S., & Staudigl, T. (2021). Alpha/beta power decreases during episodic memory formation predict the magnitude of alpha/beta power decreases during subsequent retrieval. Neuropsychologia, 107755. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2021.107755
- Schreiner T. & Staudigl, T. (2020). Electrophysiological signatures of memory reactivation in humans; Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B 375:20190293; http://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2019.0293
- Leszczynski, M., Staudigl, T., Chaieb, L., Enkirch, S. J., Fell, J., & Schroeder, C. E. (2020). Saccadic modulation of neural activity in the human anterior thalamus during visual active sensing. bioRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.03.30.015628
- Mazzetti, C., Staudigl, T., Marshall, T. R., Zumer, J. M., Fallon, S. J., & Jensen, O. (2019). Hemispheric asymmetry of globus pallidus relates to alpha modulation in reward-related attentional tasks. Journal of Neuroscience, 39(46), 9221-9236. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0610-19.2019
- Staudigl, T., & Hanslmayr, S. (2019). Reactivation of neural patterns during memory reinstatement supports encoding specificity. Cognitive Neurscience, 10(4), 175-185. https://doi.org/10.1080/17588928.2019.1621825
- Staudigl, T., Leszczynski, M., Jacobs, J., Sheth, S. A., Schroeder, C. E., Jensen, O., & Doeller, C. F. (2018). Hexadirectional Modulation of High-Frequency Electrophysiological Activity in the Human Anterior Medial Temporal Lobe Maps Visual Space. Curr Biol, 28(20), 3325-3329. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2018.09.035
- Schreiner, T., Doeller, C. F., Jensen, O., Rasch, B., & Staudigl, T. (2018). Theta phase-coordinated memory reactivation reoccurs in a slow-oscillatory rhythm during NREM sleep. Cell Reports, 25(2), 296-301. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2018.09.037
- Westner, B. U., Dalal, S. S., Hanslmayr, S., & Staudigl, T. (2018). Across-subjects classification of stimulus modality from human MEG high frequency activity. PLoS Comput Biol, 14(3), e1005938. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1005938
- Staudigl, T., Hartl, E., Noachtar, S., Doeller, C. F., & Jensen, O. (2017). Saccades are phase-locked to alpha oscillations in the occipital and medial temporal lobe during successful memory encoding. PLoS Biol, 15(12), e2003404. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.2003404
- Leszczynski, M., & Staudigl, T. (2016). Memory-guided attention in the anterior thalamus. Neurosci Biobehav Rev, 66, 163-165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.04.015
- Jurewicz, K., Cordi, M. J., Staudigl, T., & Rasch, B. (2016). No evidence for memory decontextualization across one night of sleep. Frontiers in human neuroscience, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2016.00007
- Staudigl, T., Vollmar, C., Noachtar, S., & Hanslmayr, S. (2015). Temporal-pattern similarity analysis reveals the beneficial and detrimental effects of context reinstatement on human memory. J Neurosci, 35(13), 5373-5384. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4198-14.2015
- Hanslmayr, S., & Staudigl, T. (2014). How brain oscillations form memories--a processing based perspective on oscillatory subsequent memory effects. Neuroimage, 85 Pt 2, 648-655. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2013.05.121
- Ferreira, C. S., Marful, A., Staudigl, T., Bajo, T., & Hanslmayr, S. (2014). Medial prefrontal theta oscillations track the time course of interference during selective memory retrieval. J Cogn Neurosci, 26(4), 777-791.
https://doi.org/10.1162/jocn_a_00523 - Staudigl, T., & Hanslmayr, S. (2013). Theta oscillations at encoding mediate the context-dependent nature of human episodic memory. Curr Biol, 23(12), 1101-1106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2013.04.074
- Staudigl, T., Zaehle, T., Voges, J., Hanslmayr, S., Esslinger, C., Hinrichs, H., . . . Richardson-Klavehn, A. (2012). Memory signals from the thalamus: early thalamocortical phase synchronization entrains gamma oscillations during long-term memory retrieval. Neuropsychologia, 50(14), 3519-3527. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2012.08.023
- Wimber, M., Maass, A., Staudigl, T., Richardson-Klavehn, A., & Hanslmayr, S. (2012). Rapid memory reactivation revealed by oscillatory entrainment. Curr Biol, 22(16), 1482-1486. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2012.05.054
- Hanslmayr, S., Staudigl, T., & Fellner, M. C. (2012). Oscillatory power decreases and long-term memory: the information via desynchronization hypothesis. Front Hum Neurosci, 6, 74. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2012.00074
- Hanslmayr, S., Volberg, G., Wimber, M., Oehler, N., Staudigl, T., Hartmann, T., ... & Bäuml, K. H. T. (2012). Prefrontally driven downregulation of neural synchrony mediates goal-directed forgetting. Journal of Neuroscience, 32(42), 14742-14751. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1777-12.2012
Our group
Prof. Dr. Tobias Staudigl
Professor | PI Research Group Cognitive Neuropsychology
Associated Researchers
Contact
- Address
- Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich
Department Psychology
Cognitive Neuropsychology
Leopoldstraße 13
80802 Munich
Germany - Secretary
- Maleen Leppek