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B03

B03: Multimodal cerebral representation of action concepts

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Publications

Talks & Posters

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Funding period 1: 01.07.2011 – 30.06.2015

Funding period 2: 01.07.2015 – 30.06.2019

Project B03 investigates the distributed representation of action concepts in the brain with respect to localization and functional interactions in the framework of grounded cognition and frame representations. B03 concentrates on multimodal cerebral representations of action verbs, i.e., on different qualities of actions concerning sound and visible motion and their relation to activation patterns of corresponding brain areas. To this end, B03 will focus on hand-, foot- and mouth action and non-movement actions using behavioral experiments as well as magnetoencephalography (MEG) and transcranial current stimulation (tCS).

Heads of the project

PD Dr. Katja Biermann-Ruben
Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf
Institut für Klinische Neurowissenschaften und Medizinische Psychologie
Universitätsstr. 1
40225 Düsseldorf
Phone: +49 211 81-121 61
Email: k.biermann-ruben@uni-duesseldorf.de

Alfons Schnitzler
Neurologische Klinik
Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf
Moorenstr. 5
40225 Düsseldorf
Phone: +49 211 81-130 14
Email: schnitza@uni-duesseldorf.de

Staff

Dr. Valentina Niccolai
Phone: +49 211 81-130 74
Email: valentina.niccolai@uni-duesseldorf.de

Dr. Anne Klepp
Phone: +49 211 81-130 16
Email: anne.klepp@uni-duesseldorf.de

2019

Niccolai, V. Korczok, S., Finis, J., Jonas, M., Thomalla, G., Siebner, H.-R., Müller-Vahl, K., Münchau, A., Schnitzler, A. & Biermann-Ruben, K. (2019). A peek into premonitory urges in Tourette syndrome: temporal evolution of neurophysiological oscillatory signatures. Parkinsonism and Related Disorders 65: 153-158. doi: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2019.05.039 [pdf]

Bekemeier, N., Brenner, D., Klepp, A., Biermann-Ruben, K., & Indefrey, P. (2019) Electrophysiological correlates of concept type shifts. PLoS One, 14(3): e0212624. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0212624. [pdf]

2017

Niccolai, V., Klepp, A., Indefrey, P., Schnitzler, A. & Biermann-Ruben, K. (2017) Semantic discrimination impacts tDCS modulation of verb processing. Scientific Reports 7, 17162: 1-11. [pdf]

Klepp , A., Niccolai, V., Sieksmeyer, J., Arnzen, S., Indefrey, P., Schnitzler, A. & Biermann-Ruben, K. (2017) Body-part specific interactions of action verb processing with motor behaviour. Behavioural Brain Research 328: 149-158.

2016

Cao, L., Klepp, A., Schnitzler, A., Gross, J. & Biermann-Ruben, K. (published online June 21, 2016) Auditory perception modulated by word reading. Experimental Brain Research. [html] [pdf]

Niccolai, V., van Dijk, H. Franzkowiak, S., Finis, J., Südmeyer, M., Jonas, M., Thomalla, G., Siebner, H.R. Müller-Vahl, K., Münchau, A., Schnitzler, A., & Biermann-Ruben, K. (2016) Increased beta rhythm as an indicator of inhibitory mechanisms in Tourette syndrome. Movement Disorders 31(3): 384-392.

2015

Klepp, A., Niccolai, V., Buccino, G., Schnitzler, A. & Biermann-Ruben, K. (2015). Language-motor interference reflected in MEG beta oscillations. Neuroimage 109: 438-448.

2014

Niccolai, V., Klepp, A., Weissler, H., Hoogenboom, N., Schnitzler, A. & Biermann-Ruben, K. (accepted 22.08.2014) Grasping Hand Verbs: Oscillatory Beta and Alpha Correlates of Action-Word Processing. PloS One 9(9): e108059. [html]

Klepp, A., Weissler, H. Niccolai, V., Terhalle, A., Geisler, H., Schnitzler, A. & Biermann-Ruben, K. (2014) Neuromagnetic hand and foot motor sources recruited during action verb processing. Brain & Language 128: 41-52. [pubmed link]

Thomalla, G., Jonas, M., Bäumer, T., Siebner, H.R., Biermann-Ruben, K., Ganos, C., Orth, M., Hummel, F.C., Gerloff, C., Müller-Vahl, K., Schnitzler, A. & Münchau, A. (2014) Costs of control: decreased motor cortex engagement during a Go/NoGo task in Tourette’s syndrome. Brain 137 (Pt1): 122- 136. [pubmed link]

2013

Hirschmann, J., Hartmann, C. J., Butz, M., Hoogenboom, N., Özkurt, T. E., Elben, S., Vesper, J., Wojtecki, L. & Schnitzler, A. (2013) A direct relationship between oscillatory subthalamic nucleus-cortex coupling and rest tremor in Parkinson’s disease. Brain 136 (12): 3659-3670. [pubmed link]

2012

Biermann-Ruben, K., Miller, A., Franzkowiak, S., Paszek, J., Pollok, B., Wach, C., Südmeyer, M., Jonas, M., Thomalla, G., Münchau, A., Müller-Vahl, K. & Schnitzler, A. (2012) Increased sensory feedback in Tourette Syndrome. Neuroimage 63(1): 119-125. [pubmed link]

Niccolai, V., Wascher, E. & Stoerig, P. (2012). Distinct neural processes in grapheme-colour synaesthetes and semantic controls. Eur J Neurosci 36 , 3593-3601. [pubmed link]

2019

Biermann-Ruben, K. (2019) “Laufen” im Gehirn – MEG-Signaturen von Aktionsverben. Talk presented at the Conference of the German Society for Clinical Neurophysiology and Functional Imaging (DGKN), Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany, March 28-30.

Niccolai, V., Klepp, A., van Dijk, H., Schnitzler, A. & Biermann-Ruben, K. (2019) Auditory cortex sensitivity to the loudness attribute of body-related verbs. Poster presented at the International Conference 20th Herbstakademie – Synchronization in Embodied Interaction, Freiburg, Germany, February 28 – March 2.

2018

Niccolai, V., Klepp, A., van Dijk, H., Schnitzler, A. & Biermann-Ruben, K. (2018) Cortical oscillatory signal correlates of action loudness and movement amount. Talk presented at the International Conference Cognitive Structures 2018, Düsseldorf, Germany, September 12-14.

Naumann, R., Petersen, W. & Biermann-Ruben, K. (2018) The interaction of action verbs and adverbs in the brain: an approach in frame theory. Talk presented at the International Conference Cognitive Structures 2018, Düsseldorf, Germany, September 12-14.

Klepp, A., van Dijk, H., Niccolai, V., Schnitzler, A. & Biermann-Ruben, K. (2018) Verb-effector priming in motor behaviour and neuronal oscillations. Poster presented at the 21st International Conference on Biomagnetism, Philadelphia, USA, August 26-30.

Niccolai, V., Klepp, A., van Dijk, H., Schnitzler, A. & Biermann-Ruben, K. (2018) Auditory cortex sensitivity to the loudness attribute of body-related verbs. Poster presented at the 11th Embodied & Situated Language Processing Conference, Lancaster, UK, August 10-12.

Henkel, J., van de Vijver, R., Hartmann, C., Schnitzler, A. & Biermann-Ruben, K. (2018) Speech impairment in Parkinson’s Disease. Poster presented at the 20th Forum of European Neuroscience, Berlin, Germany, July 7-11.

Biermann-Ruben, K., Klepp, A., Niccolai, V. & Schnitzler, A. (2018) Action verb – reaction – interaction: behavioural and brain data. Invited by Markus Kiefer, Symposium: Sensory and motor foundations of conceptual cognition, TeaP, Marburg, Germany, March 11th-14th.

2017

Bekemeier, N., Brenner, T., Biermann-Ruben, K. & Indefrey, P. (2017) The Processing of Conceptual Shifts:an ERP Study. Poster presented at the 9th International Conference of the Society for the Neurobiology of Language (official satellite of SFN), Maryland, USA, November 8 – 10.

Klepp, A. (2017) Verb-motor interactions – do “boxing” and “knitting” prime hand actions equally?” Talk presented at the international workshop: The motor system in action; Potsdam, Germany; invited by Claudia Gianelli & Riccardo Dalla Volta, March 9-10.

Niccolai, V. (2017) The embodied language: a verbal-motor cross-talk. Invited by Jessica Saenger, Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf.

2016

Klepp, A., van Dijk, H., Niccolai, V., Schnitzler, A. & Biermann-Ruben, K. (2016) Oscillatory signatures of hand and foot verb-movement congruency in a double dissociation paradigm. Poster presented at the 20th International Conference on Biomagnetism (Biomag), Seoul, Korea, October 1-6.

Sieksmeyer, J., Klepp, A., Niccolai, V., Schnitzler, A. & Biermann-Ruben, K. (2016) Influence of manner adverbs on action verb processing. Talk presented at Cognitive Structures, Duesseldorf, September 15-17.

Niccolai, V. (2016) Oscillatory indicators of inhibitory mechanisms in Tourette syndrome. Invited by Christian Bellebaum, Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf.

Niccolai, V., Korczok, S.V., van Dijk, H., Franzkowiak, S., Finis, J., Südmeyer, M., Jonas, M., Thomalla, G., Siebner, H.R., Müller-Vahl, K., Münchau, A., Schnitzler, A. & Biermann-Ruben, K. (2016) Brain oscillatory signatures of compensatory mechanisms in Tourette syndrome. Poster presesented at the 9th European Conference on Tourette Syndrome and Tic disorders, Warsaw, Poland, June 8-11.

Biermann-Ruben, K. (2016) Assessment probabilities serving as device to implement attributes. Invited by Henk Zeevat & Ruben Van de Vijver, talk at the workshop Probabilities and Frames, Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, Germany, May 23.

Biermann-Ruben, K. & Niccolai, V. (2016) Sensorimotor interaction in tourette syndrome. Symposium hosted at the Conference of the German Society for Clinical Neurophysiology and Functional Imaging (DGKN), Düsseldorf, Germany, March 16-19.

Niccolai, V., Klepp, A., Indefrey, P., Schnitzler, A. & Biermann-Ruben, K. (2016) Modulatory effect of motor cortex stimulation on semantic priming. Poster presented at the Conference of the German Society for Clinical Neurophysiology and Functional Imaging (DGKN), Düsseldorf, Germany, March 16-19.

2015

Biermann-Ruben, K. (2015) Sensorimotor contribution to language processing. Invited by Tobias Kalenscher, Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf.

Niccolai, V., Klepp, A., Indefrey, P., Schnitzler, A. & Biermann-Ruben, K. (2015) Modulatory effect of motor cortex stimulation on semantic priming. Poster presented at the Conference for Embodied and Situated Language (ESLP), Lyon, France, July 29-30.

Klepp, A., Niccolai, V., Indefrey, P., Schnitzler, A. & Biermann-Ruben, K. (2015) Priming of hand and foot motor reactions by reading action verbs. Poster presented at the Conference for Embodied and Situated Language (ESLP), Lyon, France, July 29-30.

Cao, L., Klepp, A., Schnitzler, A., Gross, J. & Biermann-Ruben, K. (2015) Auditory perception modulated by word reading. Poster presented at the International Convention of Psychological Science (ICPS), Amsterdam, The Netherlands, March 12-14.

2014

Niccolai, V., Franzkowiak, S., Finis, J., Südmeyer, M., Jonas, M., Thomalla, G.,, Siebner, H.R., Müller-Vahl, K., Münchau, A., Schnitzler, A. & Biermann-Ruben, K. (2014) Oscillatory characteristics of Tourette patients compared to matched controls. Poster presented at the MEG-Symposium Tübingen, Germany, October 27-28.

Klepp, A., Niccolai, V., Buccino, G., Schnitzler, A. & Biermann-Ruben, K. (2014) Interferenz zwischen Verbverarbeitung und Motorik moduliert durch Vorstellbarkeit. Poster presented at the Conference of German Psychological Society (DGPS), Bochum, Germany September 21-25.

Sieksmeyer, J., Klepp, A., Niccolai, V., Indefrey, P., Schnitzler, A., & Biermann-Ruben, K. (2014) Motor priming by action-related verbs. Talk presented at the 4th international conference on Concept Types and Frames, Düsseldorf, Germany, August 25-27.

Klepp, A., Niccolai, V., Buccino, G., Schnitzler, A. & Biermann-Ruben, K. (2014) Language-motor interference reflected in beta oscillations. Poster presented at the 19th international Conference on Biomagnetism, Halifax, Canada August 24-28.

Klepp, A., Niccolai, V., Buccino, G., Schnitzler, A. & Biermann-Ruben, K. (2014) Language-motor interference reflected in MEG beta oscillations. Poster presented at the 20th Human Brain Brain Mapping Conference, Hamburg, Germany, June 8-12.

Niccolai, V., Franzkowiak, S., Finis, J., Südmeyer, M., Jonas, M., Thomalla, G., Siebner, H., Müller-Vahl, K., Münchau, A., Schnitzler, A. & Biermann-Ruben, K. (2014) Neural oscillatory evidence of compensatory inhibitory mechanism in Tourette patients. Poster presented at the 58th Congress of the German society for clinical neurophysiology and functional imaging (DGKN), Berlin, Germany, March 20-23; Klinische Neurophysiologie 45 – P62.

2013

Klepp, A., Niccolai, V., Buccino, G., Schnitzler, A. & Biermann-Ruben, K. (2013) Interference of action verb processing with motor responses is modulated by imageability. Talk presented at the 6th annual Conference on Embodied and Situated Language Processing (ESLP), Potsdam, Germany, July 29-31. [Abstract in Conference Proceedings up Transfer p. 9-10]

Klepp, A., Weissler, H., Niccolai, V., Schnitzler, A. & Biermann-Ruben, K. (2013) Motorische Dipolquellen erfassen Verarbeitung von Aktionsverben. Poster presented at the 57th annual Congress of the German society for clinical neurophysiology and functional imaging (DGKN), Leipzig, Germany, March 21-23; Klinische Neurophysiologie 44 – P106.

Niccolai, V., Klepp, A., Weissler, H., Hoogenboom N., Schnitzler, A. & Biermann-Ruben, K. (2013) Motorkortikale Modulationen im Beta-Frequenzband durch Aktionsverben. Poster presented at the 57th annual Congress of the German society for clinical neurophysiology and functional imaging (DGKN), Leipzig, Germany, March 21-23; Klinische Neurophysiologie 44 – P107.

2012

Klepp, A., Niccolai, V., Weissler, H., Schnitzler, A. & Biermann-Ruben, K. (2012) Beta band modulation by silent action verb reading. Poster presented at the Donders Discussions, Nijmegen, The Netherlands, October 25-26.

Weissler, H., Klepp, A., Niccolai, V., Schnitzler, A. & Biermann-Ruben, K. (2012) Neural activation to actions performed with hands and legs – real movements versus action verb reading. Talk presented at the 3rd International Conference on Concept Types & Frames in Language, Cognition & Science, Duesseldorf, Germany, August 22-24. [Slides/PDF]

Klepp, A. (2012) Cognitive processing of action-related German verbs. Talk presented at the Typologica, Düsseldorf, Germany, July 19-21.

2011

Miller, A., Biermann-Ruben, K., Franzkowiak, S., Paszek, J., Pollok, B., Münchau, A. & Schnitzler, A. (2011) Bereitschaftsfeld beim Tourette-Syndrom (Bereitschaftsfeld in Tourette Syndrome). Poster presented at the 2nd Congress of the Medical Research School, Düsseldorf, Germany, June 17th.

Biermann-Ruben, K., K., Miller, A., Franzkowiak, S., Paszek, J., Pollok, B., Jonas, M., Thomalla, G., Münchau, A., Schnitzler, A. (2011) Verstärkte sensorische Rückmeldung nach eigener Bewegung beim Tourette Syndrom (Enhanced sensory feedback in tourette syndrome) Poster presented at the 55th annual Congress of the German society for clinical neurophysiology and functional imaging (DGKN), Münster, Germany, March 16-19.

15.–17.09.2016 Cognitive Structures (CoSt16, all projects)
25.–27.08.2014 Concept Types and Frames in Language, Cognition, and Science (CTF14, all projects)
22.–24.08.2012 Concept Types and Frames in Language, Cognition, and Science (CTF12, all projects)
01.–03.12.2011 Sensory-Motor Concepts in Language and Cognition (Conference)