Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering

Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering

We aim at understanding system-level dynamic functions of the human brain, mind, and body. The research, enabled by state-of-the-art technology and computational methods, leads to discoveries and technological breakthroughs that contribute to health and wellbeing. We bring together systems and cognitive neuroscience, biophysics, and biomedical engineering.

Illustration of combined TMS and EEG methods

Research

We focus on biomedical engineering, biophysics, and brain research. We combine experimental and computational methods and develop algorithms as well as new technologies to tackle major problems in human well-being and medical diagnostics. The levels of description range from molecular and cellular measures to noninvasive neuroimaging and behaviour. New generations of multidisciplinary scientists and engineers are educated by engaging them with cutting-edge science and technology.

The grand challenges in brain research are in better understanding the function of the human brain in health and disease, as studied in well-controlled and increasingly complex experimental settings, including during social interaction.

Ala-Laurila Lab

We study novel signal processing mechanisms and their adaptive dynamics at the synaptic and cellular-element level across the entire neural circuit of the retina.

Ala-Laurila Lab

Attention and Memory

In the Attention and Memory group, we investigate the neural mechanisms underlying attention and memory and the development of executive functions in healthy children, adolescents and adults, and in children with neurodevelopmental disorders.

Aalto University/Attention and memory group

Brain and Mind Laboratory

We are studying human cognitive, social, and affective functions in health and disorders. We use real-life like stimuli, such as movies and narrated stories, during fMRI and MEG/EEG, to engage social cognition and affective processes in experimental subjects.

Aalto University/Brain and Mind Laboratory

Cellular Biophysics

Our main interest is in the molecular mechanisms of photoreceptor signaling and increasingly in the mechanisms of neurodegeneration in certain retinal diseases.

Aalto-yliopisto, liput / kuvaaja: Aino Huovio

Empathy Building Neuro-lab

Empathy is a multifaceted and elusive phenomenon. Our multi-national lab investigates empathy at multiple levels.

Illustration by Yoni Levy; the “Virtual Reality” icon by Nikita Kozin is taken from thenounproject.com (CC attribution), and slightly modified.

Engineered Nanosystems

Our work aims at generating new insight on the physics and operation of photonic devices to improve their performance and to develop predictive physical models in close collaboration with experimentalists and enterprises.

Aalto-yliopisto, liput / kuvaaja: Aino Huovio

Imaging Language

Our group's work is necessary for a scientific description of language processing in a healthy human brain, but essential in providing the groundwork for an informed and efficient description and treatment of developmental and acquired language disorders.

Aalto University/Imaging language

Medical Image Computing

We develop AI tools for automatically analyzing medical imaging data.

"Accurate and robust whole-head segmentation from magnetic resonance images for individualized head modeling“ by Puonti et al. NeuroImage (2020), licensed under CC-BY-NC-ND

Medical Ultrasonics Laboratory (MEDUSA)

The main research goal of MEDUSA is to create novel technologies exploiting non-linear ultrasonics for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes.

MEDUSA

MEG-MRI Brain Imaging Group

In the MEG-MRI group, we develop techniques and instrumentation for neuroscience and medicine, electromagnetic neuroimaging in particular.

MEG-MRI prototype and application

Molecular Nanoengineering

The Molecular Nanoengineering group operates at the interface between nanoscience, molecular self-assembly, DNA nanotechnology and nanoplasmonics with particular focus on DNA-based artificial molecular systems with functionalities tailored for biosensing, nanophotonics and biomimetics.

Molecular Nanoengineering

Multimodal Imaging of Aging

We study cognitive aging, and the structural and functional changes that take place in the brain as a consequence of normal aging and neurodegeneration. To do so, we combine functional measures from magnetoencephalography (MEG) and electroencephalography (EEG), with structural measures based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Illustration by Mia Liljeström. Five images of the human brain seen from different angles.

Near-infrared spectroscopy and imaging group (NIRS)

The near-infrared spectroscopy and imaging (NIRSI) group at NBE is developing frequency domain instrumentation for High-Density Diffuse Optical Tomography (HD-DOT) primarily for neuroimaging applications.

Aalto-yliopisto, liput / kuvaaja: Aino Huovio

Neurodesign Lab

Our group studies the translational potential and specific activation of C-tactile afferent neural fibers.

Two hands gently touching a brain.

Neuroimaging methods group (NIMEG)

We work at the intersection of neuroscience and neurotechnology by developing novel measurement and analysis methods for studying human brain structure and function, as well as applying these methods to address important and challenging research questions in both basic and clinical neuroscience.

Left: OPM and SQUID sensor layouts. Right: OPM-MEG measurement session.

Sensorimotor Systems Neuroscience (MOTOR) group

We study structure and function of the healthy and diseased human sensorimotor system.

Sensorimotor systems group photos by Harri Piitulainen

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

TMS group conducts research on three interconnected areas: the group carries out neurophysiological experiments and develops methods for TMS–EEG signal analysis as well as instrumentation for TMS.

ConnecToBrain project, illustration by Otto Olavinen

Translational Cognitive Neuroscience Lab (Salmi Lab)

Salmi's Lab for naturalistic neuroscience, attention, and ADHD research

Picture showing the Translational Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratoty's research direction

Teaching

The Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering provides courses on Bachelor's, Master's and doctoral levels.

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Lecture on the BEST course in Life Science Technologies on 8 October 2019. Photo by Jaakko Järvinen.
Brain and Mind Symposium 2019 in Dipoli, Otaniemi. Photo by Jaakko Järvinen.

Doctoral Programme Brain & Mind

The Doctoral Programme Brain & Mind (B&M) is a doctoral education network for students at the University of Helsinki and Aalto University whose thesis work relates to the study of brain and mind.

Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering
Students in front of whiteboard, photo by Unto Rautio / Aalto Material bank

Courses

Courses taught at NBE listed in reverse chronological order (most recent first).

Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering
TMS-EEG Summer School 2016, photo by Lari Koponen

Special courses

Summer schools, workshops and special courses taught at NBE listed in reverse chronological order (most recent first).

Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering

Aalto NeuroImaging (ANI) Infrastructure

ANI research infrastructure houses three functional neuroimaging modalities, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) at Advanced Magnetic Imaging (AMI) Centre, magnetoencephalography (MEG) at MEG Core and Aalto Behavioral Laboratory (ABL).

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ANI
Aalto Yliopisto Brain Centre

Aalto Brain Centre (ABC)

ABC is a neuroscience and neurotechnology initiative of the Aalto University. ABC is a thematic center, formed by research teams of several departments of the Aalto University School of Science (Aalto SCI), including the Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering. ABC aims to stimulate synergy and collaboration in research on systems-level neuroscience, neuroimaging, and neurotechnology.

Learn more!

News

Natal Mind winning team, photo by Polar Bear Pitching
Awards and Recognition Published:

Pitching in ice cold water and childbirth are both leaps into the unknown

The Natal Mind research team won the Polar Bear Pitching competition last weekend in Oulu. Obstetrician Aura Pyykönen tells us what it was like to pitch in the ice-cold water. Annika Järvelin, Riikka Lemmetyinen and Henni Tenhunen are other members of the winning team at Aalto Department of Industrial Engineering and Management.
Bodily maps of musical sensations across cultures, illustration by Vesa Putkinen.
Research & Art Published:

Music causes similar emotions and bodily sensations across cultures

Music can be felt directly in the body. When we hear our favourite catchy song, we are overcome by the urge to move to the music. Music can activate our autonomic nervous system and even send shivers down your spine. A new study shows how emotional music evokes these bodily sensations and how the response is similar across cultures.
SCI Dean's lunch
Awards and Recognition Published:

SCI Awards 2023 celebrate the people of our school

Check out whose outstanding work was acknowledged this year!
Koos Zevenhoven, photo by Oona Hilli
Research & Art Published:

Koos Zevenhoven: The scientific world doesn't know this kind of unusual path very well

'There have also been PhD students in my group, and I haven’t been able to officially act as their advisor. Some of my students have finished their PhD before me.'

Events

Privacy in Speech Technology Research
Lectures and seminars, Staff trainings, Support for teams, Training to support research

Privacy in Speech Technology Research, Mar 21, 2024

Learn about privacy in speech technology research with Professor Tom Bäckström from the School of Electrical Engineering.
How to Store Research Data
Lectures and seminars, Staff trainings, Support for teams, Training to support research

How to Store Research Data, Mar 26, 2024

Learn about storing research data safely with Data Agents Ilari Lähteenmäki and Dan Häggman.
A nearly profiled angle captures a semi-transparent human head merged with a brain MRI slice, featuring various labelling techni
Public defences

Public defence in Engineering Physics, Biomedical Engineering, M.Sc. Antonios Thanellas

Advancing Segmentation of Intracranial Structures in Brain Imaging (title of the thesis)
Exploring AI analysis of qualitative data
Lectures and seminars, Staff trainings, Support for teams, Training to support research

Exploring AI analysis of qualitative data, Apr 9, 2024

Learn about the possibilities of AI in analysing qualitative data with Staff Scientist & Data Agent Dr. Enrico Glerean.

Contact us

Health Technology House

Otakaari 3 & Rakentajanaukio 2

Otakaari 3. Aalto University Campus and Real Estate.

Magnet house

Otakaari 5 I

magneettitalo

Nanotalo building

Puumiehenkuja 2

Nanotalo. Puumiehenkuja 2. Kuva / Image: Aalto-yliopisto / Mikko Raskinen / Aalto University

Micronova

Tietotie 3

Micronova cleanroom kuva: Aino Huovio
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