Frank Angenstein

Frank Angenstein is a Professor and Group Leader at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) in Magdeburg, focusing on advancing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) for neuroscience and clinical applications.

His research centers on three interconnected domains:

• Neurophysiological basis of fMRI: Developing simultaneous fMRI-electrophysiology techniques in rodent models to decode how neuronal activity translates to hemodynamic responses.
• Dopamine-hippocampal interactions: Using optogenetic, pharmacogenetic, and electrical stimulation to probe dopaminergic modulation of hippocampal function.
• Network connectivity: Mapping hippocampal interactions with subcortical/cortical regions (nucleus accumbens, prefrontal cortex) and how pathologies like tau deposition disrupt these circuits.

His group leverages 9.4T small-animal fMRI scanners to establish causal links between neural activity and imaging signals, aiming to transform fMRI into a diagnostic tool for neurodegenerative disorders by clarifying neurovascular coupling mechanisms.