Thomas Stephan

Dr. Thomas Stephan serves as a Researcher at the Department of Neurology, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU), working as a Scientist at the German Center for Vertigo and Balance Disorders within Munich University Hospital. He is part of Prof. Dieterich's experimental neurology research group, focusing on advanced neuroimaging techniques and vestibular system analysis. His institutional affiliation places him within one of the world's top 20 neurology clinics as recognized by Newsweek's 2025 ranking.

Stephan's research centers on functional neuroimaging, visual-vestibular and visual-auditory interactions, multisensory processing, and specialized statistical analysis of neuroimaging data. His work bridges clinical neuroscience and sensorimotor research, investigating how the brain integrates sensory inputs for spatial orientation and balance. Key areas include vestibular pathway mapping, neural plasticity in response to vestibular loss, and age-related changes in vestibular-cortical networks. His methodologies heavily utilize fMRI, DTI, and galvanic vestibular stimulation to explore fundamental neural mechanisms.

Analysis of his publication record (2002-2016) reveals consistent focus on vestibular neuroscience with evolving technical sophistication. Early work established foundational understanding of cerebellar activation during eye movements and methodological artifacts in fMRI, while later research expanded into network-level analysis of vestibular processing, aging effects, and cross-modal sensory integration. His contributions demonstrate progression from basic vestibular physiology to complex systems neuroscience, with particular emphasis on the thalamocortical vestibular network and its interactions with visual and auditory systems.

He operates within LMU's Neurological Clinic and Polyclinic, which integrates 350+ professionals across Großhadern and city center campuses. The department's research infrastructure supports his work through the German Center for Vertigo and Balance Disorders and experimental neurology facilities, enabling translational research from basic mechanisms to clinical applications in balance disorders.