Department of Neuroscience

The prefrontal cortex is the centre for advanced cerebral function – it is here our impressions of the world are formed, plans forged and decisions made. By studying the real-time activity of neurons, Marie Carlén maps the functions of the prefrontal cortex.

“From Neanderthals to pandemics”, a lecture series in collaboration with UR Samtiden. In one of the episodes, Hugo Zeberg explains which risk factors may have an impact on why some people get seriously ill with COVID-19. All lectures are in Swedish and available at UR Play.

Torkel Klingberg is a professor of neurology at the Karolinska Institute and is interested in how our various circumstances – our genes, socioeconomic circumstances and length of education – can affect how our cognitive abilities develop.

Many of us get headaches from time to time, without it causing too much trouble. But for those who suffer from migraines, or worse from cluster headaches, it may imply a severe disability. Andrea Carmine Belin’s research focuses on the genetics behind cluster headache, a condition sometimes referred to as “suicide headache”.

Sherlock Holmes was an idol when she was a child and her mother suggested the research profession early on. But it was not a straight path to science for Marie Carlén. Today she leads advanced studies on the part of the brain that shapes us as individuals.

Björn Meister at the Department of Neuroscience is awarded the 2022 prize for his long-standing commitment to teaching at several of Karolinska Institutet's educational programmes.

Hugo Zeberg's research focuses on different gene variants, inherited from the Neanderthal, and how they affect fertility and the risk of being infected by various diseases. Listen to episode #67 of Medicinvetarna to find out more (in Swedish).

He also answers the question whether humans have developed genetically at all since the Stone Age, in episode #76.

Read some of the department's previous news and articles.