Metabolic Neuroimaging

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Our research focuses on identifying neurobiological mechanisms associated with obesity and diabetes in humans using neuroimaging and neuromodulation methods. We are also investigating the role of brain-body interactions in the development of brain insulin action across the lifespan from the fetus to the elderly. Other research includes pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment approaches to overcome brain insulin resistance and improve metabolic and cognitive health.

Our research focuses on identifying neurobiological mechanisms associated with obesity and diabetes in humans using neuroimaging and neuromodulation methods. We are also investigating the role of brain-body interactions in the development of brain insulin action across the lifespan from the fetus to the elderly. Other research includes pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment approaches to overcome brain insulin resistance and improve metabolic and cognitive health.

Prof. Dr. Hubert Preissl

Administrative Director

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Stephanie Kullmann DDG

Prof. Dr. Stephanie Kullmann

Deputy Head of Section

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Dr. Ralf Veit

Scientist

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Dr. Julia Hartkopf

Scientist

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Dr. Katrin Sippel

Scientist

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Dr. Sabine Frank-Podlech

Project Manager

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Dr. Theresa Ester-Nacke

Scientist

Hande Ezgi Atmaca Turan

PhD student

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Maike Borutta

TA

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Anja Bierenstiel

PhD student

Nervenzelle in Aktion

The aim of the study is to investigate the effect of targeted stimulation of insulin resistance affected brain areas using tDCS on cognition and metabolism.

The X-ray of the human brain closeup image

The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of the drug bromocriptine on weight loss in relation to the FTO genotype.

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Intermittent fasting to improve insulin secretion: The IFIS study investigates the effect of intermittent fasting on insulin secretion.

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The acEX study investigates the effects of acute exercise on insulin response in the brain.

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The aim of the study is to investigate the extent to which the GLP1 effect in the brain influences central insulin sensitivity.

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Just five days of indulging in chocolate, chips, and other highly processed foods can lead to lasting changes in brain activity – even without weight gain. A recent study led by Stephanie Kullmann shows that brain activity patterns after junk-food consumption resemble those seen in individuals with obesity.

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The current Terra X documentary ‘Unser Leben: Wie es beginnt' offers fascinating insights into prenatal research. Prof. Hubert Preißl and his team use functional magnetoencephalography (fMEG) to study how fetuses respond to external stimuli, providing unique insights into fetal perception."

Schwangere Frau mit Ultraschallbildern

Scientists of Helmholtz Zentrum München were represented at the 66th Congress of the German Society of Endocrinology with a symposium on "Hormone action in the brain and its influence on body metabolism".

Human brain digital x-ray

Congratulations! Stephanie Kullmann received the prize for her work on "The role of central nervous processes in the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus".

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Our team could show that as little as eight weeks of exercise can help restore brain insulin sensitivity in adults with severe obesity. These findings open up new therapeutic opportunities to reduce obesity and diabetes risk factors in the future.

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Central to our vision is a commitment to reshape the landscape of diabetes care by understanding insulin resistance, a key driver of obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D). We believe that by unraveling the intricate connections between insulin resistance in the brain, peripheral metabolism, and cognitive function, we can pave the way for breakthrough solutions that change lives.

Scientist Adding Microscopy To Brain Study App

Wang, Y. ; Sandforth, A. ; Jumpertz von Schwartzenberg, R. ; Ganslmeier, M. ; Cheng, Y. ; Sandforth, L. ; Katzenstein, S. ; Machann, J. ; Schick, F. ; Kantartzis, K. ; Preissl, H. ; Fritsche, A. ; Stefan, N. ; Bergman, M. ; Birkenfeld, A.L.

Lifestyle intervention is more effective in high 1-hour post-load glucose than in prediabetes for restoring β-cell function, reducing ectopic fat, and preventing type 2 diabetes.

Zhao, S. ; Semeia, L. ; Veit, R. ; Moser, J. ; Preissl, H. ; Kullmann, S.

Structural and functional brain changes in children and adolescents with obesity.

Kullmann, S. ; Singh, A. ; Sehgal, R. ; Eichelmann, F. ; Sandforth, L. ; Wilms, B. ; Jähnert, M. ; Peter, A. ; Meyhöfer, S. ; Walther, D. ; Preissl, H. ; Häring, H.-U. ; Schulze, M.B. ; Heni, M. ; Birkenfeld, A.L. ; Schürmann, A. ; Ouni, M.

Circulating epigenetic signatures classifying brain insulin resistance in humans.

Gehmeyr, M. ; Rojas López, M.B. ; Nitkunanantharajah, S. ; Preissl, H. ; Vosseler, A. ; Jumpertz von Schwartzenberg, R. ; Birkenfeld, A.L. ; Katsouli, N. ; Fasoula, N. ; Karlas, A. ; Kallmayer, M. ; Ziegler, A.-G. ; Jüstel, D. ; Ntziachristos, V.

Enhanced maximum intensity projection (eMIP) for improving the fidelity of optoacoustic images.

Sandforth, A. ; Arreola, E.V. ; Hanson, R.L. ; Wewer Albrechtsen, N.J. ; Holst, J.J. ; Ahrends, R. ; Coman, C. ; Gerst, F. ; Lorza-Gil, E. ; Cheng, Y. ; Sandforth, L. ; Katzenstein, S. ; Ganslmeier, M. ; Seissler, J. ; Hauner, H. ; Perakakis, N. ; Wagner, R. ; Machann, J. ; Schick, F. ; Peter, A. ; Lehmann, R. ; Weigert, C. ; Maurer, J. ; Preissl, H. ; Heni, M. ; Szendrödi, J. ; Kopf, S. ; Solimena, M. ; Schwarz, P. ; Blüher, M. ; Häring, H.-U. ; Hrabě de Angelis, M. ; Schürmann, A. ; Kabisch, S. ; Mai, K. ; Pfeiffer, A.F.H. ; Bornstein, S. ; Stumvoll, M. ; Roden, M. ; Stefan, N. ; Fritsche, A. ; Birkenfeld, A.L. ; Jumpertz von Schwartzenberg, R.

Prevention of type 2 diabetes through prediabetes remission without weight loss.

Gallard, A. ; Brebion, B. ; Sippel, K. ; Zaylaa, A. ; Preissl, H. ; Moghimi, S. ; Fregier, Y. ; Wallois, F.

Transforming spontaneous premature neonatal EEG to spontaneous fetal MEG using a novel machine learning approach.

Goll, N. ; Wiechers, C. ; Zinke, K. ; Preissl, H. ; Fritsche, A. ; Hallschmid, M.

Influence of maternal metabolism on neonate eating behaviour.

Chen, W. ; Kullmann, S. ; Rhea, E.M.

Expanding the understanding of insulin resistance in brain and periphery.

Auchynnikava, V. ; Semeia, L. ; Sippel, K. ; Sbierski-Kind, J. ; Fritsche, A. ; Birkenfeld, A.L. ; Paluscke-Fröhlich, J. ; Wikström, A.K. ; Preissl, H.

Fetal heart rate variability in relation to maternal physical activity and metabolic health.

Sandforth, L. ; Raverdy, V. ; Sandforth, A. ; Bauvin, P. ; Chatelain, E. ; Verkindt, H. ; Mingrone, G. ; Guidone, C. ; Verrastro, O. ; Zhou, K. ; Archid, R. ; Mihaljevic, A.L. ; Caiazzo, R. ; Baud, G. ; Marciniak, C. ; Chetboun, M. ; Ganslmeier, M. ; Minelli Faiao, V. ; Heni, M. ; Fritsche, L. ; Moller, A. ; Kantartzis, K. ; Peter, A. ; Lehmann, R. ; Wagner, R. ; Prystupa, K. ; Fritsche, A. ; Stefan, N. ; Preissl, H. ; Birkenfeld, A.L. ; Jumpertz von Schwartzenberg, R. ; Pattou, F.

Subphenotype-dependent benefits of bariatric surgery for individuals at risk for type 2 diabetes.

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