Ghent experimental psychiatry (GHEP) LAB

About the lab

The GHEP lab is a research unit investigating (ab)normal stress reactivity and emotion regulation in healthy and psychiatric patients. We especially aim for interdisciplinary research collaborations to employ state-of-the-art methods that advance the field of mental health.

Our researchers have designed, implemented, and completed advanced research projects, using different types of biological measures and techniques to understand cognition, emotions, and behavior: neuroimaging (EEG, fMRI), neuromodulation (tDCS, rTMS, iTBS, tVNS), psychophysiological (pupil size, eye-tracking, skin conductance, cortisol, heart rate, respiration, blood pressure) measures. We always try to be at the forefront of science and advance the field of mental health.

In our research, we want to keep on creating new avenues of impactful research in experimental psychopathology, always from an interdisciplinary stance.

Background

The GHEP lab was funded in 2012 with the main objective of performing translational research within the domain of psychiatric illnesses. From the beginning, the researchers aimed to integrate high-quality research focusing on behavioral, psychological, and neurobiological topics. Therefore, they investigate both human and animal models related to brain functioning in the ‘healthy’ as well as in the ‘mentally’ affected brain.

Research focus

The GHEP lab is closely connected to the psychiatric ward of the Ghent University Hospital, and specializes in treating mood and anxiety disorders. Hence, there is a strong background and interest in finding more efficacious treatment options using non-invasive brain stimulation techniques. Working with the veterinary department we created translational animal models to examine the effects of neurostimulation on the dogs’ brain. This knowledge can be incorporated into the treatment of psychiatric patients, with the goal of enhancing healthcare.

The lab is specialized in non-invasive brain stimulation techniques, such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), theta-burst stimulation (TBS), transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), and transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS), but also invasive brain stimulation techniques such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). The researchers have initiated and collaborated in numerous studies, aiming to find working mechanisms and biomarkers to understand, predict, and enhance the effects of non-invasive brain stimulation.

To measure the effects of the non-invasive brain stimulation techniques, GHEP makes use of brain imaging techniques such as structural and functional (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), and Electroencephalography (EEG). The researchers are also interested in psychophysiological variables such as skin conductance, respiration, heart rate variability, and cortisol.

National and international collaborations

Ghent University, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Psychopathology and Affective Neuroscience lab (PANlab)
Ghent University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Morphology, Imaging, Orthopedics, Rehabilitation, and Nutrition
Ghent University, Faculty of Medicine and Healthy Sciences, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences
Ghent University, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Department of Electronics and Information Systems
University of São Paulo (Brazil), Department of Psychiatry
Maastricht University, Faculty of Psychology & Neuroscience, Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Brain Stimulation and Cognition (BSC) Lab
Radboud University Nijmegen (The Netherlands), the Behavioural Science Institute
VUB Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, UZBrussel: departments of Psychiatry, Neurology, and Radiology
Eindhoven University of Technology, department of electrical engineering, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), Research Department, Ocean and Human Health division, Ostend, Belgium
University of Vienna, Faculty of Psychology, Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Environmental Psychology Vienna, Vienna, Austria
Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China