Our team of neurologists, psychiatrists, biologists, psychologists, and other specialists study the development of the nervous system and its functioning under normal and pathological conditions.

Neuroscience research has been one of IDOR’s flagships since its inception. One of the main aspects of this area of research is the use of reprogrammed cells and brain organoids to study the development and diseases that affect the central nervous system. Epithelial cells extracted from the urine or skin of volunteers are induced to return to the embryonic stage of stem cells, capable of transforming into any human tissue, including brain cells. Cultivated in the laboratory, these cells form cerebral organoids – also known as mini-brains – which make it possible to study in detail the development of the central nervous system and also the impact of viruses such as Zika and Sars-Cov-2, the manipulation of genes, and the effects of drugs on the functioning of nervous tissue.

Another important line of research developed by IDOR in the field of neuroscience is neuroimaging, particularly applied to the study of brain plasticity – the ability of the human brain to adapt to adverse situations. The integration of imaging results with clinical, genetic, and laboratory data allows for an in-depth study of diseases of the central nervous system in three main areas: neurodevelopmental disorders, rehabilitation, and plasticity in aging.

Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, researchers can identify the connection routes between different parts of the healthy brain and in pathological situations. Among the conditions studied are dysgenesis of the corpus callosum, strokes, and phantom limb syndrome, which can arise after an amputation.

IDOR scientists are also studying new techniques to help patients recover their brain function. One of the techniques is neurofeedback, which uses functional magnetic resonance imaging to show patients their brain activity and encourage them to control it.

The study of learning disorders and possible interventions is also part of IDOR’s neuroscience research. One example is the development of software to help neurotypical children with dyslexia and other disorders learn to read.

At the Center for Applied Neuropsychology (CNA), IDOR combines scientific research and clinical care, offering neuropsychological investigation services to children, adolescents, and adults with suspected learning and attention disorders, behavioral problems, and memory difficulties, among others. The CNA’s multidisciplinary team leads research projects on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and Alzheimer’s disease.