Antal, Andrea, Prof. Dr.

Group Leader Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation Laboratory, Dept. of Neurology


  • 1990 - Diploma in Biology, Attila József University of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary
  • 1993 - University Doctor, Attila József University of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary
  • 1998 - Ph.D. Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical University, Szeged, Hungary
  • 2005 Habilitation, University of Göttingen, Germany
  • 2010 Extraordinary professor, University of Göttingen, Germany



Major Research Interests

Neuroplasticity became one central topic of neuroscience research in the last decades. Dynamic modifications of neuronal networks are an important substrate for learning and memory formation. Furthermore, pathological neuroplasticity might be one foundation of numerous central nervous system diseases.

The primary aim of our recent work is to develop and establish new non-invasive brain stimulation methods to induce physiological changes in the central nervous system in order to investigate cognition and complex information processing. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) was developed by our group as a non-invasive tool to induce neuroplasticity in the human cerebral cortex. tDCS as a tool aims to induce prolonged neuronal excitability and activity alterations in the human brain via alterations of the neuronal membrane potential. Accordingly, this method is a promising tool in the treatment of diseases that are accompanied by changes of cortical excitability. Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) and random noise stimulation (tRNS) are new external stimulation techniques influencing cortical activity. tACS and tRNS permit, due to the oscillating stimulation, external interference with the cortical oscillations. They can particularly modulate the temporary connections of cortical areas during a given task. Neuronal oscillations in the brain are associated with the processing of sensory information, learning, cognition, arousal, attention and also pathological conditions (e.g. Parkinson's tremor, epilepsy). Therefore, the external modulation of cortical oscillations could be an important component of induced cerebral plasticity. In terms of effectiveness tRNS seems to have at least the same therapeutic potential for the treatment of diseases such as depression and chronic pain as rTMS and tDCS.



Homepage Department/Research Group

https://neurologie.umg.eu/forschung/arbeitsgruppen/noninvasive-brain-stimulation-lab-nbs-lab/



Selected Recent Publications


  • Ramasawmy P, Khalid, S, Petzke F, Antal, A. Pain reduction in fibromyalgia syndrome through pairing transcranial direct current stimulation and mindfulness meditation: a randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled pilot clinical trial. Frontiers in Medicine, section Intensive Care Medicine and Anesthesiology, 2022 Oct 12;9:908133.
  • Antal A, Luber B, Brem AK, Bikson M, Brunoni AR, Cohen Kadosh R, Dubljevic V, Fecteau S, Ferreri F, Flöel A, Hallett M, Hamilton RH, Herrmann CS, Lavidor M, Loo C, Lustenberger C, Machado S, Miniussi C, Moliadze V, Nitsche MA, Rossi S, Rossini PM, Santarnecchi E, Seeck M, Thut G, Turi Zs, Ugawa Y, Venkatasubramanian G, Wenderoth N, Wexler A, Ziemann U, Paulus W. Non-invasive brain stimulation and neuroenhancement. Clinical Neurophysiology Practice, 2022 May 25;7:146-165.
  • Steinmann I, Williams K, Wilke M, Antal A. Detection of tACS aftereffects is improved by considering the individual electric field strength and self-rated sleepiness. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 2022 Jun 27;16:870758.
  • Chakalov I, Antal A, Eckardt SS, Paulus W, Saager L, Meissner K, Bähr M, Moerer O, Stephani C. The role of the TMS stimulation parameters in the activation of the corticospinal pathway to the diaphragm. Clinical Neurophysiology, 2022 Jun;138:173-185.
  • Konicar L, Prillinger K, Klöbl M, Lanzenberger R, Antal A, Plener PL. Brain Stimulation for Emotion Regulation in Adolescents with Psychiatric Disorders. Frontiers in Psychiatry, section Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 2022 Apr 25;13:840836.
  • Sabel BA, Kresinsky A, Cárdenas-Morales L, Haueisen J, Hunold A, ‎Dannhauer M, Antal A. Evaluating current density modeling of non-invasive eye and brain electrical stimulation using phosphene thresholds. IEEE in Transactions on Neural Systems & Rehabilitation Engineering, 2021, 29:2133-2141.
  • Siegert A, Diedrich L, Antal A. New Methods, Old Brains − A Systematic Review on the Effects of tDCS on the Cognition of Elderly People. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, section Brain Imaging and Stimulation, 2021, 15:730134.
  • Shorafa Y, Halawa I, Hewitt M, Nitsche MA, Antal A, Paulus W. Isometric agonist and antagonist muscle activation interacts differently with 140 Hz tACS aftereffects at different intensities. Journal of Neurophysiology, 2021, 126:340-348.
  • Rossi S, Antal A, Bestmann S, Bikson M, Brewer C, Brockmöller J, Carpenter LL, Cincotta M, Chen R, Daskalakis JD, Di Lazzaro V, Fox MD, George MS, Gilbert D, Kimiskidis VK, Koch G, Ilmoniemi RJ, Lefaucheur JP, Leocani L, Lisanby SH, Miniussi C, Padberg F, Pascual-Leone A, Paulus W, Peterchev AV, Quartarone A, Rotenberg A, Rothwell J, Rossini PM, Santarnecchi E, Shafi MM, Siebner HR, Ugawa Y, Wassermann EM, Zangen A, Ziemann U, Hallett, M. Safety and recommendations (version 3.0) for TMS use in healthy subjects and patient populations, with updates on training, ethical and regulatory issues. A Consensus Statement from the IFCN Workshop on “Present and Future of TMS: Safety and Ethical Guidelines”, Siena, October 17-20, 2018. Clinical Neurophysiology, 2021, 132:269-306.
  • Antal A, Bischoff R, Stephani C, Czesnik D, Klinker F, Timäus C, Chaieb L, Paulus W. Low intensity, transcranial, alternating current stimulation reduces migraine attack burden in a home application set-up: a double-blinded, randomized feasibility study. Brain Sciences, 2020, 10:888.