BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam//NONSGML v1.0//EN NAME:PhD defence E.J.P. Brouwer METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART:20260204T114500 DTEND:20260204T131500 DTSTAMP:20260204T114500 UID:2026/phd-defence-e-j-p-brouwer@8F96275E-9F55-4B3F-A143-836282E12573 CREATED:20260413T145449 LOCATION:(1st floor) Auditorium, Main building De Boelelaan 1105 1081 HV Amsterdam SUMMARY:PhD defence E.J.P. Brouwer X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:

The Big Little Brain

Major role of the cerebellum revealed with ultra-powerf ul MRI

Using one of the most powerful MRI scanners in the world, neuroscientist Emma Brouwer has mapped the cerebellum in great detail. She shows how this brain region is structured and how i t functions, both in healthy individuals and in patients with multipl e sclerosis (MS). These new insights contribute to a better understan ding of brain functions as well as brain diseases.

Why the cerebellum is so important
The cerebellum makes up on ly about ten percent of the brain’s volume, but it plays a crucial role in far more than just movement. It is involved in motor control, learning, attention, and possibly also emotions and cognition. Never theless, it has long received relatively little attention in brain re search, mainly because its structure is extremely fine and complex. � ��It is precisely this complexity that makes the cerebellum difficult to study with standard MRI scanners,” Brouwer explains. “Many de tails simply remain invisible.”

Looking with a sharpe r lens
Brouwer used a 7 Tesla MRI scanner (7T MRI), a sca nner with a much stronger magnet than the MRI systems typically used in hospitals. This extra power makes it possible to create images wit h exceptionally high resolution. Thanks to this technology, subtle st ructures and functional patterns in the cerebellum could be visualize d.

Mapping function and structure
In total, Brouwer conducted seven separate studies, examining both the structu re and the function of the cerebellum. Using functional MRI (fMRI), s he was able to see which parts of the cerebellum are active during sp ecific tasks.

Brouwer studied both healthy adults and patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). In MS, the nervous system is damaged, w hich can also affect the cerebellum. By comparing the two groups, it became clear how disease processes influence the cerebellum.

New methods for future brain research
In addition t o new insights into the cerebellum itself, Brouwer also demonstrates how 7T MRI can be optimally used to study small cerebellar structures . This methodological knowledge is valuable for other researchers aro und the world. These techniques can help enable more targeted researc h into brain diseases in the future.

From fundamental k nowledge to better care
Although Brouwer’s research is fundamental in nature, its implications are broader. Because the cere bellum is involved in many neurological disorders, a better understan ding of it can, in the long term, contribute to improved diagnosis an d treatment. Her work underscores how advanced technology and fundame ntal research together open new doors in neuroscience.

More inf ormation on the thesis

DESCRIPTION:

Major role of the cerebellum revealed with ul tra-powerful MRI

Using one of the most powerful MRI sca nners in the world, neuroscientist Emma Brouwer has mapped the cerebe llum in great detail. She shows how this brain region is structured a nd how it functions, both in healthy individuals and in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). These new insights contribute to a better u nderstanding of brain functions as well as brain diseases. Wh y the cerebellum is so important
The cerebellum makes up only about ten percent of the brain’s volume, but it plays a crucia l role in far more than just movement. It is involved in motor contro l, learning, attention, and possibly also emotions and cognition. Nev ertheless, it has long received relatively little attention in brain research, mainly because its structure is extremely fine and complex. “It is precisely this complexity that makes the cerebellum difficu lt to study with standard MRI scanners,” Brouwer explains. “Many details simply remain invisible.” Looking with a sharper le ns
Brouwer used a 7 Tesla MRI scanner (7T MRI), a scanner with a much stronger magnet than the MRI systems typically used in h ospitals. This extra power makes it possible to create images with ex ceptionally high resolution. Thanks to this technology, subtle struct ures and functional patterns in the cerebellum could be visualized. < strong>Mapping function and structure
In total, Brouwer c onducted seven separate studies, examining both the structure and the function of the cerebellum. Using functional MRI (fMRI), she was abl e to see which parts of the cerebellum are active during specific tas ks. Brouwer studied both healthy adults and patients with multiple sc lerosis (MS). In MS, the nervous system is damaged, which can also af fect the cerebellum. By comparing the two groups, it became clear how disease processes influence the cerebellum. New methods for future brain research
In addition to new insights into th e cerebellum itself, Brouwer also demonstrates how 7T MRI can be opti mally used to study small cerebellar structures. This methodological knowledge is valuable for other researchers around the world. These t echniques can help enable more targeted research into brain diseases in the future. From fundamental knowledge to better care
Although Brouwer’s research is fundamental in nature, its i mplications are broader. Because the cerebellum is involved in many n eurological disorders, a better understanding of it can, in the long term, contribute to improved diagnosis and treatment. Her work unders cores how advanced technology and fundamental research together open new doors in neuroscience. More information on the thesis The Big Little Brain END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR