Prof. Dr. Arthur Konnerth
Academic Career and Research Areas
Prof. Konnerth (*1953) explores basic processes of brain function. By means of electrophysiology, imaging and cell biological approaches, he focuses on synaptic interactions in neuronal circuits in order to achieve a better understanding of mechanisms that underlie learning and memory. A further goal is the elucidation of the neuronal defects that are associated with Alzheimer’s Disease.
Prof. Konnerth studied medicine at the LMU Munich, obtained his doctoral degree at the MPI of Psychiatry Munich (1983) and his habilitation at the TUM (1987). After scientific stays in the USA and at the MPI for Biophysical Chemistry in Göttingen, he was full professor and director of the Institutes of Physiology at the Saarland University and held later similar positions at the TUM and LMU. From 2005 to 2018 he was the Friedrich-Schiedel Professor and director of the Institute of Neuroscience of the TUM. Currently he is a Hertie-Senior-Professor for Neuroscience, He is member of the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, of the Academia Europaea and of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences, holder of an honorary degree of the Medical University Timisoara/Ro and a Carl-von-Linde Senior Fellow of the TUM-IAS.
Awards
- Brain Prize (2015)
- Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Medal of the TUM (2006)
- Max Planck Research Prize (2001)
- Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize of the DFG (2001)
- Feldberg Prize of the Foundation for Anglo-German Scientific Exchange (1997)
Key Publications
Zott B, Simon MM, Hong W, Unger F, Chen-Engerer HJ, Frosch MP, Sakmann B, Walsh DM and Konnerth A: “A vicious cycle of amyloid β-dependent neuronal hyperactivation”. Science. 2019; 365: 559–565.
AbstractChen X, Leischner U, Rochefort NL, Nelken I and Konnerth A: “Functional mapping of single spines in cortical neurons in vivo”. Nature. 2011; 475 (7357): 501-505.
AbstractJia H, Rochefort N, Chen X, Konnerth A: “Dendritic organization of sensory input to cortical neurons in vivo”. Nature. 2010; 464: 1307-1312.
AbstractBusche MA, Eichhoff G, Adelsberger H, Abramowski D, Wiederhold KH, Haass C, Staufenbiel M, Konnerth A, Garaschuk O: “Clusters of hyperactive neurons near amyloid plaques in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease”. Science. 2008; 321: 1686-1689.
AbstractTakechi H, Eilers J, Konnerth A: “A new class of synaptic response involving calcium release in dendritic spines”. Nature. 1998; 396: 757-760.
Abstract