Clinical Neuroscience Bern

Research groups

Education and Academic Career

Academy/Research positions

  • Since 05/2020: Associate Professor Neurologie, Bern university, CH
  • Since 11/2018: Assistant Professor, Swiss National Research Foundation, CH
  • Since 10/2016: Research Group Leader, Clinical Neurosciences Bern, Bern University, CH
  • 10/2013-10/2016: Research Group Leader, SNF-Ambizione Fellow, Geneva University, CH
  • 10/2010-10/2013: Research Group Leader, Lausanne University, CH
  • 10/2007-10/2010: Honorary Research Fellow, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, UK

Clinical positions

  • Since 10/2016: Senior Consultant (Leitende Ärztin) Neurologie, Inselspital University Hospital Bern, CH
  • 10/2013-10/2016: Junior Consultant (cheffe de Clinique) Neurologie, Hôpitaux Universitaires genevois (HUG), Geneva, CH
  • 10/2010-10/2013 : Junior Consultant (cheffe de Clinique) Neurologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Lausanne, CH
  • 10/2005-10/2007 : Residant (médecin assistante) Neurologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Lausanne, CH

Publications

Multi-centre classification of functional neurological disorders based on resting-state functional connectivity. Weber S, Heim S. Richiardi J,  Van De Ville D, Serranová T, Jech R. Marapin RS, Tijssen M & Aybek S (2022). NeuroImage: Clinical, 103090. doi: 10.1016/j.nicl.2022.103090

Multivariate classification provides a neural signature of Tourette disorder. Zito GA, Hartmann A, Béranger B; Weber S, Aybek S; Faouzi J, Roze E, Vidailhet M & Worbe Y (2021). Psychological medicine, 1-9. doi: 10.1017/S0033291721004232

Behavioral Differences Across Theta Burst Stimulation Protocols. A Study on the Sense of Agency in Healthy Humans. Zito GA, Worbe Y, Lamy JC, Kälin J, Bühler J, Weber S, Müri RM, & Aybek S (2021).Frontiers in neuroscience, 15, 658688. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2021.658688

Neural correlates of sense of agency in motor control: A neuroimaging meta-analysis. Zito GA, Wiest R, Aybek S. PLoS ONE 15(6). 2020 June 5. doi: 10.137|journal.pone.0234321

Transcranial magnetic stimulation over the right temporoparietal junction influences the sense of agency in healthy humans. Zito GA, Anderegg LB, Apazoglou K, Müri RM, Wiest R, Holtforth MG, Aybek S. J Psychiatry Neurosci. 2020 Apr 24;45(4):190099. doi: 10.1503/jpn.190099.

Outcome measurement in functional neurological disorder: a systematic review and recommendations. Pick S, Anderson DG, Asadi-Pooya AA, Aybek S, Baslet G, Bloem BR, Bradley-Westguard A, Brown RJ, Carson AJ, Chalder T, Damianova M, David AS, Edwards MJ, Epstein SA, Espay AJ, Garcin B, Goldstein LH, Hallett M, Jankovic J, Joyce EM, Kanaan RA, Keynejad RC, Kozlowska K, LaFaver K, LaFrance WC Jr, Lang AE, Lehn A, Lidstone S, Maurer CW, Mildon B, Morgante F, Myers L, Nicholson C, Nielsen G, Perez DL, Popkirov S, Reuber M, Rommelfanger KS, Schwingenshuh P, Serranova T, Shotbolt P, Stebbins GT, Stone J, Tijssen MA, Tinazzi M, Nicholson TR. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2020 Feb 28. pii: jnnp-2019-322180. doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2019-322180.

Gender, Abuse, and Functional Movement Disorders: From His-story to the Future. Edwards MJ, Aybek S. Mov Disord Clin Pract. 2020 Jan 20;7(2):167-168. doi: 10.1002/mdc3.12887.

Functional Neurological (Conversion) Disorder: A Core Neuropsychiatric Disorder. Perez DL, Aybek S, Nicholson TR, Kozlowska K, Arciniegas DB, LaFrance WC Jr. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. Winter 2020;32(1):1-3. doi: 10.1176/appi.neuropsych.19090204.

Outcome Measures for Functional Neurological Disorder: A Review of the Theoretical Complexities. Nicholson TR, Carson A, Edwards MJ, Goldstein LH, Hallett M, Mildon B, Nielsen G, Nicholson C, Perez DL, Pick S, Stone J; and the FND-COM (Functional Neurological Disorders Core Outcome Measures) Group; FND-COM group collaborators are as follows. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2020 Winter;32(1):33-42. doi: 10.1176/appi.neuropsych.19060128.

Modification of both functional neurological symptoms and neuroimaging patterns with a good anatomoclinical concordance: a case report. Galli S, Aybek S, Chokron S, Moulin T, Magnin E. BMC Neurol. 2019 Nov 4;19(1):270. doi: 10.1186/s12883-019-1475-3.

What Does Neuroscience Tell Us About the Conversion Model of Functional Neurological Disorders? Cretton A, Brown RJ, LaFrance WC Jr, Aybek S. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2020 Winter;32(1):24-32. doi: 10.1176/appi.neuropsych.19040089.

What Is the Role of a Specialist Assessment Clinic for FND? Lessons From Three National Referral Centers. Aybek S, Lidstone SC, Nielsen G, MacGillivray L, Bassetti CL, Lang AE, Edwards MJ. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2020 Winter;32(1):79-84. doi: 10.1176/appi.neuropsych.19040083.

Corticolimbic fast-tracking in functional neurological disorders: towards understanding of the 'dynamic lesion' of Jean-Martin Charcot. Aybek S. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2019 Aug;90(8):845. doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2019-320597. Epub 2019 May 28.

Abnormal postural behavior in patients with functional movement disorders during exposure to stress. Zito GA, Apazoglou K, Paraschiv-Ionescu A, Aminian K, Aybek S. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2019 Mar;101:232-239. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.11.020.

Current Concepts in Diagnosis and Treatment of Functional Neurological Disorders. Espay AJ, Aybek S, Carson A, Edwards MJ, Goldstein LH, Hallett M, LaFaver K, LaFrance WC Jr, Lang AE, Nicholson T, Nielsen G, Reuber M, Voon V, Stone J, Morgante F. JAMA Neurol. 2018 Sep 1;75(9):1132-1141. doi: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2018.1264.

Metacognition of visuomotor decisions in conversion disorder. Bègue I, Blakemore R, Klug J, Cojan Y, Galli S, Berney A, Aybek S, Vuilleumier P. Neuropsychologia. 2018 Jun;114:251-265. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2018.04.018.

Prevalence of functional (psychogenic) parkinsonism in two Swiss movement disorders clinics and review of the literature. Frasca Polara G, Fleury V, Stone J, Barbey A, Burkhard PR, Vingerhoets F, Aybek S. J Neurol Sci. 2018 Apr 15;387:37-45. doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2018.01.022.

Stressful life events and maltreatment in conversion (functional neurological) disorder: systematic review and meta-analysis of case-control studies. Ludwig L, Pasman JA, Nicholson T, Aybek S, David AS, Tuck S, Kanaan RA, Roelofs K, Carson A, Stone J. Lancet Psychiatry. 2018 Apr;5(4):307-320. doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30051-8.

Munchausen Syndrome and the Wide Spectrum of Factitious Disorders.Tatu L, Aybek S, Bogousslavsky J. Front Neurol Neurosci. 2018;42:81-86. doi: 10.1159/000475682. Epub 2017 Nov 17.

Conversion, Factitious Disorder and Malingering: A Distinct Pattern or a Continuum? Galli S, Tatu L, Bogousslavsky J, Aybek S. Front Neurol Neurosci. 2018;42:72-80. doi: 10.1159/000475699.

Identifying motor functional neurological disorder using resting-state functional connectivity. Wegrzyk J, Kebets V, Richiardi J, Galli S, de Ville DV, Aybek S. Neuroimage Clin. 2017 Oct 12;17:163-168. doi: 10.1016/j.nicl.2017.10.012.

Increased methylation of the oxytocin receptor gene in motor functional neurological disorder: a preliminary study. Apazoglou K, Adouan W, Aubry JM, Dayer A, Aybek S. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2018 May;89(5):552-554. doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2017-316469.

Biological and perceived stress in motor functional neurological disorders. Apazoglou K, Mazzola V, Wegrzyk J, Frasca Polara G, Aybek S. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2017 Nov;85:142-150. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.08.023.

Testing Head Rotation and Flexion Is Useful in Functional Limb Weakness. Horn D, Galli S, Berney A, Vingerhoets F, Aybek S. Mov Disord Clin Pract. 2017 Jun 19;4(4):597-602. doi: 10.1002/mdc3.12492.

Functional movement disorders. Barbey A, Aybek S. Curr Opin Neurol. 2017 Aug;30(4):427-434. doi: 10.1097/WCO.0000000000000464.

Aversive stimuli exacerbate defensive motor behaviour in motor conversion disorder. Blakemore RL, Sinanaj I, Galli S, Aybek S, Vuilleumier P. Neuropsychologia. 2016 Dec;93(Pt A):229-241. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2016.11.005. E

Medically unexplained visual loss in a specialist clinic: a retrospective case-control comparison. O'Leary ÉD, McNeillis B, Aybek S, Riordan-Eva P, David AS. J Neurol Sci. 2016 Feb 15;361:272-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2015.12.045.

Emotion-motion interactions in conversion disorder: an FMRI study. Aybek S, Nicholson TR, O'Daly O, Zelaya F, Kanaan RA, David AS. PLoS One. 2015 Apr 10;10(4):e0123273. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0123273.

Interobserver agreement and validity of bedside 'positive signs' for functional weakness, sensory and gait disorders in conversion disorder: a pilot study. Daum C, Gheorghita F, Spatola M, Stojanova V, Medlin F, Vingerhoets F, Berney A, Gholam-Rezaee M, Maccaferri GE, Hubschmid M, Aybek S. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2015 Apr;86(4):425-30. doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2013-307381.

Neural correlates of recall of life events in conversion disorder. Aybek S, Nicholson TR, Zelaya F, O'Daly OG, Craig TJ, David AS, Kanaan RA. JAMA Psychiatry. 2014 Jan;71(1):52-60. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2013.2842.

Neuropsychological function and memory suppression in conversion disorder. Brown LB, Nicholson TR, Aybek S, Kanaan RA, David AS. J Neuropsychol. 2014 Sep;8(2):171-85. doi: 10.1111/jnp.12017.

Validity of the "Drift without pronation" sign in conversion disorder. Daum C, Aybek S. BMC Neurol. 2013 Apr 1;13:31. doi: 10.1186/1471-2377-13-31.

The value of 'positive' clinical signs for weakness, sensory and gait disorders in conversion disorder: a systematic and narrative review. Daum C, Hubschmid M, Aybek S. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2014 Feb;85(2):180-90. doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2012-304607.

Early intervention for conversion disorder: neurologists and psychiatrists working together. Aybek S, Hubschmid M, Mossinger C, Berney A, Vingerhoets F. Acta Neuropsychiatr. 2013 Feb;25(1):52-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1601-5215.2012.00668.x.

Grey matter changes in motor conversion disorder. Aybek S, Nicholson TR, Draganski B, Daly E, Murphy DG, David AS, Kanaan RA. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2014 Feb;85(2):236-8. doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2012-304158.

Psychogenic tetraparesis and bilateral upper limb dystonia, regressive under short propofol-induced sedation and during hepatic encephalopathy. Medlin F, Aybek S, Berney A, Guedj E, Delaloye AB, Prior JO, Diserens K. Psychosomatics. 2012 Sep-Oct;53(5):485-8. doi: 10.1016/j.psym.2012.04.005.

Fractal temporal organisation of motricity is altered in major depression. Aybek S, Ionescu A, Berney A, Chocron O, Aminian K, Vingerhoets FJ. Psychiatry Res. 2012 Dec 30;200(2-3):288-93. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2012.03.047.

Paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesias of epileptic origin abolished by temporal lobectomy. Aybek S, Rossetti AO, Maeder-Ingvar M, Vingerhoets FJ. Mov Disord. 2012 Jun;27(7):923-5. doi: 10.1002/mds.25001.

What's so special about conversion disorder? A problem and a proposal for diagnostic classification. Kanaan RA, Carson A, Wessely SC, Nicholson TR, Aybek S, David AS. Br J Psychiatry. 2010 Jun;196(6):427-8. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.109.073981.

Hippocampal atrophy predicts conversion to dementia after STN-DBS in Parkinson's disease. Aybek S, Lazeyras F, Gronchi-Perrin A, Burkhard PR, Villemure JG, Vingerhoets FJ. Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2009 Aug;15(7):521-4. doi: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2009.01.003.

Positive occipital sharp transients of sleep (POSTS): a reappraisal. Rey V, Aybek S, Maeder-Ingvar M, Rossetti AO. Clin Neurophysiol. 2009 Mar;120(3):472-5. doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2008.12.035.

Rapid resolution of dopamine dysregulation syndrome (DDS) after subthalamic DBS for Parkinson disease (PD): a case report. Knobel D, Aybek S, Pollo C, Vingerhoets FJ, Berney A.

Cogn Behav Neurol. 2008 Sep;21(3):187-9. doi: 10.1097/WNN.0b013e318185e6e2.

The neuropsychiatry of conversion disorder. Aybek S, Kanaan RA, David AS. Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2008 May;21(3):275-80. doi: 10.1097/YCO.0b013e3282f94242.

[Dissociative disorders: neurologists and psychiatrists working together]. Hubschmid M, Aybek S, Vingerhoets F, Berney A. Rev Med Suisse. 2008 Feb 13;4(144):412-4, 416

[Headache, fever, and hemiplegia]. Aybek S, Annoni JM, Carota A, Vokatch N. Rev Med Suisse. 2007 May 9;3(110):1196-8.

[Low back pain, muscle stiffness]. Vokatch N, Carota A, Annoni JM, Aybek S. Rev Med Suisse. 2007 May 9;3(110):1191-2, 1194-5.

Long-term cognitive profile and incidence of dementia after STN-DBS in Parkinson's disease. Aybek S, Gronchi-Perrin A, Berney A, Chiuvé SC, Villemure JG, Burkhard PR, Vingerhoets FJ. Mov Disord. 2007 May 15;22(7):974-81.

Does deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus in Parkinson's disease affect cognition and behavior? Aybek S, Vingerhoets FJ. Nat Clin Pract Neurol. 2007 Feb;3(2):70-1. Epub 2007 Jan 16.

Emotional behavior in acute stroke: the Lausanne emotion in stroke study. Aybek S, Carota A, Ghika-Schmid F, Berney A, Melle GV, Guex P, Bogousslavsky J. Cogn Behav Neurol. 2005 Mar;18(1):37-44.