Division of Physiology
Mission Statement of the Division of Physiology
Physiology combines various natural science subjects to study the vital functions of our body, its systems, organs, cells and cell structures. Physiology provides the theoretical basis for understanding our bodily functions and their permanent adaptations to different environmental influences.
Physiology is the science of life. The key to understanding physiology lies in researching fundamental processes, for example how our bodily functions work in a constant balance or how individual organs and cells communicate with each other. In nerve cells, this communication takes place via synapses, small structures located along nerve fibres that establish contact with neighbouring cells. Through these connections, individual cells are integrated into a huge network, the human brain.
In our lab, we study how these synapses form and investigate why a correct arrangement of these structures is crucial for higher brain functions such as learning and memory formation. In particular, our team is investigating the role of an important cellular messenger ("second messenger"), namely calcium. Our studies help us to understand how nerve cells can build an organ as highly complex as the brain and thus also give us insights into mechanisms underlying neurological diseases such as autism, schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease.
Text to image: A single brain cell is capable of making more than 100,000 synaptic connections to neighbouring cells. Using high-resolution microscopic techniques, we can visualise the synaptic architecture and study its function.
Head of Department of Physiology
Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Gerald Obermair
Head of
Division of Physiology
