Neuropsychology

Short description

The Division of Neuropsychology at Inselspital Bern integrates everyday clinical practice (diagnostics and therapy) with neurocognitive research. We work in close collaboration with the various specialties within the Department of Neurology, as well as with external colleagues, hospitals, and research institutions in Switzerland and abroad. By directly translating the latest scientific findings into clinical practice, we ensure that our patients receive state-of-the-art diagnostic assessments and evidence-based treatments.

The three aspects, cognitive neurology,  clinical neuropsychology and cognitive neuroscience focus on understanding the relationship between  brain and behaviour. When the brain has been damaged by disease or injury changes can occur on multiple levels, manifesting as cognitive, behavioural, emotional, and/or personality changes.

Common consequences include:

• Cognitive impairment affecting one or several domains (e.g. memory deficits, slowed information processing, attention and concentration difficulties)
• Behavioural aspects such as fatigue (sickness behaviour)
• Emotional disturbances (e.g. depressive symptoms, anxiety)
• Changes in or accentuation of personality traits (e.g. aggression, neuroticism, disinhibition)

For many decades, it has been well established that brain disorders can lead to cognitive and neuropsychiatric impairment, regardless of whether they are caused by inflammation, neurodegeneration, infection or injury. However, research into the understanding of underlying mechanisms and the development of targeted diagnostic and therapeutic approaches is still in its early stages.

Research focus

• Fatigue

• Cognition

• Cognitive neurorehabilitation

• Neuroplasticity

• Patient centered clincal research

• Development of assessment and treatment tools

• Inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases of the human brain

Ongoing Projects

• NeMMI  (Neuroeducation and mindfulness based meditation in RRMS patients) - not funded
• MS-Realise (cognitve exergames as neurorehabilitation strategy) - SNF
• Fatigue phenotyping in MS - not funded; collaboration with T. Nef
• SHINE study: Investigating Sjögren’s disease using high field imaging, neuropsychological and molecular analyses - SF Board funding University of Bern

Key Publications

• Gyger, N., Monschein, T., Filser, M., Bätge, S., Renner, A., Roth, M., Aktas, O., Albrecht, P., Hartung, H.P., & Penner, I.K. (2026). Cognitive training, exercise training or combined training? A comparative effectiveness research study on subjective and objective cognitive outcomes in multiple sclerosis. Journal of Neurology, 273(2):82. doi: 10.1007/s00415-025-13535-w. PMID: 41543747; PMCID: PMC12811355.
• Penner, I.K., Grothe, M., & Chan, A. (2025). Fatigue: a common but poorly understood symptom in neurological and non-neurological diseases. Nature Reviews Neurology. doi: 10.1038/s41582-025-01153-z. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41136788.
• Penner, I.K., Baijot, J., Filser, M., Bätge, S., Raithel, L., Toth, E., Renner, A., & Nagels, G. (2025). The Brief International Cognitive Assessment in Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS): Regression-based norms for German-speaking countries. European Journal of Neurology, 32(1):e16495. doi: 10.1111/ene.16495.
• Bätge, S.J., Filser, M., Renner, A., Raithel, L.M., Lau, S., Pöttgen, J., & Penner, I.K. (2023). Supporting brain health in multiple sclerosis: Exploring the potential of neuroeducation combined with practical mindfulness exercises in the management of neuropsychological symptoms. Journal of Neurology, 1-14, online ahead of print.
• Penner, I.K., & Paul F. (2017). Fatigue as symptom or comorbidity of neurological diseases. Nature Reviews Neurology, 13(11), 662-675.

Sources of Funding

• Swiss National Science Foundation
• SF Board, University of Bern

Further information

Research group’s website