The International Normal Aging and Plasticity Imaging Center

Processes of aging gain increasing interest in more and more areas of research worldwide. Considering the relatively large number of older workers and old persons in the near future, the amount of plasticity and developmental potentials of behaviors and abilities across normal aging is gaining increasing interest.

The key objective of the International Normal Aging and Plasticity Imaging Center (INAPIC) at the University of Zurich is to facilitate research on normal healthy behavioral and neural development and aging to explore the potential for plasticity and compensation across the lifespan. Studies at the INAPIC use functional and structural MRI at a 3-Tesla scanner, EEG, transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation to uncover neural plasticity. The INAPIC infrastructure also includes an MR simulator used to familiarize study participants with the scanner environment as well as training labs with computers, treadmills, and a driving simulator.

One important goal of the INAPIC is to promote neuroimaging research on healthy aging and plasticity through the establishment of international research collaborations facilitated by ‘plug and play’ access to the neurophysiological assessment infrastructure as well as technical support and assistance regarding data collection and analyses. The center invites research groups to submit research proposals for cooperation and use of measurement hours at the 3-Tesla scanner available to the INAPIC to establish international cooperation projects at the highest level of scientific quality.

The INAPIC is unique in Europe in combining the support of long-term longitudinal plasticity and aging research through a planning horizon of several years, the focus on potentials of normal development, and the provision of technical assistance and support to reduce the time of research groups needed to familiarize themselves with the available technical equipment. The INAPIC is supported by an international advisory board representing neuropsychological, gerontological, medical and dementia-related and imaging experts to ensure the highest quality standards for our research and research cooperations.

The INAPIC is funded primarily by the Velux Stiftung.