World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!
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Neuroscience
Germany
2026
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Psychology
Germany
2026

D-Index & Metrics

Best Scientists

D-Index
166
Citations
114107
World Ranking
1003
National Ranking
48

Neuroscience

D-Index
169
Citations
117718
World Ranking
75
National Ranking
1

Psychology

D-Index
156
Citations
106615
World Ranking
61
National Ranking
2

Research.com Recognitions

  • 2026 - Research.com Neuroscience in Germany Leader Award
  • 2026 - Research.com Psychology in Germany Leader Award
  • 2025 - Research.com Neuroscience in Germany Leader Award
  • 2025 - Research.com Psychology in Germany Leader Award
  • 2023 - Research.com Neuroscience in Germany Leader Award
  • 2023 - Research.com Psychology in Germany Leader Award
  • 2022 - Research.com Neuroscience in Germany Leader Award
  • 2022 - Research.com Psychology in Germany Leader Award
  • 2013 - Aristotle Prize, European Federation of Psychologists' Associations
  • 2009 - Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
  • 2003 - German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina - Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina – Nationale Akademie der Wissenschaften Neurosciences

Overview

Niels Birbaumer is affiliated with the University of Tübingen in Germany and has contributed extensively to the field of neuroscience, with a research focus spanning cognitive neuroscience, neurology, cellular and molecular neuroscience, biomedical engineering, and human-computer interaction.

The scientist's work primarily revolves around topics including EEG and brain-computer interfaces, functional brain connectivity studies, neuroscience and neural engineering, neural and behavioral psychology studies, neural dynamics and brain function, muscle activation and electromyography studies, and gaze tracking and assistive technology.

Recent notable publications include:

  • Consensus on the reporting and experimental design of clinical and cognitive-behavioural neurofeedback studies (CRED-nf checklist), 2020, Brain
  • Spelling interface using intracortical signals in a completely locked-in patient enabled via auditory neurofeedback training, 2022, Nature Communications
  • Neuropsychological and neurophysiological aspects of brain-computer-interface (BCI) control in paralysis, 2020, The Journal of Physiology
  • Functional synergy recruitment index as a reliable biomarker of motor function and recovery in chronic stroke patients, 2021, Journal of Neural Engineering
  • Psychophysiological treatment of chronic tinnitus: A review, 2022, Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy

Frequent collaborators in their research include Ujwal Chaudhary, Alessandro Tonin, Andres Jaramillo-Gonzalez, Majid Khalili-Ardali, and Aygul Rana.

The scientist has published multiple papers in venues such as Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, Sensors, bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), and Brain Sciences.

Awards received include the Aristotle Prize from the European Federation of Psychologists' Associations in 2013, fellowship in the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in 2009, and membership in the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina - Nationale Akademie der Wissenschaften in 2003 for work in neurosciences.

Best Publications

  • Brain-computer interfaces for communication and control.

    Jonathan R Wolpaw;Jonathan R Wolpaw;Niels Birbaumer;Niels Birbaumer;Dennis J McFarland;Gert Pfurtscheller

  • BCI2000: a general-purpose brain-computer interface (BCI) system

    G. Schalk;D.J. McFarland;T. Hinterberger;N. Birbaumer

  • Brain-computer interface technology: a review of the first international meeting

    J.R. Wolpaw;N. Birbaumer;W.J. Heetderks;D.J. McFarland

  • Quantitative sensory testing in the German Research Network on Neuropathic Pain (DFNS): Standardized protocol and reference values

    R. Rolke;R. Baron;C. Maier;T.R. Tölle

  • Brain potentials in affective picture processing: Covariation with autonomic arousal and affective report

    Bruce N. Cuthbert;Harald Thomas Schupp;Margaret M. Bradley;Niels Birbaumer

  • Phantom-limb pain as a perceptual correlate of cortical reorganization following arm amputation

    Herta Flor;Thomas Elbert;Stefan Knecht;Christian Wienbruch

  • A spelling device for the paralysed

    N. Birbaumer;N. Ghanayim;T. Hinterberger;I. Iversen

  • Slow potentials of the cerebral cortex and behavior.

    N. Birbaumer;T. Elbert;A. G. M. Canavan;B. Rockstroh

  • Quantitative sensory testing in the German Research Network on Neuropathic Pain (DFNS): Somatosensory abnormalities in 1236 patients with different neuropathic pain syndromes

    C. Maier;R. Baron;T. R. Tölle;A. Binder

  • Activation of Cortical and Cerebellar Motor Areas during Executed and Imagined Hand Movements: An fMRI Study

    Martin Lotze;Pedro Montoya;Michael Erb;Ernst Hülsmann

  • Closed-loop brain training: the science of neurofeedback

    Ranganatha Sitaram;Tomas Ros;Luke Stoeckel;Sven Haller

  • Review of the BCI Competition IV

    Michael Tangermann;Klaus Robert Müller;Ad Aertsen;Niels Birbaumer

  • The BCI competition III: validating alternative approaches to actual BCI problems

    B. Blankertz;K.-R. Muller;D.J. Krusienski;G. Schalk

  • Brain–machine interface in chronic stroke rehabilitation: A controlled study

    Ander Ramos-Murguialday;Doris Broetz;Massimiliano Rea;Leonhard Läer

  • Deficient Fear Conditioning in Psychopathy A Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

    Niels Birbaumer;Ralf Veit;Martin Lotze;Michael Erb

  • A shift of visual spatial attention is selectively associated with human EEG alpha activity

    Paul Sauseng;Wolfgang Klimesch;Waltraud Stadler;M. Schabus

  • Brain-computer interfaces: communication and restoration of movement in paralysis.

    Niels Birbaumer;Leonardo G. Cohen

  • Breaking the silence: Brain–computer interfaces (BCI) for communication and motor control

    Niels Birbaumer

  • The BCI competition 2003: progress and perspectives in detection and discrimination of EEG single trials

    B. Blankertz;K.-R. Muller;G. Curio;T.M. Vaughan

  • Brain–computer interfaces for communication and rehabilitation

    Ujwal Chaudhary;Niels Birbaumer;Ander Ramos-Murguialday

  • Extensive reorganization of primary somatosensory cortex in chronic back pain patients

    Herta Flor;Christoph Braun;Thomas Elbert;Niels Birbaumer;Niels Birbaumer

Frequent Co-Authors

Werner Lutzenberger
Werner Lutzenberger University of Tübingen
Herta Flor
Herta Flor Heidelberg University
Ranganatha Sitaram
Ranganatha Sitaram St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Andrea Kübler
Andrea Kübler University of Würzburg
Thomas Elbert
Thomas Elbert University of Konstanz
Christoph Braun
Christoph Braun University of Tübingen
Boris Kotchoubey
Boris Kotchoubey University of Tübingen
Ralf Veit
Ralf Veit University of Tübingen
Brigitte Rockstroh
Brigitte Rockstroh University of Konstanz
Robert F. Schmidt
Robert F. Schmidt University of Würzburg

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