Dr. Walter Paulus stands as a preeminent figure in clinical neurophysiology with decades of groundbreaking contributions to brain stimulation research. He serves as Emeritus Professor of Clinical Neurophysiology following his distinguished tenure as Clinical Director of the Department of Clinical Neurophysiology at the University Medical Centre. After completing his specialty training in Neurology, Dr. Paulus held positions at the Alfried Krupp Hospital in Essen and Ludwig Maximilian's University in Munich before his 1992 appointment to the faculty at Göttingen University. His career trajectory culminated in his retirement from Göttingen in 2021, though he continues to actively pursue EU-funded research at the Department of Neurology at Ludwig Maximilian's University of Munich, maintaining his position at the forefront of neuroscience innovation.
Dr. Paulus has pioneered the development and clinical application of non-invasive transcranial electrical stimulation techniques, including tDCS, tACS, and tRNS, fundamentally transforming neuromodulation research worldwide. His seminal work established the neuroplastic effects of these stimulation modalities, demonstrating how mental challenges or motor activation can lead to collapse or reversal of aftereffects through mechanisms involving surround inhibition and 'leaky membrane' hypotheses. He made groundbreaking contributions to understanding homeostatic mechanisms when combining electrical and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation methods, while also elucidating the critical importance of current flow directionality in both electrical and magnetic stimulation paradigms. His innovative research on co-applying CNS-active drugs with stimulation techniques has significantly refined clinical protocols, particularly for the treatment of major depression, with his work cited as foundational to the global research interest in non-invasive brain stimulation.
Beyond his research achievements, Dr. Paulus has provided exceptional leadership to the international neuroscience community through his service as chair of the European and African Chapter of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology from 2014 to 2018 and as President of the IFCN from 2018 to 2022. His exemplary contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors including the Hans Berger Prize of the DGKN in 2016, the Pierre Gloor Award of the ACNS in 2022, and the European Career Achievement on Non-invasive Brain Stimulation Award in 2024. Dr. Paulus continues to shape the field through ongoing EU-funded research projects at LMU Munich and active participation in major scientific initiatives, as evidenced by his recent co-authorship on digital neuromodulation trials. His enduring influence ensures that his methodologies and theoretical frameworks will continue to guide clinical applications and research directions in brain stimulation for years to come.
