Internship at the Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain (CNAP) - Bárbara Silva Passadouro

With the support of DiMeN flexible funding, I undertook a 4-month research internship at the Center for Neuroplasty and Pain (CNAP), Aalborg University, Denmark. My main goal was to learn a cutting-edge technique that uses magnetic pulses and brainwave recordings to explore how the brain responds to stimulation - this is known as combined transcranial magnetic stimulation-electroencephalography, TMS-EEG. During my time at CNAP, I gained hands-on experience with every step of TMS-EEG research from setting up the equipment to analysing the brain data. I also acquired practical skills in other brain stimulation techniques and a range of experimental pain paradigms.

My internship project focused on analysing existing data derived from a study exploring whether stimulating a specific brain region – thought to play a role in pain relief – can induce changes in resting brain activity. Alongside this, I collaborated with other members of the research team in data collection for another ongoing study investigating how the brain naturally restores balance when its activity is disrupted.

My time at CNAP was an incredible experience that went far beyond what I expected. I learned a great deal - not only by getting hands-on with research, but also through exciting and thought-provoking conversations with people from all kinds of backgrounds, all working to better understand pain. Being surrounded by such varied perspectives challenged me to think differently about pain and science itself. I also had the opportunity to experience research from the other side by taking part in a few studies myself. This gave me a fresh perspective on the research process and what it feels like to contribute as a volunteer.

What made the experience even more memorable was the strong sense of team spirit, where everyone’s ideas and contributions were valued, making it a truly collaborative and fun environment. The team included people from all over the world, and I really enjoyed the chance to learn from their experiences, both professionally and culturally. I was able to build meaningful connections and expand my professional network, and I now look forward to applying the skills and insights I gained as I continue my PhD research. I also hope to carry on the work we started together and strengthen these collaborations in the future.