Prof. Dr. Steven Laureys

Dr Steven Laureys is an award-winning neurologist, recognised worldwide as a leading physician & researcher in the field of consciousness & cognition.
Appointments for a private video-consultation or second-opinion are made through this website.
Afspraken voor een privé video-consultatie neurologie gebeuren via deze site.
Les rendez-vous pour une vidéo-consultation neurologique privée ou un deuxième avis se prennent via ce site.
For other appointments / voor afspraak in andere centra / pour toute autre prise de rendez-vous : TRAINM Neuro Rehabilitation Clinics, Antwerp , Zottegem or Amsterdam (+32 3 283 0223)

Prof Laureys is renown for for his expertise in altered states of consciousness, cognitive disorders, neurorehabilitation, recovery of brain function, traumatic brain injury, concussion, coma, stroke, locked-in syndrome , vegetative state/unresponsive wakefulness, minimally conscious state and near-death experiences; but also sleeping, memory and motor disorders, chronic pain and headache, and stress related symptoms.

In over 25 years of clinical experience, he has studied neuroplasticity and the power of the mind using neuroimaging and neuromodulation techniques but also hypnosis & meditation. With his team, he has published over 540 scientific articles on the workings of the brain. You can get more info on his personal website, via his public talks, books or press articles.
Expertscape, an organization that ranks medical experts, has Prof Laureys ranked as a world-leading neurologist for the past 10 years.

Thanks for your trust and looking forward to listening to your unique story.

Ik kijk er naar uit om jouw verhaal te mogen kennen en je bij te staan in je genezingsproces. Dank je voor je vertrouwen.

Merci pour votre confiance. Je suis reconnaissant d'entendre votre histoire personnelle et de vous accompagner dans votre processus de guérison.

Education

• Medical Doctor, VUB University Brussels 1993
• M.Sc., Medical & Pharmaceutical Research, VUB University Brussels 1997
• Qualified in Neurology, Ministry of Health, Belgium 1998
• Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences, University of Liège 2000
• Qualified in Palliative Care and End-of-Life Medicine (ULB, ULg, Catholic U Louvain) 2004

Publications

• Restoration of thalamocortical connectivity after recovery from persistent vegetative state. Laureys S et al Lancet. 2000 May 20;355(9217):1790-1.
• Therapeutic interventions in patients with prolonged disorders of consciousness. Thibaut A, Schiff N, Giacino J, Laureys S, Gosseries O. Lancet Neurol. 2019 Jun;18(6):600-614.
• Neurophysiological Biomarkers of Persistent Post-concussive Symptoms. Mortaheb S... Laureys S, Thibaut A. Front Neurol. 2021 Sep 9;12:687197.
• tDCS in patients with disorders of consciousness: sham-controlled randomized double-blind study. Thibaut A... Laureys S. Neurology. 2014 Apr 1;82(13):1112-8.
• Hypnosis, Meditation, and Self-Induced Cognitive Trance to Improve Post-treatment Oncological Patients' Quality of Life. Grégoire C... Laureys S, Vanhaudenhuyse A, Gosseries O. Front Psychol. 2022 Feb 10;13:807741.
• Cerebral metabolism before and after external trigeminal nerve stimulation in episodic migraine. Magis D... Laureys S, Schoenen J. Cephalalgia. 2017 Aug;37(9):881-891.
• Hypnosis Associated with 3D Immersive Virtual Reality Technology in the Management of Pain. Rousseaux F... Laureys S, Vanhaudenhuyse A. J Pain Res. 2020 May 21;13:1129-1138.
• Brain, conscious experience and the observing self. Baars BJ, Ramsøy TZ, Laureys S. Trends Neurosci. 2003 Dec;26(12):671-5.
• Neuroplastic changes mediate motor recovery with implanted peroneal nerve stimulator in individuals with chronic stroke. Thibaut A... Laureys S, Gosseries O. Ann Phys Rehabil Med. 2021 Mar;64(2):101358
• Locked-in syndrome in children. Bruno MA... Laureys S. Pediatr Neurol. 2009 Oct;41(4):237-46.
• The scientific articles and books can be found on my professional website or sent upon request

Awards

• European Academy of Neurology Award for Functional Neurology 2020
• Generet Award, King Baudouin Foundation 2019
• Francqui Prize biological & medical sciences - Royal Belgian Academy 2017
• Max Planck Society Prize for neurological research (with prof Giulio Tononi University of Madison USA) 2017
• Blaise Pascal Medal of Medicine, European Academy of Sciences 2012
• US Society of Cognitive Neuroscience Award 2007
• ASSC William James Prize for Contributions to the Study of Consciousness 2004
• Canada Excellence Research Chair in Neuroplasticity, CERVO Centre, Laval University 2022

Affiliations

• Invited Professor, Harvard Medical School, BIDMC, Boston since 2024
• Research Director, Belgian National Fund for Scientific Research since 2012
• Co-founder and CMO BRAIN-NM NeuroModulation (2023) and Head Neurologist TRAINM NeuroRehabilitation, Antwerp and Amsterdam
• Co-Director, Hangzhou International Consciousness Institute, China since 2015
• Founder and Past-Director, Coma Science Group (2006) and GIGA Consciousness Research Unit (2014), University of Liège
• Member of the Royal Academy of Medicine of Belgium since 2018
• Founder & past chair, World Federation of Neurology - Coma & Disorders of Consciousness Specialty Group (2012)