We are deeply saddened by the unexpected passing of Professor Friedemann Pulvermüller, a former Programme Leader and Head of EEG/MEG at the CBU.

Friedemann came to the CBU in 2000, bringing modern EEG methods to the Unit, and in 2005 leading our bid to establish the MEG laboratory. In his time at the CBU, his group was always at the cutting edge in applying cognitive neuroscience methods to long-standing cognitive questions for language: the relationship between speech perception and production, the nature of lexical and syntactic representations, sensorimotor embodiment of word meaning, and more. He successfully collaborated with a large number of researchers at the CBU and Cambridge, as well as around the world, as documented by his extensive publication record. He was energetic in championing new research directions – developing spiking network simulations of language processing, and pioneering constraint-induced aphasia therapy – both of which continued as important themes for his research group at the Frei University in Berlin where he moved in 2011.

Friedemann’s passing will impact many of us at the CBU that remember his cheerful good nature, dry sense of humour and accomplished jazz drumming which featured at CBU Christmas parties, and regular gigs in Cambridge. Most importantly, our thoughts are now with his wife Bettina, who was also a Research Fellow at the CBU, and their son Johannes.