Prof. Dr. phil. Burkhard Brocke
Professor em. (C3)
Contact information
Faculty of Science, Department of Psychology
Institute of Clinical, Diagnostic, and Differential Psychology
Technische Universität Dresden
Zellescher Weg 17, 01069 Dresden
Phone: +49 (0)351 463-32673
E-Mail:
Research Statement
My primary research interest is the neural basis of emotional regulation and the neurobiology of emotional traits. The main focus is the neural processes and circuits and molecular genetic mechanisms underlying fear and anxiety regulation, individual differences with these processes and mechanisms and the relation with emotional traits.
Scientific Education
| 1991 | Habilitation: Psychology, Free University of Berlin. Oral examination: 1991, mentor: Prof. Dr. Hans Westmeyer |
| 1975 | Promotion: Psychology, FU Berlin, oral examination: 1975, advisor: Prof. Dr. Adolf Otto Jäger |
| 1970 – 1975 | Study of Psychology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, FU Berlin |
| 1967 | Diploma (Economics) University of Cologne, advisor: Prof. Dr. W. Schreiber |
| 1962 – 1969 | Studies of Economics, Social Sciences, Philosophy (Universities of Cologne, Erlangen-Nuremberg) |
Professional Experience
| 1994 – 2008 | Director of the Institute of Clinical, Diagnostic, and Differential Psychology |
| 10/1993 – 2008 | Professor for Differential and Personality Psychology, TU Dresden |
| 03/2006 | Visiting Fellow, The Scripps Institute (La Jolla) |
| 10 – 11/2000 | Visiting Fellow, Stanford University (VH) |
| 1996 – 1998 | Head of Department (Prodekan), Department of Psychology, TU Dresden |
| 10/1992 – 03/1993 | Interim Professor for Differential and Personality Psychology, University of Potsdam |
| 1984 – 1992 | Research Fellow (FU Berlin) |
| 1977 – 1984 | Assistant Professor (Free University of Berlin) |
| 1971 – 1977 | Research Fellow (Free University of Berlin) |
Other Scientific Activities, Honors, Awards
| Since 2001 | Associate Editor of The Journal of Individual Differences (JID) |
| 1999 – 2001 | Spokesperson “Fachgruppe Differentielle Psychologie, Persönlichkeits-psychologie und Psychologische Diagnostik (DPPD)“Since 1984 Reviewer of several national and international journals and organisations (e.g., DFG, GIF, SNF) |
Selected Publications
Brocke, B., Lesch, K.P., Armbruster, D., Moser, D.A, Mueller, A., Strobel, A., Kirschbaum, C. (2010). Stathmin, a gene regulating neural plasticity, affects fear and anxiety processing in humans. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics.153B, 243-251.
Fischer, T., Langner, R., Birbaumer, N. & Brocke, B. (2008). Arousal and Attention: Self-Chosen Stimulation Optimizes Cortical Excitability and Minimizes Compensatory Effort. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 20: 8, 1-11.
Brocke, B., Armbruster, D., Müller, J., Hensch, T., Jacob, CP., Lesch, K-P., Kirschbaum, C. & Strobel, A. (2006). Serotonin transporter gene variation impacts innate fear processing: acoustic startle response and emotional startle, Molecular Psychiatry, 11, 1106-1112.
Dreisbach, G., Müller, J., Goschke, T., Strobel, A., Schulze, K., Lesch, K.-P. & Brocke, B. (2005). Dopamine and Cognitive Control: The influence of spontaneous eye-blink rate and dopamine gene polymorphisms on perseveration and distractibility. Behavioral Neuroscience, 119 (2), 483–490.
Strobel, A., Wehr, A., Michel, A. & Brocke, B. (1999). Association between the dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4) exon III polymorphism and measures of Novelty Seeking in a German population. Molecular Psychiatry, 4, 78-84.