Dr. Diana Armbruster, TP: A05, 2012 - 2016

Research assistant

Contact information

Faculty of Science
Department of Psychology
Institute of Differential and Personality Psychology

Technische Universität Dresden
Zellescher Weg 17, 01069 Dresden

Phone: +49 (0)351 463-36997
E-Mail:

Research Statement

My research interest is on the impact of genetic variation and environmental factors as well as their interplay on the development of personality traits and emotional processing. Endophenotypes which link complex traits with their respective biological underpinnings and thus bridge the gap between genes and behavior are a focal point in these research efforts. Future research will in addition also concentrate on the influence of genes on intraindividual variability.
 

Subprojects

• MGK

Scientific Education

2010	PhD in Psychology (summa cum laude), TU Dresden Thesis title: The impact of serotonergic and dopaminergic genetic variation on endophenotypes of emotional processing
2005	Diploma in Psychology (sehr gut), TU Dresden

Professional Experience

Other Scientific Activities, Honors, Awards

2012	Commerzbankpreis for doctoral thesis

Selected Publications

Armbruster, D., Grage, T., Kirschbaum, C., Strobel A. (2018). Processing emotions: Effects of menstrual cycle phase and premenstrual symptoms on the startle reflex, facial EMG and heart rate . Behavioural Brain Research.

Armbruster, D., Kirschbaum, C., Strobel A. (2017). The not-so-bitter pill: effects of combined oral contraceptives on peripheral physiological indicators of emotional reactivity. Hormones & Behavior  94: 97-105.

Armbruster, D., Brocke, B., Strobel, A. (2017). Winter is coming: Seasonality and the acoustic startle reflex. Physiology & Behavior 169: 178-183.

Armbruster, D., Müller-Alcazar, A., Strobel, A., Lesch, K.-P., Kirschbaum, C., Brocke, B. (2016). BDNF val66met genotype shows distinct associations with the acoustic startle reflex and the cortisol stress response in young adults and children. Psychoneuroendocrinology 66: 39–46.

Armbruster, D., Pieper, L., Klotsche, J., Hoyer, J. (2015). Predictions get tougher in older individuals: a longitudinal study of optimism, pessimism and depression. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology 50: 153–163.

Armbruster, D., Strobel, A., Kirschbaum, C., Brocke, B. (2014). The impact of sex and menstrual cycle on the acoustic startle response. Behavioural Brain Research 274: 326–333.

Armbruster, D., Suchert, V., Gärtner, A. & Strobel, A. (2014). Threatening shapes: the impact of simple geometric configurations on peripheral physiological markers. Physiology & Behavior, 135, 215-221.

Armbruster, D., Mueller, A., Strobel, A., Lesch, K.-P., Brocke, B. & Kirschbaum, C (2012). Children under stress – COMT genotype and stressful life events predict cortisol increase in an acute social stress paradigm. International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology. 15: 1229-1239.

Mueller A., Strahler J., Armbruster D., Brocke B., Lesch K.-P & Kirschbaum C. (2012). Genetic contributions to the acute autonomic stress responsiveness in children. International Journal of Psychophysiology. 83: 302-308.

Armbruster, D., Mueller, A., Strobel, A., Lesch, K.-P., Brocke, B. & Kirschbaum, C. (2011). Predicting cortisol stress responses in older individuals: influence of serotonin receptor 1 A gene (HTR1A) and stressful life events. Hormones and Behavior. 60, 105-111.

Armbruster, A., Mueller, A., Strobel, A., Lesch, K.-P., Kirschbaum, C. & Brocke, B. (2011). Variation in genes involved in dopamine clearance influence the startle response in older adults. Journal of Neural Transmission. 118, 1281-1292.

Armbruster, D., Mueller, A., Strobel, A., Lesch, K.P., Kirschbaum, C., Brocke, B.(2010). Influence of functional tryptophan hydroxylase 2 gene variation and sex on the startle response in children, young adults, and older adults. Biological Psychology. 83, 214-221.

Armbruster, D., Mueller, A., Moser, D.A., Lesch, K.P., Brocke, B., Kirschbaum, C. (2009). Interaction effect of D4 dopamine receptor gene and serotonin transporter promoter polymorphism on the cortisol stress response. Behavioral Neuroscience. 123,1288-1295.

Armbruster, D., Moser, D.A., Strobel, A., Hensch, T., Kirschbaum, C., Lesch, K-P., Brocke, B. (2009). Serotonin transporter gene variation and stressful life events impact processing of fear and anxiety. International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology. 12, 393-401.