Dr. rer. nat. Markus Mühlhan

Contact information

Technische Universität Dresden
Faculty of Science
Department of Psychology
Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy
Chemnitzer Str. 46
01187 Dresden

MSH Medical School Hamburg
University of Applied Sciences and Medical University
Faculty of Human Sciences
Department of Psychology
Am Kaiserkai 1
20457 Hamburg

Phone: +49 (0) 40 2264 9324
E-Mail:

Research Statement

My research is focussed on the neurobiological basis of stress and anxiety in clinical and non-clinical samples. In project C5 I investigate maladaptiveley exerted cognitive control in specific phobia and its predictive value for the therapeutic outcome. Another area of my research is dedicated to the effects of child abuse and epigenetic changes on stress systems and functional brain architecture.

Scientific Education

07/2012	Doctorate (Dr. rer. nat.), Faculty of Science, Department of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
10/2007 - 03/2012	Doctoral candidate, Chair of Biopsychology, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
10/2007	Diploma in Psychology, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Germany
10/2001 - 10/2007	Study of Psychology, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Germany

Professional Experience

since 10/2016	Professor ad interim for Neuroscience, Medical School Hamburg (MSH), Hamburg, Germany
since 04/2012	Research assistant, Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
10/2007 - 03/2012	Doctoral candidate, Chair of Biopsychology, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany

Other Scientific Activities, Honors, Awards

2016	Travel Award for the annual meeting of the OHBM, Geneva, Switzerland (Graduate Academy - Technische Universität Dresden)
2015	Karl und Charlotte Bühler Award for excellent teaching, Department of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden
2014	Karl und Charlotte Bühler Award for excellent teaching, Department of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden
2013	Karl und Charlotte Bühler Award for excellent teaching, Department of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden
2012	Travel Award for the annual meeting of the OHBM, Beijing, China Association of Friends and Sponsors of Technische Universität Dresden (e.V.)
2010	Karl und Charlotte Bühler Award for excellent teaching, Department of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden

Selected Publications

Muehlhan. M., Miller, R., Strehle, J., Smolka, M.N., Alexander, N. (under Review) FKBP5 Methylation predicts Functional Network Architecture of the rostral Anterior Cingulate Cortex.

Weber-Goerecke, F., Muehlhan, M. (2019). A quantitative meta-analysis of fMRI studies investigating emotional processing in excessive worriers: application of activation likelihood estimation analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders, 243:348–359 (Impact Factor: 3.786). doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2018.09.049

Muehlhan, M., Höcker, A., Miller, R., Trautmann, S., Wiedemann, K., Lotzin, A., Barnow, S., Schäfer, I. (2018) HPA axis stress reactivity and hair cortisol concentrations in recently detoxified alcoholics and healthy controls with and without childhood maltreatment. Addiction Biology (Impact Factor: 5.578) (e pub ahead of print)

Muehlhan, M., Höcker, A., Höfler, A., Wiedemann, K., Barnow, S., Schäfer, I., & the CANSAS study group (2017). Stress-related salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) activity in alcohol dependent patients with and without a history of childhood maltreatment. Psychopharmacology 234(12), 1901-1909. (Impact Factor: 3.308). doi: 10.1007/s00213-017-4595-8

Muehlhan, M., Kirschbaum, C., Wittchen, H-U., Alexander, N. (2015). Epigenetic variation in the serotonin transporter gene predicts resting state functional connectivity strength within the salience-network. Human Brain Mapping, 36, 4361-4371. (Impact Factor: 4.53). doi: 10.1002/hbm.22923