Our Research Focus
Table of contents
Temperament and emotion: Vulnerability and protective factors
Neurogenetics of negative emotionality
The personality trait negative emotionality is an important vulnerability factor for affective and anxiety disorders. A number of studies also suggest that anxiety and depression are extreme manifestations of negative emotionality. The analysis of the neurobiological basis of negative emotionality can therefore make a significant contribution to elucidating the pathogenesis of these diseases. Current studies of this project are dedicated to the association of negative emotionality and underlying neurobiological mechanisms with molecular genetic variations in interaction with environmental factors.
Principal investigators
Diana ArmbrusterBurkhard BrockeAlexander Strobel
Cooperation partners
Clemens Kirschbaum (TU Dresden)Klaus-Peter Lesch (University of Würzburg)Andreas Reif (Goethe University Frankfurt am Main)
Exemplary publication
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.
Neuronal mechanisms of emotion regulation
The project focuses on the involuntary and deliberate regulation of emotions, underlying neuronal networks and their influence by molecular genetic variations.
Cooperation partners
Thomas Goschke (TU Dresden)Lukas Pezawas (Medical University of Vienna)Henrik Walter (Charité Berlin)
Exemplary publication
Gärtner, A., Dörfel, D., Diers, K., Witt, S. H., Strobel, A., Brocke, B. (2018). Impact of FAAH genetic variation on fronto-amygdala function during emotional processing. European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience.
Funding
DFG SFB 940/1 (Project A5)
Genetic basis and biological correlates of affective intraindividual variability
The project investigates the influence of biological rhythms on intraindividual changes of emotional reactivity. The focus is on the menstrual cycle and seasonal variability. The subjects repeatedly participate in the study during the follicular and late luteal phases in summer and winter. In addition to questionnaire data, peripheral physiological measurements and hormone parameters are recorded at each point in time. Furthermore, correlations between genetic variation in the so-called clock genes and in the 5-HTT gene are examined. A side project focuses on differences between women with free cycles and women who use oral contraceptives.
Principal investigator
Diana Armbruster
Cooperation partner
Clemens Kirschbaum (TU Dresden)
Exemplary publication
Armbruster, D., Brocke, B., Strobel, A. (2017). Winter is coming: Seasonality and the acoustic startle reflex. Physiology & Behavior, 169, 178-183.
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Social interaction and prosocial behavior
Neurobiological bases of altruistic punishment
Altruistic punishment is the punishment of deviant behaviour by accepting costs and without personal benefit, but with potential benefit for third parties. The goal of the project is the further clarification of underlying neuronal processes. For this we use imaging and psychophysiological methods in combination with economic games.
Principal investigators
Anne GärtnerAlexander Strobel
Cooperation partners
Sören Enge (Medical School Berlin)Peter Kirsch (ZI Mannheim)Henrik Mothes (University of Freiburg)Martin Reuter (University of Bonn)Sabine Windmann (Goethe University Frankfurt am Main)
Exemplary publication
Strobel, A., Zimmermann, J., Schmitz, A., Reuter, M., Lis, S., Windmann, S. & Kirsch, P. (2011). Beyond revenge: Neural and genetic bases of altruistic punishment. NeuroImage, 54, 671-680.
Empathy and altruism
In this project we investigate factors influencing altruism and empathy. In addition to neurobiological basics, particular attention is paid to environmental influences such as the working conditions of nursing staff.
Principal investigators
Denise DörfelAlexander Strobel
Cooperation partners
Gabriele Buruck (University of Applied Sciences Zwickau)
Exemplary publication
Buruck, G., Wendsche, J., Melzer, M., Strobel, A. & Dörfel, D. (2014). Acute psychosocial stress and emotion regulation skills modulate empathic reactions to pain in others. Frontiers in Psychology, 5, 517.
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Cognition and motivation: Dispositional perspectives
Need for Cognition
Need for Cognition (NFC) describes the stable, intrinsic motivation of an individual to face and enjoy cognitive challenges. NFC has been used for decades to predict individual differences in cognitive motivation and information processing and has been established as a conceptually independent and psychophysiologically validated dimension of individual differences alongside intelligence and temperamental characteristics in various studies, including our own. One subproject is dedicated to the multi-level validation of an implicit association test for Need for Cognition. A more recent subproject focuses on the role of mental effort in cognitive control processes.
Principal investigator
Alexander Strobel
Cooperation partners
Monika Fleischhauer (Medical School Berlin)Stefan Kiebel (TU Dresden)Sebastian Pannasch (TU Dresden)Franzis Preckel (University of Trier)Anja Strobel (TU Chemnitz)
Exemplary publication
Fleischhauer, M., Enge, S., Brocke, B., Ullrich, J., Strobel, A. & Strobel, A. (2010). Same or different? Clarifying the relationship of Need for Cognition to personality and intelligence. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 36, 82-96.
Funding
DFG STR 1005/3-1 & STR 615/8-1, SFB 940/2 (Project B6)
Dispositional aspects of attention allocation
The project is concerned with the analysis of interindividual differences in top-down and bottom-up attentional allocation. We combine EEG and fMRT with psychometric and molecular genetic approaches.
Principal investigator
Alexander Strobel
Cooperation partner
Stefan Debener (University of Oldenburg)
Exemplary publication
Strobel, A., Debener, S., Sorger, B., Peters, J.C., Kranczioch, C., Hoechstetter, K., Engel, A.K., Brocke, B. & Goebel, R. (2008). Novelty and target processing during an auditory novelty oddball: A simultaneous event-related potential and functional magnetic resonance imaging study. NeuroImage, 40, 869-883
Neuronal bases of tonic and phasic processes of arousal regulation
The aim of the project is the analysis of the interaction of phasic and tonic arousal regulation in attentional demands. The variation of the requirement for tonic arousal regulation is produced by 24-hour sleep deprivation and controlled sleep. EEG, fMRT and pCASL are used in combination as measurement methods.
Principal investigator
Burkhard Brocke
Cooperation partners
Walter Sturm (UK Aachen)Hans Duke (FZ Jülich)
Exemplary publication
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, 1443-1453.
Funding
DFG BR 858/10-1