Franka Glöckner (Thurm)

Franka Glöckner (Thurm) studied psychology and obtained her doctoral degree at the University of Konstanz, Germany. In 2012 she finished her doctoral thesis about "Aging and dementia - Clinical relevance of early markers and late interventions" (WIN project, funded by the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities). In addition, she is a licensed psychological psychotherapist (CBT) and a client centered counselor.

Since October 2012, she works as researcher and lecturer at the chair of Lifespan Developmental Neuroscience at TU Dresden, Germany (focussing on ageing research). Since April 2022, she is also the main responsible psychologist at the memory clinic of the academic teaching hospital Elblandklinikum Radebeul. In the winter semester 2024/25, she took over the role as deputy chairperson for the chair of Behavioral Psychotherapy at TU Dresden. Since 2026 she is head of the psychotherapy section at Elblandklinikum Meißen and serves as principal psychologist of the memory clinic at Elblandklinikum Radebeul/Meißen. As of October 2026, Dr. Glöckner will assume the newly established Professorship for Neuropsychological Diagnostics & Psychotherapy at the Institute of Psychology and Education at Ulm University. Her research group will focus, in both teaching and research, on the (early) diagnosis and neuropsychological-psychotherapeutic treatment of neurocognitive disorders, with a particular emphasis on older adulthood.

• Neuronal plasticity in aging and neuropathology (Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease)
• Neurophysiological correlates of aging and neuropathology
• Spatial navigation ability in aging and dopaminergic dysregulation
• Effects of physical and computer-based, cognitive-sensory trainings in aging and dementia
• Stress and posttraumatic stress disorder across the lifespan

ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9684-770

Richtmann, A., Petzold, J., Glöckner, F., & Smolka, M. N. (2025). Value-Based Decision-Making and Its Relation to Cognition and Processing Noise in Young and Older Adults. Journal of Adult Development, 32(4), 393-405. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10804-024-09504-8

Sass, S. H., Gönner, L., Frölich, S., Baeuchl, C., Glöckner, F., & Smolka, M. N. (2025). Anticipated replanning costs influence resource-rational adaptation of planning depth in probabilistic environments. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6540044/v1

Sass, S. H., Gönner, L., Schwöbel, S., Frölich, S., Glöckner, F., Kiebel, S. J., ... & Smolka, M. N. (2025). Heuristic pruning of decision trees at low probabilities and probability discounting in sequential planning in young and older adults. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 16260. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-00905-7

Hass, S., Liebscher, M., Richter, A., Fliessbach, K., Laske, C., Sodenkamp, S., ... & DELCODE study group. (2024). Environmental enrichment is associated with favorable memory-related functional brain activity patterns in older adults. Frontiers in aging neuroscience, 16, 1451850. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2024.1451850

Galin, M., de Girolamo, L., Clarisse, B., Segura-Djezzar, C., Glöckner, F., Elia, C., ... & Perrier, J. (2024). Exploration of effects of galvanic vestibular stimulation on circadian rhythms and its associations with sleep and spatial memory in patients with breast cancer: The ICANSLEEP-2 protocol. Plos one, 19(7), e0306462. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0306462

Fissler, P., Glöckner, F., Nold, V., Mack, M., Jessen, F., & Kolassa, I.-T. (2024). Normale Kognition im Alter: Biologische Grundlagen und der Einfluss des Lebensstils. In: Geriatrie, Kognitive Beeinträchtigungen und Demenz: Epidemiologie, Pathophysiologie, Diagnose und Management. Kohlhammer-Verlag. Inhaltsverzeichnis

Kang, K., Antonenko, D., Glöckner, F., Flöel, A., & Li, S. C. (2024). Neural correlates of home-based intervention effects on value-based sequential decision-making in healthy older adults. Aging Brain, 5, 100109.

Baeuchl, C.*, Glöckner, F.*, Koch, C., Petzold, J., Schuck, N. W., Smolka, M. N., & Li, S. C. (2023). Dopamine differentially modulates medial temporal lobe activity and behavior during spatial navigation in young and older adults. NeuroImage, 273, 120099. *equally contributing. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120099

Chen, H. Y., Marxen, M., Dahl, M. J., & Glöckner, F. (2023). Effects of adult age and functioning of the locus coeruleus norepinephrinergic system on reward-based learning. Journal of Neuroscience, 43(35), 6185-6196. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2006-22.2023

Steffen, J., Markovic, D., Glöckner, F., Neukam, P. T., Kiebel, S. J., Li, S. C., & Smolka, M. N. (2022, preprint). Shorter Planning Depth and Higher Response Noise During Sequential Decision-Making in Old Age. Research Square. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-2095779/v1

Koch, C., Bäuchl, C., Glöckner, F., Riedel, P., Petzold, J., Smolka, M., ... & Schuck, N. W. (2022). L-DOPA enhances hippocampal direction signals in younger and older adults. NeuroImage, 264, 119670. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119670

Antonenko, D., Thams, F., Grittner, U., Uhrich, J., Glöckner, F., Li, S. C., & Flöel, A. (2022). Randomized trial of cognitive training and brain stimulation in non‐demented older adults. Alzheimer's & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions, 8(1), e12262. https://doi.org/10.1002/trc2.12262

Koch, C., Bäuchl, C., Glöckner, F., Riedel, P., Petzold, J., Smolka, M., ... & Schuck, N. W. (2021). L-DOPA enhances hippocampal direction signals in younger and older adults. bioRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.08.18.456677

Glöckner, F., Schuck, N. W., & Li, S. C. (2021). Differential prioritization of intramaze cue and boundary information during spatial navigation across the human lifespan. Scientific Reports, 11(1), 1-16. https://rdcu.be/cp3v1

Chen, H. Y., Dix, A., Goh, J. O. S., Smolka, M. N., Thurm, F., & Li, S. C. (2021). Effects and mechanisms of information saliency in enhancing value-based decision-making in younger and older adults. Neurobiology of Aging, 99, 86-98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2020.11.018

Baeuchl, C., Kroemer, N., Pooseh, S., Petzold, J., ..., Thurm, F., Li, S.-C., Smolka, M. N. (2020). Reward modulates the association between sensory noise and brain activity during perceptual decision-making. Neuropsychologia, 149, 107675. doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2020.107675

Thurm, F., Li, S. C., & Hämmerer, D. (2020). Maturation-and aging-related differences in electrophysiological correlates of error detection and error awareness. Neuropsychologia, 107476. doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2020.107476

Laptinskaya, D., Fissler, P., Küster, O. C., Wischniowski, J., Thurm, F., Elbert, T., ... & Kolassa, I. T. (2020). Global EEG coherence as a marker for cognition in older adults at risk for dementia. Psychophysiology, 57(4), e13515. doi:10.1111/psyp.13515

Antonenko, D., Thams, F., Uhrich, J., Dix, A., Thurm, F., Li, S.-C., ... & Flöel, A. (2019). Effects of a multi-session cognitive training combined with brain stimulation (TrainStim) on age-associated cognitive decline – study protocol for a randomized controlled Phase IIb (monocenter) trial. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 11, Article 200, 1-12. doi:10.3389/fnagi.2019.00200

Hilliard, D., Passow, S., Thurm, F., Schuck, N. W., Garthe, A., Kempermann, G., & Li, S.-C. (2019). Noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation modulates spatial memory in young health adults. Scientific Report, 9: 9310.

Thurm, F., Zink, N., & Li, S.-C. (2018). Comparing effects of reward anticipation on working memory in younger and older adults. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, Article 231, 1-16.

Laptinskaya, D., Thurm, F., Küster, O. C., Fissler, P., Schlee, W., Kolassa, S., ... & Kolassa, I. T. (2018). Auditory memory decay as reflected by a new mismatch negativity score is associated with episodic memory in older adults at risk of dementia. Frontiers in aging neuroscience, 10, 5.

Wittkuhn, L., Eppinger, B., Bartsch, L. M., Thurm, F., Korb, F. M., & Li, S.-C. (2018). Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation over dorsolateral prefrontal cortex modulates value-based learning during sequential decision-making. NeuroImage, 167, 384-395.

Stankevich, Y., Thurm, F., Evens, R., Fauser, M., Riedel, O., Li, S. C., & Lueken, U. (2017). Dysphoria, dopaminergic medication and spatial memory in Parkinsons disease. Neuropsychiatry, 7(4), 281-289.

Fissler, P., Müller, H. P., Küster, O. C., Laptinskaya, D., Thurm, F., Woll, A., ... & Kolassa, I. T. (2017). No evidence that short-term cognitive or physical training programs or lifestyles are related to changes in white matter integrity in older adults at risk of dementia. Frontiers in human neuroscience, 11, 110.

Kuester, O. C., Laptinskaya, D., Fissler, P., Schnack, C., Zuegel, M., Nold, V., ... Thurm, F., ... & Weydt, P. (2017). Novel blood-based biomarkers of cognition, stress, and physical or cognitive training in older adults at risk of dementia: preliminary evidence for a role of BDNF, irisin, and the kynurenine pathway. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 59(3), 1097-1111.

Thurm, F., & Li, S. C. (2017). Cognitive and brain plasticity in old age. In Encyclopedia of geropsychology (pp. 500-508). Springer.

Thurm, F., Schuck, N. W., Fauser, M., Doeller, C. F., Stankevich, Y., Evens, R., Riedel, O., Storch, A., Lueken, U., & Li, S.-C. (2016). Dopamine modulation of spatial memory in Parkinson’s disease. Neurobiology of Aging, 38, 93-103. doi: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2015.10.019

Küster, O. C., Fissler, P., Laptinskaya, D., Thurm, F., Scharpf, A., Woll, A., ... & Kolassa, I. T. (2016). Cognitive change is more positively associated with an active lifestyle than with training interventions in older adults at risk of dementia: a controlled interventional clinical trial. BMC psychiatry, 16(1), 315.

Vlahou, E.L., Thurm, F., Kolassa, I.-T., & Schlee, W. (2014). Resting-state slow wave power, healthy aging and cognitive performance. Scientific Reports, 4, 5101. doi: 10.1038/srep05101

Thurm, F., Antonenko, D., Schlee, W., Kolassa, S., Elbert, T., & Kolassa, I.-T. (2013). Effects of aging and mild cognitive impairment on electrophysiological correlates of performance monitoring. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 35(3), 575-587. doi: 10.3233/JAD-121348

Thurm, F. (2013). Sport bei Multipler Sklerose? Bisherige Erkenntnisse über mögliche neuronale Wirkmechanismen körperlicher Aktivität auf die kognitive Leistungsfähigkeit [Exercise in multiple sclerosis? Possible neuronal mechanisms of physical activity on cognitive brain function]. Neurologie und Rehabilitation, 19(4), 221-226.

Maftei, M.*, Thurm, F.*, Schnack, C., Tumani, H., Otto, M., Elbert, T., Przybylski, M., Kolassa, I.-T., Manea, M., & von Arnim, C. A. F. (2013). Increased levels of circulating β-amyloid immune complexes in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of Alzheimer’s disease patients. PLoS ONE, 8(7), e68996. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0068996 *equally contributing

Thurm, F. (2012). Körperliches Training als wichtiger Bestandteil der geriatrischen Neurorehabilitation [Physical training as an important aspect of geriatric neurorehabilitation]. Neuroreha, 4, 156-160. doi: 10.1055/s-0032-1331356

Maftei, M.*, Thurm, F.*, Leirer, V.M., von Arnim, C.A.F., Elbert, T., Przybylski, M., Kolassa, I.-T., & Manea, M. (2012). Antigen bound and free beta-amyloid autoantibodies in serum of healthy adults. PLoS ONE, 7(9), e44516. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0044516 *equally contributing

Schlee, W., Leirer, V., Kolassa, S., Thurm, F., Elbert, T., & Kolassa, I.-T. (2012). Development of large-scale functional networks over the lifespan. Neurobiology of Aging, 33(10), 2411-2421. doi: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2011.11.031

Thurm, F., Scharpf, A., Liebermann, N., Kolassa, S., Elbert, T., Lüchtenberg, D., Woll, A., & Kolassa, I.-T. (2011). Improvement of cognitive function after physical movement training in institutionalized very frail older adults with dementia. Journal of Gerontology and Geriatric Psychiatry, 24(4), 197-208. doi: 10.1024/1662-9647/a000048

Kolassa, I.-T., Glöckner, F., Leirer, V.M., & Diener, C. (2010). Neuronale Plastizität bei gesundem und pathologischem Altern [Neuronal plasticity in healthy and pathological aging]. In: Alter(n) gestalten - Medizin, Technik, Umwelt. Häfner, H., Beyreuther, K., & Schlicht, W. (Eds.). Springer-Verlag: Berlin, Heidelberg.

Kolassa, I.-T., Ertl., V., Eckart, C., Glöckner, F., Kolassa, S., Papassotiropoulos, A., de Quervain, D.J.-F., & Elbert, T. (2010). Association study of trauma load and SLC6A4 promoter polymorphism in PTSD: evidence from survivors of the Rwandan genocide. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 71(5), 543-547. doi: 10.4088/JCP.08m04787blu