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Alumni

Name
Supervisors
Research Project
were: Prof. Dr. Werner Sommer, Prof. Dr. Manfred Krifka and Prof. Dr. Annekathrin Schacht
Distinct influences of emotional and cognitive variables on emotional language processing
Research Project Distinct influences of emotional and cognitive variables on emotional language processing

The influence of emotions on visual word processing not only becomes obvious in behavioural responses, but also in event-related potentials and other psychophysiological parameters. This dissertation aims to investigate distinct influences of emotional and cognitive factors on these emotion effects, as well as possible interactions between these variables, trying to create a clearer picture of the underlying processes in emotional word processing.
Funding Mind and Brain scholarship; Mind and Brain postdoctoral scholarship
Supervisors were: Prof. Dr. Werner Sommer, Prof. Dr. Manfred Krifka and Prof. Dr. Annekathrin Schacht
M&B Topics Topic 3: Language
Degrees Diplom, Psychology (Universität Würzburg)
Institute Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Biological Psychology / Psychophysiology
Phone
E-mail mareike.bayer-please remove this text-@psychologie.hu-berlin.de
Homepage
CV
Publications
were: Prof. Dr. John-Dylan Haynes
and Prof. Dr. Michael Pauen
Representation of object identity and location in high-level ventral visual cortex
Research Project Representation of object identity and location in high-level ventral visual cortex

Our visual experience of objects can be described by two types of information: the content, i.e. the identity of the object we see, and the location of the content in the visual field, i.e. where the object is to be seen. Prior studies have indicated the high-level ventral visual cortex as the prime region underlying visual object recognition. The three studies presented here investigated systematically to which extent high-level ventral visual cortex processes both types of information, i.e. location and content. For this, perceptual paradigms and a visual imagery paradigm were used, combining functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and multivariate pattern classification. The results indicate that high-level ventral visual cortex encodes object location as well as object identity in a way that is tolerant to changes in object location in the visual field. Moreover, imagery and perception share representations of object identity and object location in high-level ventral visual cortex. The extent to which distinct portions of high-level ventral visual cortex encodes particular object identity tolerant to changes in object location indicates a partly distributed object representation in high-level ventral visual cortex.
Funding Mind and Brain scholarship
Supervisors were: Prof. Dr. John-Dylan Haynes
and Prof. Dr. Michael Pauen
M&B Topics Topic 1: Perception, attention, consciousness
Degrees B.Sc., M.Sc. Medical Neurosciences (Charité Berlin); Dr. rer. nat. (Humboldt)
Institute Technische Universität Berlin and Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience, Berlin
Phone +49 176 61264954
E-mail rmcichy-please remove this text-@gmail.com
Homepage
CV
Publications
were: Prof. Dr. Thomas Schmidt and Prof. Dr. Hans-Ludwig Kröber
Moral responsibility and normative capacities
Research Project Moral responsibility and normative capacities

My research project addresses questions concerning the conditions of moral responsibility in an interdisciplinary framework. Philosophical accounts typically spell out these conditions in terms of normative capacities, i.e. capacities such as “being able to grasp moral reasons” and “being able to control one’s behaviour in accord with moral reasons”. My work circles mainly around the two following questions: First, in how far is it possible to come up with empirical criteria for the presence or absence of these capacities? Second, in how far is it possible, in general, to spell out these capacities in empirical terms, i.e., in terms of psychology or neuroscience?
Funding Mind and Brain scholarship; Mind and Brain postdoctoral scholarship
Supervisors were: Prof. Dr. Thomas Schmidt and Prof. Dr. Hans-Ludwig Kröber
M&B Topics Topic 5: Brain disorders and mental dysfunction
Degrees M.A. (Magister Artium) in Philosophy (Universität Göttingen), Dr. phil. (Humboldt-Universität)
Institute Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Philosophy
Phone
E-mail malte.engel-please remove this text-@web.de
Homepage
CV
Publications
were: Prof. Dr. Norbert Kathmann, Dr. Simone Schütz-Bosbach and Prof. Dr. Michael Pauen
Self-other distinction in action control
Research Project Self-other distinction in action control

I am interested in studying the neural and cognitive mechanisms underlying the sense of agency and its disorders. My research will focus on the experience of agency for actions, that is the sense the agent has that he or she is the author of an action and its consequences. I am currently working on a project designed to investigate the role of action effect attribution in higher order motor control. I plan to explore the mechanisms of agency in both healthy individuals and individuals suffering from psychophathology.
Funding Mind and Brain scholarship; MPI Leipzig
Supervisors were: Prof. Dr. Norbert Kathmann, Dr. Simone Schütz-Bosbach and Prof. Dr. Michael Pauen
M&B Topics Topic 2: Decision-making
Topic 5: Brain disorders and mental dysfunction
Degrees Dipl.-Psych. (Humboldt-Universität)
Institute Institute of Psychology, Humboldt-Universitäta; and Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig
Phone
E-mail antjegentsch-please remove this text-@gmail.com
Homepage
CV
Publications
were: Prof. Dr. Lutz Weinke and Prof. Dr. Hauke Heekeren
Three essays in macroeconomics and neuroeconomics
Research Project Three essays in macroeconomics and neuroeconomics

Decision-making under uncertainty is one of the central research areas in both economics and neuroscience. I combine methods from experimental economics with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate the neural bases of risk aversion and ambiguity aversion. I thereby aim to contribute to the development of descriptively more accurate models of human decision-making under uncertainty.
Funding University Research Assistant
Supervisors were: Prof. Dr. Lutz Weinke and Prof. Dr. Hauke Heekeren
M&B Topics Topic 2: Decision-making
Degrees Diplom [M.Sc. equivalent] in Economics (Humboldt-Universität); Dr. rer. nat. (Humboldt-Universität)
Institute School of Business and Economics, Institute of Economic Policy I, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Phone
E-mail gerhardt-please remove this text-@wiwi.hu-berlin.de
Homepage http://lehre.wiwi.hu-berlin.de/Professuren/vwl/wipo/team/hol...
CV
Publications
were: Prof. Dr. Hauke Heekeren and Prof. Dr. Shu-Chen Li
Reward-based and perceptual decision making
Research Project Reward-based and perceptual decision making

Funding Freie Universität Berlin & Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin
Supervisors were: Prof. Dr. Hauke Heekeren and Prof. Dr. Shu-Chen Li
M&B Topics Topic 2: Decision-making
Degrees B.Sc. Cognitive Science (University of Osnabrueck, Germany), M.Sc. Cognitive Science, Track: Brain, Behavior and Cognition (University of Amsterdam)
Institute Freie Universität Berlin, Department of Education and Psychology, Affective Neuroscience Research Group (2010-2011); Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin (2007-2010)
Phone
E-mail nikos.green-please remove this text-@fu-berlin.de
Homepage
CV
Publications
were: Prof. Dr. Arthur Jacobs and Prof. Dr. Gabriel Curio
Neural correlates of covert and overt movements investigated by EEG/EMG with implications for brain-computer interfacing
Research Project Neural correlates of covert and overt movements investigated by EEG/EMG with implications for brain-computer interfacing

My Ph.D. research integrates cognitive psychology with computational neuroscience in order to understand the relation between motor cognition and brain activity, in order to optimize brain-computer interfacing. A BCI provides a non-muscular communication channel between the subject and the environment, based on the detection of intention-related brain signatures, for instance in electroencephalography. My main research interests are neural correlates of action intention, movement inhibition, motor imagery, and quasi-movements.
Funding Mind and Brain scholarship
Supervisors were: Prof. Dr. Arthur Jacobs and Prof. Dr. Gabriel Curio
M&B Topics Topic 1: Perception, attention, consciousness
Topic 2: Decision-making
Degrees Dipl.-Psych. (Freie Universität Berlin); since December 2010: Dr. phil.
Institute Neurophysics Group, Department of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Phone +49 30 84454703
E-mail friederike.hohlefeld-please remove this text-@gmx.de
Homepage
CV
Publications
were: Prof. Dr. John-Dylan Haynes and Prof. Dr. Andreas Heinz
Decoding Value-Related Information from Spatially Distributed fMRI Patterns
Research Project Decoding Value-Related Information from Spatially Distributed fMRI Patterns

An optimal choice among alternative behavioral options requires precise anticipatory representations of their possible outcomes. This raises the fundamental question how such expected outcomes are represented in the human brain. Reward coding at the level of single cells in the orbitofrontal cortex follows a more heterogeneous coding scheme than suggested by studies using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in humans. Specifically, in contrast to average signal increases, as suggested by such fMRI studies, equally prevalent populations of neurons increase and decrease their firing rate with increasing reward value. This dissertation contains two experiments that use a combination of multivariate pattern classification and fMRI to shed light into this discrepancy. The results of the first experiment (Kahnt et al., 2010b) demonstrate that the reward value of sensory cues can be decoded from spatially distributed fMRI patterns in the medial orbitofrontal cortex and that a similar neural code is used to represent reward value during anticipation and during receipt of reward. This distributed representation is compatible with reports from animal electrophysiology, which suggest the presence of different neural populations with opposing coding schemes. For most behavioral options, more than one attribute can be relevant in order to predict the expected reward. Thus, to make choices the reward predictions of multiple attributes need to be integrated into a combined expected value. The second experiment (Kahnt et al., 2010a) addresses the question where in the brain this combined reward prediction (averaged across attributes) and where the variability of the reward predictions is encoded. The results provide evidence that the combined value is encoded in distributed fMRI patterns in the medial orbitofrontal cortex. Additionally, the variability of value predictions of the individual attributes is encoded in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. In summary, the results of both experiments elucidate the neural coding of expected reward and narrow the gap between conflicting results from animal electrophysiology and human fMRI studies.
Funding Mind and Brain scholarship; Mind and Brain postdoctoral scholarship
Supervisors were: Prof. Dr. John-Dylan Haynes and Prof. Dr. Andreas Heinz
M&B Topics Topic 2: Decision-making
Degrees Dipl.-Psych. (Freie Universität Berlin); Dr. rer. nat. (Humboldt-Universität) in January 2011
Institute Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience, Berlin; Institut für Psychologie, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Phone
E-mail thorsten.kahnt-please remove this text-@gmail.com
Homepage
CV
Publications
were: Prof. Dr. Klaus Obermayer and Prof. Dr. John-Dylan Haynes
Processing of expected values in human visual cortex
Research Project Processing of expected values in human visual cortex

Experience might effectively modulate our choice if prior stimulation reveals some information about future reward. For example, experience might accumulate to an expected reward at different target locations. Following Pascal (1670) the expected reward is given as the predictability of the reward and the amount of reward associated with each location. In the first study, we modulated the expected reward in a simple binary choice task in order to test rational decision making in the context of complex expected value functions. We found that the subjects likely match, but do not maximize the expected reward and likely implement a short‐term average over stimulus appearances, but not the true generative model. In the second study, our aim was to gradually modulate the endogenous orientation of attention with the expected value of distributed reward in the environment. Shifts in attentional focus were induced by linking one location with a higher expected reward than other locations. Larger expected values should then increase the likelihood that subjects would focus their attention on one location rather than distribute it across the entire display. The discrimination performance at a target location is a close indicator of attention. Therefore we setup a discrimination task and measured the behavioral discrimination performance. In fact, we found that subjects increasingly discriminate the target status with a larger expected value. The models proposed in the first study account quite closely for basic properties of the behavioral results. However, a close analysis on a trial‐by‐trial basis showed that the true generative model cannot account for subjects’ behavior, which is however well explained by short‐term average over stimulus appearances. In the third study, we measured the event‐related potential (ERP) during the discrimination task introduced in the second study and compared the ERP modulations to the decision making models proposed in the first study. Grand average ERP waveforms showed an increase in components as early as the N1 component with increasing expected reward of the stimulus location. In fact, the performance in the discrimination task and the rewardmodulation are closely reflected in the amplitude of these early‐visual, attention‐related EEG‐responses. We therefore conclude the processing of expected rewards in early‐visual components of EEG. Thesis: http://opus.kobv.de/tuberlin/volltexte/2009/2267/pdf/kallerhoff_philipp.pdf
Funding Mind and Brain scholarship
Supervisors were: Prof. Dr. Klaus Obermayer and Prof. Dr. John-Dylan Haynes
M&B Topics Topic 2: Decision-making
Degrees Dipl.-Ing, Dipl.-Psych. (Technische Universität Berlin); Dr.-Ing. completed in June 2009
Institute
Phone
E-mail
Homepage
CV
Publications
were: Prof. Dr. Arno Villringer and Prof. Dr. Elke van der Meer
Resting-State Functional Connectivity fMRI: A new approach for assessing functional neuroanatomy in humans with applications to neuroanatomical, developmental and clinical questions
Research Project Resting-State Functional Connectivity fMRI: A new approach for assessing functional neuroanatomy in humans with applications to neuroanatomical, developmental and clinical questions

While “task-based” functional neuroimaging has generated remarkable knowledge regarding the roles of specific brain regions and their impact on various psychopathologies, several longstanding research questions remain a significant challenge to its methodological scope. This dissertation presents a series of studies which describe advances in task-independent “resting state” functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) aimed at addressing three specific challenges: (1) defining functional subdivisions within complex regions; (2) whole-brain analysis of lateralized function; and, (3) probing developmental and/or clinical populations not easily amenable to task participation in the scanner environment. The studies presented here address these challenges by demonstrating the ability of resting-state functional connectivity to: (1) assess functional subdivisions within the complex regions of anterior cingulate cortex (ACC; Margulies et al., 2007), striatum (Di Martino et al., 2008), amygdala (Roy et al., 2008) and precuneus (Margulies et al., under revision); (2) quantify interhemispheric specialization by addressing synchronization across the whole-brain between corresponding contralateral regions (Stark et al., 2008); and (3) track developmental changes in ACC functional connectivity from childhood to early adulthood (Kelly et al., 2008), and also address a clinically-related question by analyzing functional connectivity in regions related to attentional lapses in a population with attention deficits (Castellanos et al., 2008). Finally, the test-retest reliability of resting-state functional connectivity was demonstrated to be significant (Shehzad et al., 2009). In summary, resting-state functional connectivity has been shown to be effective at addressing questions regarding functional neuroanatomy, as well as neurodevelopmental and clinical questions, thereby offering a novel methodology for settings where task-based approaches are inherently limited.
Funding Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig
Supervisors were: Prof. Dr. Arno Villringer and Prof. Dr. Elke van der Meer
M&B Topics Topic 1: Perception, attention, consciousness
Topic 4: Brain plasticity and lifespan ontogeny
Topic 5: Brain disorders and mental dysfunction
Degrees B.A. in Philosophy (New York University); Dr. rer. nat.
Institute Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig & Mind-Brain Institute, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Phone +49 176 96504440
E-mail daniel.margulies-please remove this text-@gmail.com
Homepage
CV
Publications
were: Prof. Dr. Michael Pauen and Prof. Dr. Ulman Lindenberger
Self consciousness – from nonconceptual content to the concept of a self
Research Project Self consciousness – from nonconceptual content to the concept of a self

My project’s aim is to develop a philosophical theory of the development of self-consciousness. In particular, my aim is to develop a model of self-consciousness that can make intelligible the transition from primitive, possibly nonconceptual forms of self-consciousness to a full-fledged concept of a self by drawing on philosophical considerations as well as on insights from empirical research in developmental psychology, ethology and cognitive neuroscience. One of my central hypotheses is that the development of self-consciousness is in important respects dependent on the development of an awareness of other minds. In other words, self-consciousness arises only in the context of intersubjectivity.
Funding Mind and Brain scholarship (until June 2007); Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes (from July 2007)
Supervisors were: Prof. Dr. Michael Pauen and Prof. Dr. Ulman Lindenberger
M&B Topics Topic 1: Perception, attention, consciousness
Topic 3: Language
Topic 4: Brain plasticity and lifespan ontogeny
Degrees M.A. in Philosophy, Diploma in Neuroscience (Universität Magdeburg); Dr. phil. (Humboldt-Universität)
Institute Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Philosophy
Phone
E-mail kmusholt-please remove this text-@gmail.com
Homepage
CV
Publications
were: Prof. Dr. Werner Sommer and Prof. Dr. Stephan Brandt
Adaptation processes following cognitive conflicts
Research Project Adaptation processes following cognitive conflicts

My dissertation project deals with conflicts as signals in cognitive systems. Conflicts in cognitive systems appear if at least two incompatible tendencies or motivations of action are present. The project is situated between the investigation of distinct cognitive control networks engaging in conflict and error monitoring, inhibition and immediate behavioural adaptation processes. Their functional neuroanatomic correspondents in prefrontal areas like the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex or parietal structures will be analyzed using electroencephalography (EEG) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) techniques.
Funding University Research Assistant
Supervisors were: Prof. Dr. Werner Sommer and Prof. Dr. Stephan Brandt
M&B Topics Topic 2: Decision-making
Degrees Dipl.-Psych. (Humboldt-Universität)
Institute Institute of Psychology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Phone
E-mail
Homepage
CV
Publications
were: Prof. Dr. Hauke R. Heekeren and Prof. Dr. Jörg Rieskamp
Neural correlate of complex decision making in humans
Research Project Neural correlate of complex decision making in humans

Everyday, we are confronted with numerous situations in which we have to decide. It is assumed that individuals choose the option with the highest value. Since options in the real world situations are not single dimensional and distinct, the computation of the diverse components is required, upon which the decision can be based. The goal of my PhD project is to investigate neural mechanisms that underlie complex decision making processes in human, especially reward based decision making.
Funding Mind and Brain scholarship
Supervisors were: Prof. Dr. Hauke R. Heekeren and Prof. Dr. Jörg Rieskamp
M&B Topics Topic 2: Decision-making
Degrees Dipl. Psychology (Technical University Berlin, 2008), BA German Language & Literature (Korea University, 2006)
Institute Freie Universität Berlin, Institute of Psychology
Phone
E-mail soyoung.q.park-please remove this text-@gmail.com
Homepage
CV
Publications
were: Prof. Dr. Elke van der Meer and Prof. Dr. Isabell Wartenburger
High fluid intelligence and analogical reasoning. Behavioural and cerebral correlates and their temporal characteristics
Research Project High fluid intelligence and analogical reasoning. Behavioural and cerebral correlates and their temporal characteristics

I am interested in finding out how different mathematical tasks are processed in the brain. With a combination of neuroimaging (FMRI) and behavioral techniques (accuracy and eye-movements) I study performance and strategy-use in math-gifted and averagely gifted students solving mathematical and cognitive tasks. Also, I examine longitudinal training effects of full-scale furtherance. Another question I try to elucidate is how mathematical giftedness is related to processing speed, fluid intelligence, working memory abilities and attention. Beside functional differences in processing various tasks, there may also be structural or connectivity differences in the brains of math-gifted and averagely gifted students. I aim to provide evidence-based educational research results that help implementing new and effective educational strategies to classrooms.
Funding Project Research Assistant, funded by BMBF
Supervisors were: Prof. Dr. Elke van der Meer and Prof. Dr. Isabell Wartenburger
M&B Topics Topic 2: Decision-making
Topic 4: Brain plasticity and lifespan ontogeny
Topic 5: Brain disorders and mental dysfunction
Degrees Dipl.-Psych. (Humboldt-Universität)
Institute Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Phone +49 30 450539023
E-mail franziska.preusse-please remove this text-@charite.de
Homepage http://www.berlin-neuroimaging-center.de/personal_pages/preu...
CV
Publications
were: Prof. Dr. Ulman Lindenberger and Prof. Dr. Arno Villringer
Age differences in working memory and selection ability across the lifespan
Research Project Age differences in working memory and selection ability across the lifespan

Individuals differ in their ability to keep important information in mind for a brief period of time (a faculty referred to as ‘working memory’) as well as their ability to select relevant information for maintenance. Cortical development and aging might have differential impact on these abilities. By means of behavioural and electrophysiological indicators, the aim of my project is to investigate the underlying cortical mechanisms that determine interindividual differences in working memory and selective attention across the lifespan.
Funding Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin
Supervisors were: Prof. Dr. Ulman Lindenberger and Prof. Dr. Arno Villringer
M&B Topics Topic 4: Brain plasticity and lifespan ontogeny
Degrees Dipl.-Psych. (Humboldt-Universität); Dr. rer. nat. (Humboldt-Universität)
Institute Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin; Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Phone +49 30 82406414
E-mail sander-please remove this text-@mpib-berlin.mpg.de
Homepage http://www.mpib-berlin.mpg.de/de/mitarbeiter/myriam-sander
CV
Publications
were: Prof. Dr. Elke van der Meer and Prof. Dr. Isabell Wartenburger
Thinking hands: how co-speech gestures reflect cognitive processes
Research Project Thinking hands: how co-speech gestures reflect cognitive processes

I am interested in the relationship between gestures that are produced while speaking and thinking. In my empirical work I ask several questions: (1) how task demand affects gesture production, (2) vice versa: how gesture production affects the performance in a task, and (3) what the relationship is between cognitive skills, brain structure, and gesture production (individual differences).
Funding Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes
Supervisors were: Prof. Dr. Elke van der Meer and Prof. Dr. Isabell Wartenburger
M&B Topics Topic 3: Language
Degrees B.Sc. in Psychology and Criminology (University of Lincoln), M.Sc. in Psycholinguistics (University of Edinburgh); Dr. rer. nat.
Institute Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Psychology
Phone +49 30 20939397
E-mail u.sassenberg-please remove this text-@hu-berlin.de
Homepage
CV
Publications
were: Prof. Dr. Angela Friederici and Prof. Dr. Isabell Wartenburger
The acquisition of sentence structures with topicalized objects in German – Neural correlates and behavioral evidences
Research Project The acquisition of sentence structures with topicalized objects in German – Neural correlates and behavioral evidences

From which age on do German children rely on case marking and not only on word order in identifying objects in sentences? Are there neural correlates of the behavioral development in different age groups? Children between 3.0 and 6.0 years, as well as adults, will be tested employing behavioral methods, eyetracking, and ERPs.
Funding Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Science, Leipzig
Supervisors were: Prof. Dr. Angela Friederici and Prof. Dr. Isabell Wartenburger
M&B Topics Topic 3: Language
Degrees Magister Artium, Linguistics
Institute Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Science, Leipzig; Universität Potsdam
Phone
E-mail schipke-please remove this text-@cbs.mpg.de
Homepage
CV
Publications
were: Priv.-Doz. Dr. Philipp Sterzer and Prof. Dr. John-Dylan Haynes
High-level processing during continuous flash suppression
Research Project High-level processing during continuous flash suppression

I am interested in the extent to which high-level aspects of visual stimuli continue to be processed during binocular rivalry suppression. I am using continuous flash suppression, a recently developed variant of binocular rivalry, in concert with psychophysics and fMRI to explore the representation of perceptually suppressed visual information.
Funding Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes
Supervisors were: Priv.-Doz. Dr. Philipp Sterzer and Prof. Dr. John-Dylan Haynes
M&B Topics Topic 1: Perception, attention, consciousness
Degrees B.Sc., M.Sc.
Institute Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Klinik für Psychiatrie
Phone
E-mail
Homepage http://www.timostein.de
CV
Publications