@phdthesis{Brych2022, author = {Brych, Mareike Kimberly}, title = {How movements and cognition interact: An investigation of spontaneous blinks}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-26737}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-267376}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2022}, abstract = {During natural behavior, cognitive processes constantly coincide with body movements such as head or eye movements or blinks. However, during experimental investigations of cognitive processes, movements are often highly restricted which is rather unnatural. In order to improve our understanding of natural behavior, this thesis investigates the interaction between cognition and movements by focusing on spontaneous blinks, which naturally interact with other body movements. Spontaneous blinks are inevitably connected to vision as they shut out incoming visual information. Both sensory-based and cognitive factors, for example, stimulus occurrence and evaluation, were reported to influence blink behavior. Our first study investigated if such influences are comparable for visual and non-visual input. The chosen experimental design allowed dissociating sensory-driven and cognitive influences, which then could be compared between the visual and auditory domain. Our results show that blinks are more strongly modulated during passive observation of visual input compared to auditory input. This modulation is however enhanced for both input modalities by an increased attentional demand. In addition, the cognitively defined meaning of a stimulus changes blink latency independent of the sensory domain. Overall, our findings show that spontaneous blinks and cognitive processes are linked beyond vision. Moreover, the underlying cognitive processes that influence blinks are largely the same across different sensory input indicating that blinks are profoundly integrated into our system. When investigating natural behavior, it is important to consider that movements rarely occur in isolation, but are executed side by side. As these movements interact and have a link to cognitive processes, the complexity of our system increases. In order to take this complexity into account, the second part of the experimental research focused on movement interactions, more specifically on the interactions between blinks, pupil size and speaking. Our results reveal that speech-related motor activity increases blink rate and pupil size as well as modulates blink timing. This is in line with previous research that described a relation between different body and eye movements. Importantly, each bodily-induced change in eye movements affects visual information intake. Therefore, different movements can be tightly linked to perceptual processes through complex interactions. Altogether, the work of this thesis provides rich evidence that movements and cognitive processes are deeply intertwined. Therefore, movements should be seen as an integral part of our system. Taking the relevance of movements and their interactions into account during experimental investigations is necessary in order to reveal a more realistic and complete picture of human natural behavior.}, subject = {Kognition}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Leinfelder2022, author = {Leinfelder, Teresa}, title = {Untersuchung von Trainingseffekten bei der Verwendung einer auditorischen P300-basierten EEG Gehirn-Computer Schnittstelle mittels fMRI Analyse}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-29068}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-290683}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2022}, abstract = {In dieser Dissertation untersuchten wir die neuronalen Korrelate des Training-Effektes einer auditorischen P300 Gehirn-Computer Schnittstelle mittels fMRI Analyse in einem pr{\"a}-post Design mit zehn gesunden Testpersonen. Wir wiesen in drei Trainings-sitzungen einen Trainingseffekt in der EEG-Analyse der P300 Welle nach und fanden entsprechende Kontraste in einer pr{\"a}-post Analyse von fMRI Daten, wobei in allen f{\"u}nf Sitzungen das gleiche Paradigma verwendet wurde. In der fMRI Analyse fanden wir fol-gende Ergebnisse: in einem Target-/ Nichttarget Kontrast zeigte sich verst{\"a}rkte Aktivie-rung in Generatorregionen der P300 Welle (temporale und inferiore frontale Regionen) und interessanterweise auch in motorassoziierten Arealen, was h{\"o}here kognitiver Pro-zesse wie Aufmerksamkeitslenkung und Arbeitsspeicher widerspiegeln k{\"o}nnte. Der Kon-trast des Trainingseffektes zeigte nach dem Training einen st{\"a}rkeren Rebound Effekt im Sinne einer verst{\"a}rkten Aktivierung in Generatorregionen der P300 Welle, was eine ver-besserte Erkennung und Prozessierung von Target-Stimuli reflektieren k{\"o}nnte. Eine Ab-nahme von Aktivierung in frontalen Arealen in diesem Kontrast k{\"o}nnte durch effizientere Abl{\"a}ufe kognitiver Prozesse und des Arbeitsged{\"a}chtnis erkl{\"a}rt werden.}, subject = {Gehirn-Computer-Schnittstelle}, language = {de} } @phdthesis{Greving2022, author = {Greving, Sven}, title = {Desirable Difficulties in Applied Learning Settings: Mechanisms and Effects}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-28884}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-288848}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Improving retention of learned content by means of a practice test is a learning strategy that has been researched since a century and has been consistently found to be more effective than comparable learning strategies such as restudy (i.e., the testing effect). Most importantly, practicing test questions has been found to outperform restudy even when no additional information about the correct answers was provided to practice test takers, rendering practice tests effective and efficient in fostering retention of learning content. Since 15 years, additional scientific attention is devoted to this memory phenomenon and additional research investigated to what extend practicing test questions is relevant in real-world educational settings. This dissertation first presents the evidence for testing effects in applied educational settings by presenting key publications and presenting findings from a methodological review conducted for this purpose. Within this dissertation, theories are presented why practicing test questions should benefit learning in real-world educational settings even without the provision of additional information and key variables for the effectiveness of practicing test questions are presented. Four studies presented in this dissertation aimed at exploring these assumptions in actual university classrooms while also trying to implement new methods of practicing learning content and thus augment course procedures. Findings from these studies—although not often consistent—will be incorporated and interpreted in the light of the theoretical accounts on the testing effect. The main conclusion that can be drawn from this dissertation is that, given the right circumstances, practicing test questions can elicit beneficial effects on the retention of learning content that are independent of additional information and thus taking a practice test per se, can foster retention of real-world learning content.}, subject = {Unterrichtspsychologie}, language = {en} } @article{HalderTakanoOraetal.2016, author = {Halder, Sebastian and Takano, Kouji and Ora, Hiroki and Onishi, Akinari and Utsumi, Kota and Kansaku, Kenji}, title = {An Evaluation of Training with an Auditory P300 Brain-Computer Interface for the Japanese Hiragana Syllabary}, series = {Frontiers in Neuroscience}, volume = {10}, journal = {Frontiers in Neuroscience}, number = {446}, doi = {10.3389/fnins.2016.00446}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-165465}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Gaze-independent brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are a possible communication channel for persons with paralysis. We investigated if it is possible to use auditory stimuli to create a BCI for the Japanese Hiragana syllabary, which has 46 Hiragana characters. Additionally, we investigated if training has an effect on accuracy despite the high amount of different stimuli involved. Able-bodied participants (N = 6) were asked to select 25 syllables (out of fifty possible choices) using a two step procedure: First the consonant (ten choices) and then the vowel (five choices). This was repeated on 3 separate days. Additionally, a person with spinal cord injury (SCI) participated in the experiment. Four out of six healthy participants reached Hiragana syllable accuracies above 70\% and the information transfer rate increased from 1.7 bits/min in the first session to 3.2 bits/min in the third session. The accuracy of the participant with SCI increased from 12\% (0.2 bits/min) to 56\% (2 bits/min) in session three. Reliable selections from a 10 × 5 matrix using auditory stimuli were possible and performance is increased by training. We were able to show that auditory P300 BCIs can be used for communication with up to fifty symbols. This enables the use of the technology of auditory P300 BCIs with a variety of applications.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Grossekathoefer2022, author = {Großekath{\"o}fer, Jonas David}, title = {Virtually Valid? On the Importance of Ecological Validity and Virtual Reality for Social Attention Research}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-26041}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-260417}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Gazes are of central relevance for people. They are crucial for navigating the world and communicating with others. Nevertheless, research in recent years shows that many findings from experimental research on gaze behavior cannot be transferred from the laboratory to everyday behavior. For example, the frequency with which conspecifics are looked at is considerably higher in experimental contexts than what can be observed in daily behavior. In short: findings from laboratories cannot be generalized into general statements. This thesis is dedicated to this matter. The dissertation describes and documents the current state of research on social attention through a literature review, including a meta-analysis on the /gaze cueing/ paradigm and an empirical study on the robustness of gaze following behavior. In addition, virtual reality was used in one of the first studies in this research field. Virtual reality has the potential to significantly improve the transferability of experimental laboratory studies to everyday behavior. This is because the technology enables a high degree of experimental control in naturalistic research designs. As such, it has the potential to transform empirical research in the same way that the introduction of computers to psychological research did some 50 years ago. The general literature review on social attention is extended to the classic /gaze cueing/ paradigm through a systematic review of publications and a meta-analytic evaluation (Study 1). The cumulative evidence supported the findings of primary studies: Covert spatial attention is directed by faces. However, the experimental factors included do not explain the surprisingly large variance in the published results. Thus, there seem to be further, not well-understood variables influencing these social processes. Moreover, classic /gaze cueing/ studies have limited ecological validity. This is discussed as a central reason for the lack of generalisability. Ecological validity describes the correspondence between experimental factors and realistic situations. A stimulus or an experimental design can have high and low ecological validity on different dimensions and have different influences on behavior. Empirical research on gaze following behavior showed that the /gaze cueing/ effect also occurs with contextually embedded stimuli (Study 2). The contextual integration of the directional cue contrasted classical /gaze cueing/ studies, which usually show heads in isolation. The research results can thus be transferred /within/ laboratory studies to higher ecologically valid research paradigms. However, research shows that the lack of ecological validity in experimental designs significantly limits the transferability of experimental findings to complex situations /outside/ the laboratory. This seems to be particularly the case when social interactions and norms are investigated. However, ecological validity is also often limited in these studies for other factors, such as contextual embedding /of participants/, free exploration behavior (and, thus, attentional control), or multimodality. In a first study, such high ecological validity was achieved for these factors with virtual reality, which could not be achieved in the laboratory so far (Study 3). Notably, the observed fixation patterns showed differences even under /most similar/ conditions in the laboratory and natural environments. Interestingly, these were similar to findings also derived from comparisons of eye movement in the laboratory and field investigations. These findings, which previously came from hardly comparable groups, were thus confirmed by the present Study 3 (which did not have this limitation). Overall, /virtual reality/ is a new technical approach to contemporary social attention research that pushes the boundaries of previous experimental research. The traditional trade-off between ecological validity and experimental control thus becomes obsolete, and laboratory studies can closely inherit an excellent approximation of reality. Finally, the present work describes and discusses the possibilities of this technology and its practical implementation. Within this context, the extent to which this development can still guarantee a constructive classification of different laboratory tests in the future is examined.}, subject = {Aufmerksamkeit}, language = {en} } @article{RoeslerRuboGamer2019, author = {R{\"o}sler, Lara and Rubo, Marius and Gamer, Matthias}, title = {Artificial faces predict gaze allocation in complex dynamic scenes}, series = {Frontiers in Psychology}, volume = {10}, journal = {Frontiers in Psychology}, number = {2877}, issn = {1664-1078}, doi = {10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02877}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-193024}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Both low-level physical saliency and social information, as presented by human heads or bodies, are known to drive gaze behavior in free-viewing tasks. Researchers have previously made use of a great variety of face stimuli, ranging from photographs of real humans to schematic faces, frequently without systematically differentiating between the two. In the current study, we used a Generalized Linear Mixed Model (GLMM) approach to investigate to what extent schematic artificial faces can predict gaze when they are presented alone or in competition with real human faces. Relative differences in predictive power became apparent, while GLMMs suggest substantial effects for real and artificial faces in all conditions. Artificial faces were accordingly less predictive than real human faces but still contributed significantly to gaze allocation. These results help to further our understanding of how social information guides gaze in complex naturalistic scenes.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Schmidts2021, author = {Schmidts, Constantin}, title = {Affective regulation of cognitive conflict}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-21989}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-219897}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Kognitive Kontrolle beschreibt Prozesse die n{\"o}tig sind um zielgerichtetes Handeln im Angesicht von internen oder externen Widerst{\"a}nden zu erm{\"o}glichen. Wenn wir aus eigenen St{\"u}cken oder inspiriert durch unsere Umwelt Handlungen vorbereiten die unseren aktuellen Zielen entgegen stehen, kommt es zu Konflikten. Solche Konflikte k{\"o}nnen sich auf nachfolgendes Erleben und Verhalten auswirken. Aversive Konsequenzen von Konflikt k{\"o}nnten in einem Konflikt{\"u}berwachungsmodul registriert werden, welches anschließend Aufmerksamkeits{\"a}nderungen und Handlungstendenzen zur Reduzierung dieses negativen Affektes in Gang setzt. Wenn das der Fall w{\"a}re, k{\"o}nnten die vielfach beobachteten Verhaltensanpassungen an kognitiven Konflikt ein Ausdruck von Emotionsregulation sein. Ein theoretischer Eckpfeiler der gegenw{\"a}rtigen Forschung zur Emotionsregulation ist das Prozessmodell der Emotionsregulation, das aus den Regulationsstrategien Situationsauswahl, Situationsmodifikation, Aufmerksamkeitslenkung, kognitiven Ver{\"a}nderungen und Reaktionsmodulation besteht. Unter der Annahme, dass Konfliktanpassung und Affektregulation auf gemeinsamen Mechanismen fußen, habe ich aus dem Prozessmodell der Emotionsregulation Vorhersagen zur kognitiven Kontrolle abgeleitet und diese in elf Experimenten getestet (N = 509). Die Versuchsteilnehmer zeigten Situationsauswahl in Bezug auf Konflikte, allerdings nur dann, wenn sie ausdr{\"u}cklich auf Handlungs- und Ergebniskontingenzen hingewiesen wurden (Experimente 1 bis 3). Ich fand Anzeichen f{\"u}r einen Mechanismus, der der Situationsmodifikation {\"a}hnelt, aber keine Hinweise auf eine Beteiligung von Affekt (Experimente 4 bis 10). Eine {\"A}nderung der Konfliktbewertung hatte keinen Einfluss auf das Ausmaß der Konfliktadaptation (Experiment 11). Insgesamt gab es Hinweise auf eine explizite Aversivit{\"a}t kognitiver Konflikte, jedoch weniger auf implizite Aversivit{\"a}t, was darauf hindeutet, dass Konflikte vor allem dann Affektregulationsprozesse ausl{\"o}sen, wenn Menschen explizit Affektregulationsziele vor Augen haben.}, subject = {Affekt}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Klinke2022, author = {Klinke, Christopher Matthias}, title = {Experimental investigation of the effect of distal stress induction on threat conditioning in humans}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-22556}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-225562}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Stress constitutes a major risk factor for the development of psychiatric disorders, such as PTSD and anxiety disorders, by shifting the brain into a state of sensitization and makes it more vulnerable when being exposed to further aversive events. This was experimentally in-vestigated in rodents by examining the effect of a distal stress induction on threat conditioning, where stress impaired extinction learning and caused spontaneous recovery. However, this effect has never been experimentally investigated in humans, so far. Thus, the aim of this dissertation was to investigate the effect of distal stress on threat conditioning in humans. Therefore, two subsequent studies were conducted. For both studies, the threat conditioning paradigm comprised threat acquisition, extinction learning, and re-extinction. In the threat acquisition phase, two geometrical shapes were used as conditioned stimulus (CS), from which one (CS+) was paired with a painful electric stimulus (unconditioned stimulus, US), but not the other one (CS-). During extinction learning 24 h later and re-extinction seventeen days later, CSs were again presented but without any US delivery. In Study 1, 69 participants underwent either a stress (socially evaluated cold pressor test; SECPT) or sham protocol 10 days prior to threat conditioning. Furthermore, context effects were examined by placing the stress protocol in the same context (context-A stress, and sham group) or a different context (context-B stress group) than conditioning. Results revealed that the context-A, but not context-B, stress group displayed impaired safety learning (i.e. potenti-ation towards CS-) for startle response during threat acquisition. Moreover, the same stress group showed impaired threat extinction, evident in sustained CS discrimination in valence and arousal ratings during extinction learning, and memory recall. In sum, distal stress on the one hand impaired safety learning during threat conditioning on a level of startle response. On the other hand, stress impaired threat extinction on a level of ratings. Noteworthy, the effect of distal stress was only found when the stressor was placed in the same context as later threat learning. Hence, suggesting that the combination of stressor and stressor-associated context exerted the effect on threat extinction. In Study 2, it was examined if distal stress induction could also have an impact on threat and extinction processes without the necessity of context association. Therefore, the same stress (n = 45) or sham protocol (n = 44) as in Study 1 was conducted in a different context than and 24 h prior to a threat conditioning paradigm. Similar to Study 1, weakened extinction learning was found in fear ratings for the stress (vs. sham) group, which was indicated by persistent CS+/CS- differentiation after the first block of extinction trials. Alterations in safety learning towards the CS- during threat acquisition were only supported by significant correlations between stress measures on the stress day and conditioned startle response of the CS- during acquisition. Taken together, in two subsequent studies this dissertation provided first evidence of impaired threat extinction after distal stress induction in humans. Furthermore, impairments in safety learning, as can be observed in PTSD, were additionally demonstrated. Interestingly, the effects were boosted and more profound when associating the stressor to the later learning context. These results have clinical implications as they can be translated to the notion that prior stress exposure makes an individual more vulnerable for later aversive events.}, subject = {Stress}, language = {en} } @article{GrevingRichter2019, author = {Greving, Carla E. and Richter, Tobias}, title = {Distributed Learning in the Classroom: Effects of Rereading Schedules Depend on Time of Test}, series = {Frontiers in Psychology}, volume = {9}, journal = {Frontiers in Psychology}, number = {2517}, issn = {1664-1078}, doi = {10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02517}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-190783}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Research with adults in laboratory settings has shown that distributed rereading is a beneficial learning strategy but its effects depend on time of test. When learning outcomes are measured immediately after rereading, distributed rereading yields no benefits or even detrimental effects on learning, but the beneficial effects emerge two days later. In a preregistered experiment, the effects of distributed rereading were investigated in a classroom setting with school students. Seventh-graders (N = 191) reread a text either immediately or after 1 week. Learning outcomes were measured after 4 min or 1 week. Participants in the distributed rereading condition reread the text more slowly, predicted their learning success to be lower, and reported a lower on-task focus. At the shorter retention interval, massed rereading outperformed distributed rereading in terms of learning outcomes. Contrary to students in the massed condition, students in the distributed condition showed no forgetting from the short to the long retention interval. As a result, they performed equally well as the students in the massed condition at the longer retention interval. Our results indicate that distributed rereading makes learning more demanding and difficult and leads to higher effort during rereading. Its effects on learning depend on time of test, but no beneficial effects were found, not even at the delayed test.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Hoffmann2020, author = {Hoffmann, Mareike}, title = {Effector System Prioritization in Multitasking}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-20108}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-201084}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Multitasking, defined as performing more than one task at a time, typically yields performance decrements, for instance, in processing speed and accuracy. These performance costs are often distributed asymmetrically among the involved tasks. Under suitable conditions, this can be interpreted as a marker for prioritization of one task - the one that suffers less - over the other. One source of such task prioritization is based on the use of different effector systems (e.g., oculomotor system, vocal tract, limbs) and their characteristics. The present work explores such effector system-based task prioritization by examining to which extent associated effector systems determine which task is processed with higher priority in multitasking situations. Thus, three different paradigms are used, namely the simultaneous (stimulus) onset paradigm, the psychological refractory period (PRP) paradigm, and the task switching paradigm. These paradigms invoke situations in which two (in the present studies basic spatial decision) tasks are a) initiated at exactly the same time, b) initiated with a short varying temporal distance (but still temporally overlapping), or c) in which tasks alternate randomly (without temporal overlap). The results allow for three major conclusions: 1. The assumption of effector system-based task prioritization according to an ordinal pattern (oculomotor > pedal > vocal > manual, indicating decreasing prioritization) is supported by the observed data in the simultaneous onset paradigm. This data pattern cannot be explained by a rigid "first come, first served" task scheduling principle. 2. The data from the PRP paradigm confirmed the assumption of vocal-over-manual prioritization and showed that classic PRP effects (as a marker for task order-based prioritization) can be modulated by effector system characteristics. 3. The mere cognitive representation of task sets (that must be held active to switch between them) differing in effector systems without an actual temporal overlap in task processing, however, is not sufficient to elicit the same effector system prioritization phenomena observed for overlapping tasks. In summary, the insights obtained by the present work support the assumptions of parallel central task processing and resource sharing among tasks, as opposed to exclusively serial processing of central processing stages. Moreover, they indicate that effector systems are a crucial factor in multitasking and suggest an integration of corresponding weighting parameters in existing dual-task control frameworks.}, subject = {Mehrfacht{\"a}tigkeit}, language = {en} } @article{SchubertKoernerLindauetal.2017, author = {Schubert, Lisa and K{\"o}rner, Anita and Lindau, Berit and Strack, Fritz and Topolinski, Sascha}, title = {Open-Minded Midwifes, Literate Butchers, and Greedy Hooligans - The Independent Contributions of Stereotype Valence and Consistency on Evaluative Judgments}, series = {Frontiers in Psychology}, volume = {8}, journal = {Frontiers in Psychology}, number = {1723}, doi = {10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01723}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-170222}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Do people evaluate an open-minded midwife less positively than a caring midwife? Both open-minded and caring are generally seen as positive attributes. However, consistency varies—the attribute caring is consistent with the midwife stereotype while open-minded is not. In general, both stimulus valence and consistency can influence evaluations. Six experiments investigated the respective influence of valence and consistency on evaluative judgments in the domain of stereotyping. In an impression formation paradigm, valence and consistency of stereotypic information about target persons were manipulated orthogonally and spontaneous evaluations of these target persons were measured. Valence reliably influenced evaluations. However, for strongly valenced stereotypes, no effect of consistency was observed. Parameters possibly preventing the occurrence of consistency effects were ruled out, specifically, valence of inconsistent attributes, processing priority of category information, and impression formation instructions. However, consistency had subtle effects on evaluative judgments if the information about a target person was not strongly valenced and experimental conditions were optimal. Concluding, in principle, both stereotype valence and consistency can play a role in evaluative judgments of stereotypic target persons. However, the more subtle influence of consistency does not seem to substantially influence evaluations of stereotyped target persons. Implications for fluency research and stereotype disconfirmation are discussed.}, language = {en} } @article{BrychMuraliHaendel2021, author = {Brych, Mareike and Murali, Supriya and H{\"a}ndel, Barbara}, title = {The Role of Blinks, Microsaccades and their Retinal Consequences in Bistable Motion Perception}, series = {Frontiers in Psychology}, volume = {12}, journal = {Frontiers in Psychology}, issn = {1664-1078}, doi = {10.3389/fpsyg.2021.647256}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-235217}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Eye-related movements such as blinks and microsaccades are modulated during bistable perceptual tasks. However, if they play an active role during internal perceptual switches is not known. We conducted two experiments involving an ambiguous plaid stimulus, wherein participants were asked to continuously report their percept, which could consist of either unidirectional coherent or bidirectional component movement. Our main results show that blinks and microsaccades did not facilitate perceptual switches. On the contrary, a reduction in eye movements preceded the perceptual switch. Blanks, on the other hand, thought to mimic the retinal consequences of a blink, consistently led to a switch. Through the timing of the blank-introduced perceptual change, we were able to estimate the delay between the internal switch and the response. This delay further allowed us to evaluate that the reduction in blink probability co-occurred with the internal perceptual switch. Additionally, our results indicate that distinct internal processes underlie the switch to coherent vs. component percept. Blanks exclusively facilitated a switch to the coherent percept, and only the switch to coherent percept was followed by an increase in blink rate. In a second study, we largely replicated the findings and included a microsaccade analysis. Microsaccades only showed a weak relation with perceptual switches, but their direction was correlated with the perceived motion direction. Nevertheless, our data suggests an interaction between microsaccades and blinks by showing that microsaccades were differently modulated around blinks compared with blanks. This study shows that a reduction in eye movements precedes internal perceptual switches indicating that the rate of blinks can set the stage for a reinterpretation of sensory input. While a perceptual switch based on changed sensory input usually leads to an increase in blink rate, such an increase was only present after the perceptual switch to coherent motion but absent after the switch to component percept. This provides evidence of different underlying mechanism or internal consequence of the two perceptual switches and suggests that blinks can uncover differences in internal percept-related processes that are not evident from the percept itself.}, language = {en} } @article{BrychHaendelRiechelmannetal.2021, author = {Brych, Mareike and H{\"a}ndel, Barbara F. and Riechelmann, Eva and Pieczykolan, Aleksandra and Huestegge, Lynn}, title = {Effects of vocal demands on pupil dilation}, series = {Psychophysiology}, volume = {58}, journal = {Psychophysiology}, number = {2}, doi = {10.1111/psyp.13729}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-224425}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Pupil dilation is known to be affected by a variety of factors, including physical (e.g., light) and cognitive sources of influence (e.g., mental load due to working memory demands, stimulus/response competition etc.). In the present experiment, we tested the extent to which vocal demands (speaking) can affect pupil dilation. Based on corresponding preliminary evidence found in a reanalysis of an existing data set from our lab, we setup a new experiment that systematically investigated vocal response-related effects compared to mere jaw/lip movement and button press responses. Conditions changed on a trial-by-trial basis while participants were instructed to keep fixating a central cross on a screen throughout. In line with our prediction (and previous observation), speaking caused the pupils to dilate strongest, followed by nonvocal movements and finally a baseline condition without any vocal or muscular demands. An additional analysis of blink rates showed no difference in blink frequency between vocal and baseline conditions, but different blink dynamics. Finally, simultaneously recorded electromyographic activity showed that muscle activity may contribute to some (but not all) aspects of the observed effects on pupil size. The results are discussed in the context of other recent research indicating effects of perceived (instead of executed) vocal action on pupil dynamics.}, language = {en} } @article{Franz2022, author = {Franz, David J.}, title = {Is Applied Ethics Morally Problematic?}, series = {Journal of Academic Ethics}, volume = {20}, journal = {Journal of Academic Ethics}, issn = {1572-8544}, doi = {10.1007/s10805-021-09417-1}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-269095}, pages = {359-374}, year = {2022}, abstract = {This paper argues that applied ethics can itself be morally problematic. As illustrated by the case of Peter Singer's criticism of social practice, morally loaded communication by applied ethicists can lead to protests, backlashes, and aggression. By reviewing the psychological literature on self-image, collective identity, and motivated reasoning three categories of morally problematic consequences of ethical criticism by applied ethicists are identified: serious psychological discomfort, moral backfiring, and hostile conflict. The most worrisome is moral backfiring: psychological research suggests that ethical criticism of people's central moral convictions can reinforce exactly those attitudes. Therefore, applied ethicists unintentionally can contribute to a consolidation of precisely those social circumstances that they condemn to be unethical. Furthermore, I argue that the normative concerns raised in this paper are not dependent on the commitment to one specific paradigm in moral philosophy. Utilitarianism, Aristotelian virtue ethics, and Rawlsian contractarianism all provide sound reasons to take morally problematic consequences of ethical criticism seriously. Only the case of deontological ethics is less clear-cut. Finally, I point out that the issues raised in this paper provide an excellent opportunity for further interdisciplinary collaboration between applied ethics and social sciences. I also propose strategies for communicating ethics effectively.}, language = {en} } @article{SchieleReinhardReifetal.2016, author = {Schiele, Miriam A. and Reinhard, Julia and Reif, Andreas and Domschke, Katharina and Romanos, Marcel and Deckert, J{\"u}rgen and Pauli, Paul}, title = {Developmental aspects of fear: Comparing the acquisition and generalization of conditioned fear in children and adults}, series = {Developmental Psychobiology}, volume = {58}, journal = {Developmental Psychobiology}, number = {4}, doi = {10.1002/dev.21393}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-189488}, pages = {471-481}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Most research on human fear conditioning and its generalization has focused on adults whereas only little is known about these processes in children. Direct comparisons between child and adult populations are needed to determine developmental risk markers of fear and anxiety. We compared 267 children and 285 adults in a differential fear conditioning paradigm and generalization test. Skin conductance responses (SCR) and ratings of valence and arousal were obtained to indicate fear learning. Both groups displayed robust and similar differential conditioning on subjective and physiological levels. However, children showed heightened fear generalization compared to adults as indexed by higher arousal ratings and SCR to the generalization stimuli. Results indicate overgeneralization of conditioned fear as a developmental correlate of fear learning. The developmental change from a shallow to a steeper generalization gradient is likely related to the maturation of brain structures that modulate efficient discrimination between danger and (ambiguous) safety cues.}, language = {en} } @article{BreilHuesteggeBoeckler2022, author = {Breil, Christina and Huestegge, Lynn and B{\"o}ckler, Anne}, title = {From eye to arrow: Attention capture by direct gaze requires more than just the eyes}, series = {Attention, Perception \& Psychophysics}, volume = {84}, journal = {Attention, Perception \& Psychophysics}, number = {1}, issn = {1943-393X}, doi = {10.3758/s13414-021-02382-2}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-273206}, pages = {64-75}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Human attention is strongly attracted by direct gaze and sudden onset motion. The sudden direct-gaze effect refers to the processing advantage for targets appearing on peripheral faces that suddenly establish eye contact. Here, we investigate the necessity of social information for attention capture by (sudden onset) ostensive cues. Six experiments involving 204 participants applied (1) naturalistic faces, (2) arrows, (3) schematic eyes, (4) naturalistic eyes, or schematic facial configurations (5) without or (6) with head turn to an attention-capture paradigm. Trials started with two stimuli oriented towards the observer and two stimuli pointing into the periphery. Simultaneous to target presentation, one direct stimulus changed to averted and one averted stimulus changed to direct, yielding a 2 × 2 factorial design with direction and motion cues being absent or present. We replicated the (sudden) direct-gaze effect for photographic faces, but found no corresponding effects in Experiments 2-6. Hence, a holistic and socially meaningful facial context seems vital for attention capture by direct gaze. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: The present study highlights the significance of context information for social attention. Our findings demonstrate that the direct-gaze effect, that is, the prioritization of direct gaze over averted gaze, critically relies on the presentation of a meaningful holistic and naturalistic facial context. This pattern of results is evidence in favor of early effects of surrounding social information on attention capture by direct gaze.}, language = {en} } @misc{RodriguezMartinMeule2015, author = {Rodr{\´i}guez-Mart{\´i}n, Boris C. and Meule, Adrian}, title = {Food craving: new contributions on its assessment, moderators, and consequences}, series = {Frontiers in Psychology}, volume = {6}, journal = {Frontiers in Psychology}, number = {21}, issn = {1664-1078}, doi = {10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00021}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-190299}, year = {2015}, abstract = {No abstract available.}, language = {en} } @unpublished{HaendelSchoelvinck2019, author = {H{\"a}ndel, Barbara and Sch{\"o}lvinck, Marieke}, title = {The brain during free movement - what can we learn from the animal model}, series = {Brain Research}, journal = {Brain Research}, edition = {accepted manuscript}, doi = {10.1016/j.brainres.2017.09.003}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-251406}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Animals, just like humans, can freely move. They do so for various important reasons, such as finding food and escaping predators. Observing these behaviors can inform us about the underlying cognitive processes. In addition, while humans can convey complicated information easily through speaking, animals need to move their bodies to communicate. This has prompted many creative solutions by animal neuroscientists to enable studying the brain during movement. In this review, we first summarize how animal researchers record from the brain while an animal is moving, by describing the most common neural recording techniques in animals and how they were adapted to record during movement. We further discuss the challenge of controlling or monitoring sensory input during free movement. However, not only is free movement a necessity to reflect the outcome of certain internal cognitive processes in animals, it is also a fascinating field of research since certain crucial behavioral patterns can only be observed and studied during free movement. Therefore, in a second part of the review, we focus on some key findings in animal research that specifically address the interaction between free movement and brain activity. First, focusing on walking as a fundamental form of free movement, we discuss how important such intentional movements are for understanding processes as diverse as spatial navigation, active sensing, and complex motor planning. Second, we propose the idea of regarding free movement as the expression of a behavioral state. This view can help to understand the general influence of movement on brain function. Together, the technological advancements towards recording from the brain during movement, and the scientific questions asked about the brain engaged in movement, make animal research highly valuable to research into the human "moving brain".}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Stegmann2021, author = {Stegmann, Yannik}, title = {Electrocortical mechanisms of sustained attention during the acquisition and interaction of conditioned fear and anxiety}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-23770}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-237700}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Adapting defensive behavior to the characteristics of a threatening situation is a fundamental function of the brain. Particularly, threat imminence plays a major role for the organization of defensive responses. Acute threat prompts phasic physiological responses, which are usually associated with an intense feeling of fear. In contrast, diffuse and potentially threatening situations elicit a sustained state of anxious apprehension. Detection of the threatening stimulus defines the key event in this framework, initiating the transition from potential to acute threat. Consequently, attention to threat is crucial for supporting defensive behavior. The functions of attention are finely tuned to the characteristics of a threatening situation. Potential threat is associated with hypervigilance, in order to facilitate threat detection. Once a threatening stimulus has been identified, attention is selectively focused on the source of danger. Even though the concepts of selective attention and hypervigilance to threat are well established, evidence for their neural correlates remain scarce. Therefore, a major goal of this thesis is to elucidate the neural correlates of selective attention to acute threat and hypervigilance during potential threat. A second aim of this thesis is to provide a mechanistic account for the interaction of fear and anxiety. While contemporary models view fear and anxiety as mutually exclusive, recent findings for the neural networks of fear and anxiety suggest potential interactions. In four studies, aversive cue conditioning was used to induce acute threat, while context conditioning served as a laboratory model of potential threat. To quantify neural correlates of selective attention and hypervigilance, steady-state visual evoked potentials (ssVEPs) were measured as an index of visuocortical responding. Study 1 compared visuocortical responses to acute and potential threat for high versus low trait-anxious individuals. All individuals demonstrated enhanced electrocortical responses to the central cue in the acute threat condition, suggesting evidence for the neural correlate of selective attention. However, only low anxious individuals revealed facilitated processing of the contexts in the potential threat condition, reflecting a neural correlate of hypervigilance. High anxious individuals did not discriminate among contexts. These findings contribute to the notion of aberrational processing of potential threat for high anxious individuals. Study 2 and 3 realized orthogonal combinations of cue and context conditioning to investigate potential interactions of fear and anxiety. In contrast to Study 1 and 2, Study 3 used verbal instructions to induce potentially threatening contexts. Besides ssVEPs, threat ratings and skin conductance responses (SCRs) were recorded as efferent indices of defensive responding. None of these studies found further evidence for the neural correlates of hypervigilance and selective attention. However, results for ratings and SCRs revealed additive effects of fear and anxiety, suggesting that fear and anxiety are not mutually exclusive, but interact linearly to organize and facilitate defensive behavior. Study 4 tested ssVEPs to more ecologically valid forms of context conditioning, using flickering video stimuli of virtual offices to establish context representations. Contrary to expectations, results revealed decreased visuocortical responses during sustained presentations of anxiety compared to neutral contexts. A disruption of ssVEP signals eventually suggests interferences by continuously changing video streams which are enhanced as a function of motivational relevance. In summary, this thesis provided evidence for the neural correlates of attention only for isolated forms of fear and anxiety, but not for their interaction. In contrast, an additive interaction model of fear and anxiety for measures of defensive responding offers a new perspective on the topography of defensive behavior.}, subject = {Furcht}, language = {en} } @article{KirschKundeHerbort2021, author = {Kirsch, Wladimir and Kunde, Wilfried and Herbort, Oliver}, title = {Impact of proprioception on the perceived size and distance of external objects in a virtual action task}, series = {Psychonomic Bulletin \& Review}, volume = {28}, journal = {Psychonomic Bulletin \& Review}, number = {4}, issn = {1531-5320}, doi = {10.3758/s13423-021-01915-y}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-273235}, pages = {1191-1201}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Previous research has revealed changes in the perception of objects due to changes of object-oriented actions. In present study, we varied the arm and finger postures in the context of a virtual reaching and grasping task and tested whether this manipulation can simultaneously affect the perceived size and distance of external objects. Participants manually controlled visual cursors, aiming at reaching and enclosing a distant target object, and judged the size and distance of this object. We observed that a visual-proprioceptive discrepancy introduced during the reaching part of the action simultaneously affected the judgments of target distance and of target size (Experiment 1). A related variation applied to the grasping part of the action affected the judgments of size, but not of distance of the target (Experiment 2). These results indicate that perceptual effects observed in the context of actions can directly arise through sensory integration of multimodal redundant signals and indirectly through perceptual constancy mechanisms.}, language = {en} } @article{MuenchowMengelkampBannert2017, author = {M{\"u}nchow, Hannes and Mengelkamp, Christoph and Bannert, Maria}, title = {The better you feel the better you learn: do warm colours and rounded shapes enhance learning outcome in multimedia learning?}, series = {Education Research International}, volume = {2017}, journal = {Education Research International}, doi = {10.1155/2017/2148139}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-158566}, pages = {2148139}, year = {2017}, abstract = {The aim of the present study was to examine whether fostering positive activating affect during multimedia learning enhances learning outcome. University students were randomly assigned to either a multimedia learning environment designed to induce positive activating affect through the use of "warm" colours and rounded shapes () or an affectively neutral environment that used achromatic colours and sharp edges (). Participants learned about the topic of functional neuroanatomy for 20 minutes and had to answer several questions for comprehension and transfer afterwards. Affective states as well as achievement goal orientations were investigated before and after the learning phase using questionnaires. The results show that participants in the affectively positive environment were superior in comprehension as well as transfer when initial affect was strong. Preexperimental positive affect was therefore a predictor of comprehension and a moderator for transfer. Goal orientations did not influence these effects. The findings support the idea that positive affect, induced through the design of the particular multimedia learning environment, can facilitate performance if initial affective states are taken into account.}, language = {en} } @article{MadeiraGromerLatoschiketal.2021, author = {Madeira, Octavia and Gromer, Daniel and Latoschik, Marc Erich and Pauli, Paul}, title = {Effects of Acrophobic Fear and Trait Anxiety on Human Behavior in a Virtual Elevated Plus-Maze}, series = {Frontiers in Virtual Reality}, volume = {2}, journal = {Frontiers in Virtual Reality}, doi = {10.3389/frvir.2021.635048}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-258709}, year = {2021}, abstract = {The Elevated Plus-Maze (EPM) is a well-established apparatus to measure anxiety in rodents, i.e., animals exhibiting an increased relative time spent in the closed vs. the open arms are considered anxious. To examine whether such anxiety-modulated behaviors are conserved in humans, we re-translated this paradigm to a human setting using virtual reality in a Cave Automatic Virtual Environment (CAVE) system. In two studies, we examined whether the EPM exploration behavior of humans is modulated by their trait anxiety and also assessed the individuals' levels of acrophobia (fear of height), claustrophobia (fear of confined spaces), sensation seeking, and the reported anxiety when on the maze. First, we constructed an exact virtual copy of the animal EPM adjusted to human proportions. In analogy to animal EPM studies, participants (N = 30) freely explored the EPM for 5 min. In the second study (N = 61), we redesigned the EPM to make it more human-adapted and to differentiate influences of trait anxiety and acrophobia by introducing various floor textures and lower walls of closed arms to the height of standard handrails. In the first experiment, hierarchical regression analyses of exploration behavior revealed the expected association between open arm avoidance and Trait Anxiety, an even stronger association with acrophobic fear. In the second study, results revealed that acrophobia was associated with avoidance of open arms with mesh-floor texture, whereas for trait anxiety, claustrophobia, and sensation seeking, no effect was detected. Also, subjects' fear rating was moderated by all psychometrics but trait anxiety. In sum, both studies consistently indicate that humans show no general open arm avoidance analogous to rodents and that human EPM behavior is modulated strongest by acrophobic fear, whereas trait anxiety plays a subordinate role. Thus, we conclude that the criteria for cross-species validity are met insufficiently in this case. Despite the exploratory nature, our studies provide in-depth insights into human exploration behavior on the virtual EPM.}, language = {en} } @article{EidelKuebler2020, author = {Eidel, Matthias and K{\"u}bler, Andrea}, title = {Wheelchair Control in a Virtual Environment by Healthy Participants Using a P300-BCI Based on Tactile Stimulation: Training Effects and Usability}, series = {Frontiers in Human Neuroscience}, volume = {14}, journal = {Frontiers in Human Neuroscience}, issn = {1662-5161}, doi = {10.3389/fnhum.2020.00265}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-207775}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Tactile stimulation is less frequently used than visual for brain-computer interface (BCI) control, partly because of limitations in speed and accuracy. Non-visual BCI paradigms, however, may be required for patients who struggle with vision dependent BCIs because of a loss of gaze control. With the present study, we attempted to replicate earlier results by Herweg et al. (2016), with several minor adjustments and a focus on training effects and usability. We invited 16 healthy participants and trained them with a 4-class tactile P300-based BCI in five sessions. Their main task was to navigate a virtual wheelchair through a 3D apartment using the BCI. We found significant training effects on information transfer rate (ITR), which increased from a mean of 3.10-9.50 bits/min. Further, both online and offline accuracies significantly increased with training from 65\% to 86\% and 70\% to 95\%, respectively. We found only a descriptive increase of P300 amplitudes at Fz and Cz with training. Furthermore, we report subjective data from questionnaires, which indicated a relatively high workload and moderate to high satisfaction. Although our participants have not achieved the same high performance as in the Herweg et al. (2016) study, we provide evidence for training effects on performance with a tactile BCI and confirm the feasibility of the paradigm.}, language = {en} } @article{HoltfrerichSchwarzSprengeretal.2016, author = {Holtfrerich, Sarah K. C. and Schwarz, Katharina A. and Sprenger, Christian and Reimers, Luise and Diekhof, Esther K.}, title = {Endogenous Testosterone and Exogenous Oxytocin Modulate Attentional Processing of Infant Faces}, series = {PLoS ONE}, volume = {11}, journal = {PLoS ONE}, number = {11}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0166617}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-166783}, pages = {e0166617}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Evidence indicates that hormones modulate the intensity of maternal care. Oxytocin is known for its positive influence on maternal behavior and its important role for childbirth. In contrast, testosterone promotes egocentric choices and reduces empathy. Further, testosterone decreases during parenthood which could be an adaptation to increased parental investment. The present study investigated the interaction between testosterone and oxytocin in attentional control and their influence on attention to baby schema in women. Higher endogenous testosterone was expected to decrease selective attention to child portraits in a face-in-the-crowd-paradigm, while oxytocin was expected to counteract this effect. As predicted, women with higher salivary testosterone were slower in orienting attention to infant targets in the context of adult distractors. Interestingly, reaction times to infant and adult stimuli decreased after oxytocin administration, but only in women with high endogenous testosterone. These results suggest that oxytocin may counteract the adverse effects of testosterone on a central aspect of social behavior and maternal caretaking.}, language = {en} } @article{KirschKitzmannKunde2021, author = {Kirsch, Wladimir and Kitzmann, Tim and Kunde, Wilfried}, title = {Action affects perception through modulation of attention}, series = {Attention, Perception \& Psychophysics}, volume = {83}, journal = {Attention, Perception \& Psychophysics}, number = {5}, issn = {1943-393X}, doi = {10.3758/s13414-021-02277-2}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-273176}, pages = {2320-2330}, year = {2021}, abstract = {The present study explored the origin of perceptual changes repeatedly observed in the context of actions. In Experiment 1, participants tried to hit a circular target with a stylus movement under restricted feedback conditions. We measured the perception of target size during action planning and observed larger estimates for larger movement distances. In Experiment 2, we then tested the hypothesis that this action specific influence on perception is due to changes in the allocation of spatial attention. For this purpose, we replaced the hitting task by conditions of focused and distributed attention and measured the perception of the former target stimulus. The results revealed changes in the perceived stimulus size very similar to those observed in Experiment 1. These results indicate that action's effects on perception root in changes of spatial attention.}, language = {en} } @unpublished{BrychHaendel2020, author = {Brych, Mareike and H{\"a}ndel, Barbara}, title = {Disentangling top-down and bottom-up influences on blinks in the visual and auditory domain}, series = {International Journal of Psychophysiology}, journal = {International Journal of Psychophysiology}, issn = {1872-7697}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2020.11.002}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-246590}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Sensory input as well as cognitive factors can drive the modulation of blinking. Our aim was to dissociate sensory driven bottom-up from cognitive top-down influences on blinking behavior and compare these influences between the auditory and the visual domain. Using an oddball paradigm, we found a significant pre-stimulus decrease in blink probability for visual input compared to auditory input. Sensory input further led to an early post-stimulus blink increase in both modalities if a task demanded attention to the input. Only visual input caused a pronounced early increase without a task. In case of a target or the omission of a stimulus (as compared to standard input), an additional late increase in blink rate was found in the auditory and visual domain. This suggests that blink modulation must be based on the interpretation of the input, but does not need any sensory input at all to occur. Our results show a complex modulation of blinking based on top-down factors such as prediction and attention in addition to sensory-based influences. The magnitude of the modulation is mainly influenced by general attentional demands, while the latency of this modulation allows to dissociate general from specific top-down influences that are independent of the sensory domain.}, language = {en} } @article{WongPittig2022, author = {Wong, Alex H. K. and Pittig, Andre}, title = {A dimensional measure of safety behavior: A non-dichotomous assessment of costly avoidance in human fear conditioning}, series = {Psychological Research}, volume = {86}, journal = {Psychological Research}, number = {1}, issn = {1430-2772}, doi = {10.1007/s00426-021-01490-w}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-267688}, pages = {312-330}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Safety behavior prevents the occurrence of threat, thus it is typically considered adaptive. However, safety behavior in anxiety-related disorders is often costly, and persists even the situation does not entail realistic threat. Individuals can engage in safety behavior to varying extents, however, these behaviors are typically measured dichotomously (i.e., to execute or not). To better understand the nuances of safety behavior, this study developed a dimensional measure of safety behavior that had a negative linear relationship with the admission of an aversive outcome. In two experiments, a Reward group receiving fixed or individually calibrated incentives competing with safety behavior showed reduced safety behavior than a Control group receiving no incentives. This allowed extinction learning to a previously learnt warning signal in the Reward group (i.e., updating the belief that this stimulus no longer signals threat). Despite the Reward group exhibited extinction learning, both groups showed a similar increase in fear to the warning signal once safety behavior was no longer available. This null group difference was due to some participants in the Reward group not incentivized enough to disengage from safety behavior. Dimensional assessment revealed a dissociation between low fear but substantial safety behavior to a safety signal in the Control group. This suggests that low-cost safety behavior does not accurately reflect the fear-driven processes, but also other non-fear-driven processes, such as cost (i.e., engage in safety behavior merely because it bears little to no cost). Pinpointing both processes is important for furthering the understanding of safety behavior.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Glaser2024, author = {Glaser, Julia}, title = {Nachhaltiges Lernen an der Hochschule: Untersuchungen zu Randbedingungen und Transfereffekten von digitalen {\"U}bungstests auf das Behalten von Lehrinhalten}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-35866}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-358665}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Learning accompanies us throughout our lives, from early childhood education through school, training and university to learning at work. However, much of what we learn is quickly forgotten. The use of practice tests is a learning strategy that contributes to the acquisition of sustainable knowledge, i.e. knowledge that is permanently available and can be retrieved when it is needed. This dissertation first presents findings from previous research on testing in real educational contexts and discusses theoretically why certain learner or situational characteristics might influence the effectiveness of the testing effect. Furthermore, a cycle of three experiments is presented, which were used to investigate whether the positive effect of practice tests on retention (testing effect) depends on personal or situational characteristics and also promotes the retention of lecture content that was not directly tested (transfer) in the context of regular psychology lectures in teacher training courses. In an additional chapter, feedback from students on the implementation of the study in the classroom context is examined in more detail. Finally, the results of the three studies are discussed and placed in relation to the theories presented. The central conclusion from the studies presented is that the testing effect appears to be a very effective learning strategy that can be used effectively in university teaching and leads to better learning outcomes regardless of learner characteristics. However, the practice tests should cover the entire range of relevant content, as transfer effects to non-tested content are not to be expected.}, subject = {Transfer}, language = {en} } @article{GottschalkRichterZiegleretal.2019, author = {Gottschalk, Michael G. and Richter, Jan and Ziegler, Christiane and Schiele, Miriam A. and Mann, Julia and Geiger, Maximilian J. and Schartner, Christoph and Homola, Gy{\"o}rgy A. and Alpers, Georg W. and B{\"u}chel, Christian and Fehm, Lydia and Fydrich, Thomas and Gerlach, Alexander L. and Gloster, Andrew T. and Helbig-Lang, Sylvia and Kalisch, Raffael and Kircher, Tilo and Lang, Thomas and Lonsdorf, Tina B. and Pan{\´e}-Farr{\´e}, Christiane A. and Str{\"o}hle, Andreas and Weber, Heike and Zwanzger, Peter and Arolt, Volker and Romanos, Marcel and Wittchen, Hans-Ulrich and Hamm, Alfons and Pauli, Paul and Reif, Andreas and Deckert, J{\"u}rgen and Neufang, Susanne and H{\"o}fler, Michael and Domschke, Katharina}, title = {Orexin in the anxiety spectrum: association of a HCRTR1 polymorphism with panic disorder/agoraphobia, CBT treatment response and fear-related intermediate phenotypes}, series = {Translational Psychiatry}, volume = {9}, journal = {Translational Psychiatry}, doi = {10.1038/s41398-019-0415-8}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-227479}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Preclinical studies point to a pivotal role of the orexin 1 (OX1) receptor in arousal and fear learning and therefore suggest the HCRTR1 gene as a prime candidate in panic disorder (PD) with/without agoraphobia (AG), PD/AG treatment response, and PD/AG-related intermediate phenotypes. Here, a multilevel approach was applied to test the non-synonymous HCRTR1 C/T Ile408Val gene variant (rs2271933) for association with PD/AG in two independent case-control samples (total n = 613 cases, 1839 healthy subjects), as an outcome predictor of a six-weeks exposure-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in PD/AG patients (n = 189), as well as with respect to agoraphobic cognitions (ACQ) (n = 483 patients, n = 2382 healthy subjects), fMRI alerting network activation in healthy subjects (n = 94), and a behavioral avoidance task in PD/AG pre- and post-CBT (n = 271). The HCRTR1 rs2271933 T allele was associated with PD/AG in both samples independently, and in their meta-analysis (p = 4.2 × 10-7), particularly in the female subsample (p = 9.8 × 10-9). T allele carriers displayed a significantly poorer CBT outcome (e.g., Hamilton anxiety rating scale: p = 7.5 × 10-4). The T allele count was linked to higher ACQ sores in PD/AG and healthy subjects, decreased inferior frontal gyrus and increased locus coeruleus activation in the alerting network. Finally, the T allele count was associated with increased pre-CBT exposure avoidance and autonomic arousal as well as decreased post-CBT improvement. In sum, the present results provide converging evidence for an involvement of HCRTR1 gene variation in the etiology of PD/AG and PD/AG-related traits as well as treatment response to CBT, supporting future therapeutic approaches targeting the orexin-related arousal system.}, language = {en} } @article{HommersRichterYangetal.2018, author = {Hommers, L. G. and Richter, J. and Yang, Y. and Raab, A. and Baumann, C. and Lang, K. and Schiele, M. A. and Weber, H. and Wittmann, A. and Wolf, C. and Alpers, G. W. and Arolt, V. and Domschke, K. and Fehm, L. and Fydrich, T. and Gerlach, A. and Gloster, A. T. and Hamm, A. O. and Helbig-Lang, S. and Kircher, T. and Lang, T. and Pan{\´e}-Farr{\´e}, C. A. and Pauli, P. and Pfleiderer, B. and Reif, A. and Romanos, M. and Straube, B. and Str{\"o}hle, A. and Wittchen, H.-U. and Frantz, S. and Ertl, G. and Lohse, M. J. and Lueken, U. and Deckert, J.}, title = {A functional genetic variation of SLC6A2 repressor hsa-miR-579-3p upregulates sympathetic noradrenergic processes of fear and anxiety}, series = {Translational Psychiatry}, volume = {8}, journal = {Translational Psychiatry}, doi = {10.1038/s41398-018-0278-4}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-322497}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Increased sympathetic noradrenergic signaling is crucially involved in fear and anxiety as defensive states. MicroRNAs regulate dynamic gene expression during synaptic plasticity and genetic variation of microRNAs modulating noradrenaline transporter gene (SLC6A2) expression may thus lead to altered central and peripheral processing of fear and anxiety. In silico prediction of microRNA regulation of SLC6A2 was confirmed by luciferase reporter assays and identified hsa-miR-579-3p as a regulating microRNA. The minor (T)-allele of rs2910931 (MAFcases = 0.431, MAFcontrols = 0.368) upstream of MIR579 was associated with panic disorder in patients (pallelic = 0.004, ncases = 506, ncontrols = 506) and with higher trait anxiety in healthy individuals (pASI = 0.029, pACQ = 0.047, n = 3112). Compared to the major (A)-allele, increased promoter activity was observed in luciferase reporter assays in vitro suggesting more effective MIR579 expression and SLC6A2 repression in vivo (p = 0.041). Healthy individuals carrying at least one (T)-allele showed a brain activation pattern suggesting increased defensive responding and sympathetic noradrenergic activation in midbrain and limbic areas during the extinction of conditioned fear. Panic disorder patients carrying two (T)-alleles showed elevated heart rates in an anxiety-provoking behavioral avoidance test (F(2, 270) = 5.47, p = 0.005). Fine-tuning of noradrenaline homeostasis by a MIR579 genetic variation modulated central and peripheral sympathetic noradrenergic activation during fear processing and anxiety. This study opens new perspectives on the role of microRNAs in the etiopathogenesis of anxiety disorders, particularly their cardiovascular symptoms and comorbidities.}, language = {en} } @article{HoltfrerichPfisterElGammaletal.2018, author = {Holtfrerich, Sarah K. C. and Pfister, Roland and El Gammal, Alexander T. and Bellon, Eugen and Diekhof, Esther K.}, title = {Endogenous testosterone and exogenous oxytocin influence the response to baby schema in the female brain}, series = {Scientific Reports}, volume = {8}, journal = {Scientific Reports}, doi = {10.1038/s41598-018-26020-4}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-322285}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Nurturing behavior may be critically influenced by the interplay of different hormones. The neuropeptide oxytocin is known to promote maternal behavior and its reduction has been associated with postpartum depression risk and child neglect. Contrariwise, the observed decrease in testosterone level during early parenthood may benefit caretaking behavior, whereas increased testosterone may reduce attention to infants. Here we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate the interactive influence of testosterone and oxytocin on selective attention to and neural processing of the baby schema (BS). 57 nulliparous women performed a target detection task with human faces with varying degree of BS following double-blinded placebo-controlled oxytocin administration in a between-subjects design. Our results support the idea that oxytocin enhances attention to the BS. Oxytocin had a positive effect on activation of the inferior frontal junction during identification of infant targets with a high degree of BS that were presented among adult distractors. Further, activation of the putamen was positively correlated with selective attention to the BS, but only in women with high endogenous testosterone who received oxytocin. These findings provide initial evidence for the neural mechanism by which oxytocin may counteract the negative effects of testosterone in the modulation of nurturing behavior.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Zillig2024, author = {Zillig, Anna-Lena Christina}, title = {Einfluss von Sicherheit auf die Schmerzverarbeitung}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-35928}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-359282}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Im Rahmen des interdisziplin{\"a}ren Promotionsschwerpunkts Resilienzfaktoren der Schmerzverarbeitung des evangelischen Studienwerks in Zusammenarbeit mit der Julius-Maximilians-Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg und der Otto-Friedrich-Universit{\"a}t Bamberg untersuche ich in diesem Promotionsprojekt den Einfluss von Sicherheit auf die Schmerzverarbeitung. Es ist bekannt, dass die Schmerzverarbeitung durch Emotionen moduliert werden kann. Man geht davon aus, dass negative Emotionen den Schmerz in der Regel verst{\"a}rken, w{\"a}hrend positive Emotionen zu einer Schmerzreduktion f{\"u}hren. Fr{\"u}here Studien fanden heraus, dass die Erwartung eines aversiven Ereignisses zu Bedrohung und st{\"a}rkeren Schmerzen f{\"u}hrt. Es stellt sich die Frage, ob das Gegenteil von Bedrohung, n{\"a}mlich Sicherheit, zu einer Verringerung der Schmerzen f{\"u}hren kann. Um diese Hypothese zu untersuchen, habe ich drei Experimente an gesunden ProbandInnen durchgef{\"u}hrt.}, subject = {Sicherheit}, language = {de} } @phdthesis{HuttererneeHerzog2024, author = {Hutterer, n{\´e}e Herzog, Katharina}, title = {Treatment-like use of discrimination training to reduce generalization of conditioned fear}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-31728}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-317286}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Anxiety patients overgeneralize fear, also because of an inability to perceptually discriminate threat and safety signals. Therefore, some studies have developed discrimination training that successfully reduced the occurrence of fear generalization. The present work is the first to take a treatment-like approach by using discrimination training after generalization has occurred. Therefore, two studies were conducted with healthy participants using the same fear conditioning and generalization paradigm, with two faces as conditioned stimuli (CSs), and four facial morphs between CSs as generalization stimuli (GSs). Only one face (CS+) was followed by a loud scream (unconditioned stimulus, US). In Study 1, participants underwent either fear-relevant (discriminating faces) or fear-irrelevant discrimination training (discriminating width of lines) or a non-discriminative control training between the two generalization tests, each with or without feedback (n = 20 each). Generalization of US expectancy was reduced more effectively by fear-relevant compared to fear-irrelevant discrimination training. However, neither discrimination training was more effective than non-discriminative control training. Moreover, feedback reduced generalization of US expectancy only in discrimination training. Study 2 was designed to replicate the effects of the discrimination-training conditions in a large sample (N = 244) and examine their benefits in individuals at risk for anxiety disorders. Again, feedback reduced fear generalization particularly well for US expectancy. Fear relevance was not confirmed to be particularly fear-reducing in healthy participants, but may enhance training effects in individuals at risk of anxiety disorder. In summary, this work provides evidence that existing fear generalization can be reduced by discrimination training, likely involving several (higher-level) processes besides perceptual discrimination (e.g., motivational mechanisms in feedback conditions). Its use may be promising as part of individualized therapy for patients with difficulty discriminating similar stimuli.}, subject = {Furcht}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Mueller2024, author = {M{\"u}ller, Saskia}, title = {The Influence of Personality and Trust on Information Processing and Decision Making in the Specific Context of Online Marketing}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-35952}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-359526}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Trust carries the capacity to shift the focus from risks to opportunities of a situation. Scientific studies from the field of trust research point out that besides situation-specific factors (i.e., stimuli of the environment), cross-situationally stable interindividual differences (i.e., personality) are involved in the emergence of trust. Stable interindividual differences are particularly influential to the subjective experience of situational conditions when crucial information is incomplete. The online shopping environment classifies as a prime example of markets with asymmetric information. Research has examined online consumer trust in the light of signaling theory to understand the effects of trust-enhancing signals. Previous research largely neglects interindividual differences in the perception, processing and reaction to these signals. Against this background, this scientific work has two primary objectives: the investigation of (1) interindividual differences in the evaluation of trust-enhancing signals and (2) a personality-based personalization of trust-enhancing signals in its effect on cognition and behavior. For this purpose, an interactive online shop setup was created, which served as realistic environmental framework. First, the results show a trust-enhancing effect of both objective and subjective personalization, with a superiority of subjective over objective personalization. Second, results suggest a particular susceptibility of the beliefs component of trust. Third, the results suggest that personalization exerts a specifically strong effect in what is, by definition, the particularly uncertain environment of credence goods. Fourth, results indicate that while the trust-enhancing effects of personalization operate (largely) independently of personality, the effect of personality on trust seems to depend on the condition of signal presentation. Taken together, the present work makes a contribution to understanding the effect of personality-adapted signaling environments on the emergence of trust and decision making in the specific context of B2C e-commerce.}, subject = {Pers{\"o}nlichkeit}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Pollerhoff2024, author = {Pollerhoff, Lena Katharina}, title = {Age differences in prosociality across the adult lifespan: Insights from self-reports, experimental paradigms, and meta-analyses}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-35944}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-359445}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Human prosociality, encompassing generosity, cooperation, and volunteering, holds a vital role in our daily lives. Over the last decades, the question of whether prosociality undergoes changes over the adult lifespan has gained increased research attention. Earlier studies suggested increased prosociality in older compared to younger individuals. However, recent meta-analyses revealed that this age effect might be heterogeneous and modest. Moreover, the contributing factors and mechanisms behind these age-related variations remain to be identified. To unravel age-related differences in prosociality, the first study of this dissertation employed a meta-analytical approach to summarize existing findings and provide insight into their heterogeneity by exploring linear and quadratic age effects on self-reported and behavioral prosociality. Additionally, two empirical research studies investigated whether these age-related differences in prosociality were observed in real life, assessed through ecological momentary assessment (Study 2), and in a controlled laboratory setting by applying a modified dictator game (Study 3). Throughout these three studies, potential underlying behavioral and computational mechanisms were explored. The outcome of the meta-analysis (Study 1) revealed small linear age effects on prosociality and significant age group differences between younger and older adults, with higher levels of prosociality in older adults. Explorative evidence emerged in favor of a quadratic age effect on behavioral prosociality, indicating the highest levels in midlife. Additionally, heightened prosocial behavior among middle-aged adults was observed compared to younger adults, whereas no significant differences in prosocial behavior were noted between middle-aged and older adults. Situational and contextual features, such as the setting of the study and specific paradigm characteristics, moderated the age-prosociality relationship, highlighting the importance of the (social) context when studying prosociality. For Study 2, no significant age effect on real-life prosocial behavior was observed. However, evidence for a significant linear and quadratic age effect on experiencing empathy in real life emerged, indicating a midlife peak. Additionally, across all age groups, the link between an opportunity to empathize and age significantly predicted real-life prosocial behavior. This effect, indicating higher levels of prosocial behavior when there was a situation possibly evoking empathy, was most pronounced in midlife. Study 3 presented age differences in how older and younger adults integrate values related to monetary gains for self and others to make a potential prosocial decision. Younger individuals effectively combined both values in a multiplicative fashion, enhancing decision-making efficiency. Older adults showed an additive effect of values for self and other and displayed increased decision-making efficiency when considering the values separately. However, among older adults, individuals with better inhibitory control were better able to integrate information about both values in their decisions. Taken together, the findings of this dissertation offer new insights into the multi-faceted nature of prosociality across adulthood and the mechanisms that help explain these age-related disparities. While this dissertation observed increasing prosociality across the adult lifespan, it also questions the assumption that older adults are inherently more prosocial. The studies highlight midlife as a potential peak period in social development but also emphasize the importance of the (social) context and that different operationalizations might capture distinct facets of prosociality. This underpins the need for a comprehensive framework to understand age effects of prosociality better and guide potential interventions.}, subject = {Altersunterschied}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Schulz2024, author = {Schulz, Daniel}, title = {Development of Inhibitory Control in Kindergarten Children}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-35715}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-357152}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2024}, abstract = {This dissertation explores the development and assessment of inhibitory control - a crucial component of executive functions - in young children. Inhibitory control, defined as the ability to suppress inappropriate responses (Verbruggen \& Logan, 2008), is essential for adaptable and goal-oriented behavior. The rapid and non-linear development of this cognitive function in early childhood presents unique challenges for accurate assessment. As children age, they often exhibit a ceiling effect in terms of response accuracy (Petersen et al., 2016), underscoring the need to consider response latency as well. Ideally, combining response latency with accuracy could yield a more precise measure of inhibitory control (e.g., Magnus et al., 2019), facilitating a detailed tracking of developmental changes in inhibitory control across a wider age spectrum. The three studies of this dissertation collectively aim to clarify the relationship between response accuracy, response latency, and inhibitory control across different stages of child development. Each study utilizes a computerized Pointing Stroop Task (Berger et al., 2000) to measure inhibitory control, examining the task's validity and the integration of dual metrics for a more comprehensive evaluation. The first study focuses on establishing the validity of using both response accuracy and latency as indicators of inhibitory control. Utilizing the framework of explanatory item-response modeling (De Boeck \& Wilson, 2004), the study revealed how the task characteristics congruency and item position influence both the difficulty level and timing aspects in young children's responses in the computerized Pointing Stroop task. Further, this study found that integrating response accuracy with latency, even in a basic manner, provides additional insights. Building upon these findings, the second study investigates the nuances of integrating response accuracy and latency, examining whether this approach can account for age-related differences in inhibitory control. It also explores whether response latencies may contain different information depending on the age and proficiency of the children. The study leverages novel and established methodological perspectives to integrate response accuracy and latency into a single metric, showing the potential applicability of different approaches for assessing inhibitory control development. The third study extends the investigation to a longitudinal perspective, exploring the dynamic relationship between response accuracy, latency, and inhibitory control over time. It assesses whether children who achieve high accuracy at an earlier age show faster improvement in response latency, suggesting a non-linear maturation pathway of inhibitory control. The study also examines if the predictive value of early response latency for later fluid intelligence is dependent on the response accuracy level. Together, these empirical studies contribute to a more robust understanding of the complex interaction between inhibitory control, response accuracy, and response latency, facilitating valid evaluations of cognitive capabilities in children. Moreover, the findings may have practical implications for designing educational strategies and clinical interventions that address the developmental trajectory of inhibitory control. The nuanced approach advocated in this dissertation suggests prioritizing accuracy in assessment and interventions during the early stages of children's cognitive development, gradually shifting the focus to response latency as children mature and secure their inhibitory control abilities.}, subject = {Kognitive Entwicklung}, language = {en} } @article{MusselHewig2019, author = {Mussel, Patrick and Hewig, Johannes}, title = {A neural perspective on when and why trait greed comes at the expense of others}, series = {Scientific Reports}, volume = {9}, journal = {Scientific Reports}, doi = {10.1038/s41598-019-47372-5}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-231652}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Depending on the point of view, conceptions of greed range from being a desirable and inevitable feature of a well-regulated, well-balanced economy to the root of all evil - radix omnium malorum avaritia (Tim 6.10). Regarding the latter, it has been proposed that greedy individuals strive for obtaining desired goods at all costs. Here, we show that trait greed predicts selfish economic decisions that come at the expense of others in a resource dilemma. This effect was amplified when individuals strived for obtaining real money, as compared to points, and when their revenue was at the expense of another person, as compared to a computer. On the neural level, we show that individuals high, compared to low in trait greed showed a characteristic signature in the EEG, a reduced P3 effect to positive, compared to negative feedback, indicating that they may have a lack of sensitivity to adjust behavior according to positive and negative stimuli from the environment. Brain-behavior relations further confirmed this lack of sensitivity to behavior adjustment as a potential underlying neuro-cognitive mechanism which explains selfish and reckless behavior that may come at the expense of others.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Merscher2024, author = {Merscher, Alma-Sophia}, title = {To Fear or not to Fear: Unraveling the (Oculo)motor and Autonomic Components of Defensive States in Humans}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-32791}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-327913}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Defensive behaviors in response to threats are key factors in maintaining mental and physical health, but their phenomenology remains poorly understood. Prior work reported an inhibition of oculomotor activity in response to avoidable threat in humans that reminded of freezing behaviors in rodents. This notion of a homology between defensive responding in rodents and humans was seconded by concomitant heart rate decrease and skin conductance increase. However, several aspects of this presumed defense state remained ambiguous. For example, it was unclear whether the observed oculomotor inhibition would 1) robustly occur during preparation for threat-avoidance irrespective of task demands, 2) reflect a threat-specific defensive state, 3) be related to an inhibition of somatomotor activity as both motion metrics have been discussed as indicators for freezing behaviors in humans, and 4) manifest in unconstrained settings. We thus embarked on a series of experiments to unravel the robustness, threat-specificity, and validity of previously observed (oculo)motor and autonomic dynamics upon avoidable threat in humans. We provided robust evidence for reduced gaze dispersion, significantly predicting the speed of subsequent motor reactions across a wide range of stimulus contexts. Along this gaze pattern, we found reductions in body movement and showed that the temporal profiles between gaze and body activity were positively related within individuals, suggesting that both metrics reflect the same construct. A simultaneous activation of the parasympathetic (i.e., heart rate deceleration) and sympathetic (i.e., increased skin conductance and pupil dilation) nervous system was present in both defensive and appetitive contexts, suggesting that these autonomic dynamics are not only sensitive to threat but reflecting a more general action-preparatory mechanism. We further gathered evidence for two previously proposed defensive states involving a decrease of (oculo)motor activity in a naturalistic, unconstrained virtual reality environment. Specifically, we observed a state consisting of a cessation of ongoing behaviors and orienting upon relatively distal, ambiguous threat (Attentive Immobility) while an entire immobilization and presumed allocation of attention to the threat stimulus became apparent upon approaching potential threat (Immobility under Attack). Taken together, we provided evidence for specific oculomotor and autonomic dynamics upon increasing levels of threat that may inspire future translational work in rodents and humans on shared mechanisms of threat processing, ultimately supporting the development of novel therapeutic approaches.}, subject = {Furcht}, language = {en} } @article{StegmannReichertsAndreattaetal.2019, author = {Stegmann, Yannik and Reicherts, Philipp and Andreatta, Marta and Pauli, Paul and Wieser, Matthias J.}, title = {The effect of trait anxiety on attentional mechanisms in combined context and cue conditioning and extinction learning}, series = {Scientific Reports}, volume = {9}, journal = {Scientific Reports}, doi = {10.1038/s41598-019-45239-3}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-239394}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Sensory processing and attention allocation are shaped by threat, but the role of trait-anxiety in sensory processing as a function of threat predictability remains incompletely understood. Therefore, we measured steady-state visual evoked potentials (ssVEPs) as an index of sensory processing of predictable and unpredictable threat cues in 29 low (LA) and 29 high (HA) trait-anxious participants during a modified NPU-paradigm followed by an extinction phase. Three different contextual cues indicated safety (N), predictable (P) or unpredictable threat (U), while foreground cues signalled shocks in the P-condition only. All participants allocated increased attentional resources to the central P-threat cue, replicating previous findings. Importantly, LA individuals exhibited larger ssVEP amplitudes to contextual threat (U and P) than to contextual safety cues, while HA individuals did not differentiate among contextual cues in general. Further, HA exhibited higher aversive ratings of all contexts compared to LA. These results suggest that high trait-anxious individuals might be worse at discriminating contextual threat stimuli and accordingly overestimate the probability and aversiveness of unpredictable threat. These findings support the notion of aberrant sensory processing of unpredictable threat in anxiety disorders, as this processing pattern is already evident in individuals at risk of these disorders.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Banaschewski2024, author = {Banaschewski, Nora Malaika Marcia Cath{\´e}rine}, title = {Erleichterungslernen bei Jugendlichen mit nicht-suizidalem selbstverletzendem Verhalten}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-32367}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-323673}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Die Erleichterung von einem k{\"o}rperlichen Schmerzreiz besitzt appetitiven Charakter (Leknes et al., 2008; 2011; Seymour et al., 2005), aktiviert belohnungsassoziierte Hirnstrukturen (Leknes et al., 2011; Leknes \& Brock, 2014; Leknes \& Tracey, 2008; Navratilova \& Porreca, 2014) und f{\"o}rdert durch ihre Konditionierbarkeit als Erleichterungslernen bezeichnete appetitive Lern- und Konditionierungsprozesse (Andreatta et al., 2010, 2012; 2013; 2017; Gerber et al., 2014; Tanimoto et al., 2004; Yarali et al., 2008). Die vorliegende Arbeit best{\"a}tigt das angewandte Versuchsparadigma als valides Modell f{\"u}r Erleichterungslernen im Menschen und zeigt erstmals, dass der appetitive Charakter von Schmerzerleichterung auch in Jugendlichen konditionierbar ist. Erfolgreiches Erleichterungslernen zeigte sich dabei in der untersuchten Stichprobe lediglich auf impliziter, nicht aber auf expliziter, kognitiver Ebene. Dies st{\"u}tzt Thesen und vorherige Forschungsbefunde einer Dualit{\"a}t assoziativen Lernens in ein implizites Lernen, welches vornehmlich subkortikale Strukturen erfordert und ein explizites Lernen, das vorrangig kortikale Strukturen wie den pr{\"a}frontalen Cortex involviert (Andreatta et al., 2010; Strack \& Deutsch, 2004; Williams et al., 2001). Die Beobachtungen einer differenten Furcht- versus Erleichterungs-Extinktion best{\"a}rken die Thesen eines diversen neuronalen Hintergrunds dieser beiden Lernformen (Diegelmann et al., 2013; Gerber et al., 2014; Yarali et al., 2009; Yarali \& Gerber, 2010). Gleichzeitig werfen die Studienergebnisse die Frage auf, ob und inwiefern im Erleichterungslernen von Jugendlichen Unterschiede zu jenem in Erwachsenen bestehen. Die Hypothese einer verst{\"a}rkten Akquisition von Erleichterungslernen bei Jugendlichen mit NSSV im Vergleich zu gesunden Jugendlichen ließ sich in der vorliegenden Studie nicht best{\"a}tigen. Somit liefern die Ergebnisse keinen direkten Hinweis darauf, dass ein verst{\"a}rktes Lernen durch Schmerzerleichterung an der {\"A}tiopathogenese von NSSV beteiligt sein k{\"o}nnte. Die vorliegende Arbeit zeigte vielmehr die Tendenz eines abgeschw{\"a}chten impliziten Erleichterungslernens bei den Jugendlichen mit NSSV. Die tendenziellen Gruppenunterschiede ließen sich nicht hinreichend durch eine differente aktuelle Stimmungslage oder durch eine unterschiedlich starke Auspr{\"a}gung aversiver emotionaler Anspannungen oder momentaner Angstaffekte erkl{\"a}ren. Innerhalb der Gruppe Jugendlicher mit NSSV zeigte sich auch kein Hinweis darauf, dass der Erfolg von Erleichterungslernen vom Schweregrad des NSSV oder von der aktuellen Einnahme von Antidepressiva abh{\"a}ngig sein k{\"o}nnte. Explorative Analysen ergaben, dass Gruppeneffekte in der vorliegenden Studie wom{\"o}glich aufgrund einer statistischen Untersch{\"a}tzung, bedingt durch einen zu geringen Stichprobenumfang, nicht das Signifikanzniveau erreichten und dass Unterschiede im Erleichterungslernen von Jugendlichen mit und ohne NSSV tats{\"a}chlich sogar noch st{\"a}rker ausgepr{\"a}gt sein k{\"o}nnten. Somit sollte die vorliegende Arbeit als Pilotstudie f{\"u}r zuk{\"u}nftige gr{\"o}ßer angelegte Studien zu Erleichterungslernen bei NSSV betrachtet werden. Zuk{\"u}nftige Studien erscheinen insbesondere sinnvoll mit Blick auf die hohe klinische sowie gesellschaftliche Relevanz von NSSV f{\"u}r welches, trotz der hohen Pr{\"a}valenzen und des deutlich erh{\"o}hten Morbidit{\"a}ts- und Mortalit{\"a}tsrisikos, zum aktuellen Zeitpunkt noch keine hinreichenden Erkl{\"a}rungsmodelle bestehen. Die Studie best{\"a}tigte das Vorliegen eines erh{\"o}hten Grades aversiver emotionaler Anspannung in Jugendlichen mit NSSV, welcher zuvor nur an Erwachsenen mit einer BPD untersucht und festgestellt worden war (Niedtfeld et al., 2010; Stiglmayr et al., 2005). Die Abnahme negativer Affekte bei den Jugendlichen mit NSSV im Studienverlauf repliziert die Ergebnisse vorheriger Studien, in denen eine Reduktion selbst-berichteter negativer Affekte durch die Beendigung eines Schmerzreizes beobachtet wurde (Bresin et al., 2010; Bresin \& Gordon, 2013). Damit best{\"a}rken die Studienergebnisse bestehende Erkl{\"a}rungsmodelle f{\"u}r NSSV, welche eine entscheidende Beteiligung der k{\"o}rperlichen Schmerzen und der Schmerzerleichterung bei der Selbstverletzung an der Affektregulation vermuten. Weiterhin wirft die vorliegende Arbeit die Frage auf, welche Rolle eine ver{\"a}nderte Wahrnehmung von Schmerz und Schmerzerleichterung in der {\"A}tiopathogenese von NSSV einnimmt und wie diese sich auf Lernprozesse auswirkt. Insgesamt erbr{\"a}chten weitere Erkenntnisse {\"u}ber den potenziellen Zusammenhang von NSSV und abweichendem Erleichterungslernen ein besseres Verst{\"a}ndnis f{\"u}r Mechanismen der Entstehung und Aufrechterhaltung von NSSV und b{\"o}ten zudem m{\"o}glicherweise Ans{\"a}tze f{\"u}r neue Therapiem{\"o}glichkeiten des St{\"o}rungsbildes.}, subject = {Selbstbesch{\"a}digung}, language = {de} } @article{HammerHalderKleihetal.2018, author = {Hammer, Eva M. and Halder, Sebastian and Kleih, Sonja C. and K{\"u}bler, Andrea}, title = {Psychological Predictors of Visual and Auditory P300 Brain-Computer Interface Performance}, series = {Frontiers in Neuroscience}, volume = {12}, journal = {Frontiers in Neuroscience}, doi = {10.3389/fnins.2018.00307}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-369207}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) provide communication channels independent from muscular control. In the current study we used two versions of the P300-BCI: one based on visual the other on auditory stimulation. Up to now, data on the impact of psychological variables on P300-BCI control are scarce. Hence, our goal was to identify new predictors with a comprehensive psychological test-battery. A total of N = 40 healthy BCI novices took part in a visual and an auditory BCI session. Psychological variables were measured with an electronic test-battery including clinical, personality, and performance tests. The personality factor "emotional stability" was negatively correlated (Spearman's rho = -0.416; p < 0.01) and an output variable of the non-verbal learning test (NVLT), which can be interpreted as ability to learn, correlated positively (Spearman's rho = 0.412; p < 0.01) with visual P300-BCI performance. In a linear regression analysis both independent variables explained 24\% of the variance. "Emotional stability" was also negatively related to auditory P300-BCI performance (Spearman's rho = -0.377; p < 0.05), but failed significance in the regression analysis. Psychological parameters seem to play a moderate role in visual P300-BCI performance. "Emotional stability" was identified as a new predictor, indicating that BCI users who characterize themselves as calm and rational showed worse BCI performance. The positive relation of the ability to learn and BCI performance corroborates the notion that also for P300 based BCIs learning may constitute an important factor. Further studies are needed to consolidate or reject the presented predictors.}, language = {en} } @article{VaahtorantaLenhartSuggateetal.2019, author = {Vaahtoranta, Enni and Lenhart, Jan and Suggate, Sebastian and Lenhard, Wolfgang}, title = {Interactive Elaborative Storytelling: Engaging Children as Storytellers to Foster Vocabulary}, series = {Frontiers in Psychology}, volume = {10}, journal = {Frontiers in Psychology}, doi = {10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01534}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-232136}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Positive effects of shared reading for children's language development are boosted by including instruction of word meanings and by increasing interactivity. The effects of engaging children as storytellers on vocabulary development have been less well studied. We developed an approach termed Interactive Elaborative Storytelling (IES), which employs both word-learning techniques and children's storytelling in a shared-reading setting. To systematically investigate potential benefits of children as storytellers, we contrasted this approach to two experimental groups, an Elaborative Storytelling group employing word-learning techniques but no storytelling by children and a Read-Aloud group, excluding any additional techniques. The study was a 3 × 2 pre-posttest randomized design with 126 preschoolers spanning 1 week. Measured outcomes were receptive and expressive target vocabulary, story memory, and children's behavior during story sessions. All three experimental groups made comparable gains on target words from pre- to posttest and there was no difference between groups in story memory. However, in the Elaborative Storytelling group, children were the least restless. Findings are discussed in terms of their contribution to optimizing shared reading as a method of fostering language.}, language = {en} }