what we doFear and anxiety are a central part of our emotional world. Our research group aims to understand how fear is transmitted by neuropharmacological means, direct experiences and social information.
To reach this goal, we use laboratory models of aversive learning in humans that map out how we learn about dangers in the environment and how we adaptively learn safety and overcome fears. To draw inferences on neurobiological processes, we examine neural responses (fMRI), together with psychophysiological signals (e.g. Skin-conductance and Eye-blink startle reflex) in humans. |
Social learning of fearWe often learn by observation of others what is dangerous in our environment. Our group examines the neurotransmitter systems that regulate how we learn fear responses by social information. We employ a laboratory model to probe transmission of threats by observation of others.
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Translational models of fear and anxiety We are curious how we learn to anticipate aversive experiences (e.g. pain) and respond with fear. To reach this goal, we use laboratory models of aversive learning and return of fear in humans .
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Neurotransmitter systems to augment extinction of fear How we can overcome fears by learning to be safe? And which neurotransmitter can agument safety learning to combat fear?
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Smokers are overrepresented in patients that suffer from anxiety disorders. However, it is unclear how smoking and nicotine contributes to fear and anxiety in humans. To address this question, we employ pharmacological nicotinic challenges and investigations in smokers to undertstand the influence of smoking on the neural systems of fear and anxiety in humans
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