News & Events

News: The ICAN PhD Program has started!

This semester marks the beginning of the new ICAN PhD Programm. We welcome the first cohort of students and wish them a great start into their doctoral studies!

The ICAN aims to support jung neuro-scientists by equipping them with all essential knowlege and skills for a successfull academic career. All information regarding the PhD Program can be found here!

New Download: Zweijahresbericht ICAN

Zweijahresbericht ICAN (2023 - 2024)

Workshop

Introduction to Transcranial Electrical Brain Stimulation: Theoretical and Practical Foundations in tDCS & tACS

This workshop offers an introduction to tDCS and tACS, non-invasive brain stimulation techniques that modulate neural activity by applying weak electrical currents to the scalp. In the first part, the physiological and technical basics of tDCS and tACS will be covered, along with experimental design considerations, including ethical and safety aspects, as well as the practical application of transcranial electrical stimulation. The second part will consist of a hands-on introduction to the methodology.

Date: 23.05.2025 – 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Location: Trier University, Campus I, D435
Speaker: Jun.-Prof. Dr. Florian Kasten

Workshop

From zero to hero: Data analysis and visualization in R and Excel

Topics covered: Fundamentals of data processing and inferential statistics in R • Navigating the package jungle • Custom functions and scripts • Linear models • Bayesian statistics • Power analysis • Time-series analysis • Data visualization in Excel • Design-appropriate error bars • & more.

Date: 04. - 05.06.2025, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Location: Johanniterufer 15, JU3.140
Speaker: Prof. Dr. Roland Pfister

Mediatos of stress effects on working memory

News

New Research Project Regarding Time-Dependent Stress Effects on Working Memory in ICAN

ICAN members Christoph Geißler, Christian Frings, and Gregor Domes received DFG funding for a three-year research project investigatingthe time-dependent effects of acute stress onnoradrenergic and glucocorticoidalactivity, prefrontal processing and working memory capacity.

Past Events

Event

ICAN PhD Program Opening

Programm

Welcome Address | ICAN Directors Prof. Dr. Christian Frings, Prof. Dr. Gregor Domes
Welcome Address | President Prof. Dr. Eva Martha Eckkrammer
Presentation ICAN Two-Year-Report | Prof. Dr. Gregor Domes
Presentation ICAN PhD Program | Prof. Dr. Christian Frings
Talk: Von elektrischen Fischen, Wellen im Gehirn, und der Modulation kognitiver Prozesse mittels transkranieller Wechselstromstimulation | Jun.-Prof. Dr. Florian Kasten
Opening Reception (D032)

Date: 16.04.2025, 6 pm to 8 pm
Location: Campus I, HS8

We thank all guests for their great interest in ICAN and for supporting us in our endeavors. Special thanks to all speakers who made this a very informative and inspiring evening!

Here are some impressions from the event:

Talk

Das weibliche Gehirn und Hormone: Psychische Gesundheit von Frauen in der reproduktiven Lebensphase

Frauen sind im Laufe ihrer reproduktiven Lebensphase hormonellen Schwankungen ausgesetzt und durchlaufen mehrmals hormonelle Übergangsphasen, die die Plastizität des Gehirns sowie ihre kognitiven und emotionalen Prozesse beeinflussen können und letztlich Auswirkungen auf die psychische Gesundheit haben. Während dieser Übergangsphasen (Pubertät, Kontrazeption, Schwangerschaft und Menopause) steigt das Risiko für psychische Erkrankungen drastisch an, insbesondere im Hinblick auf affektive Störungen, Angst- und stressbedingte Erkrankungen. Allerdings üben Geschlechtshormone auch neuroprotektive Effekte aus, die sich positiv auf die psychische Gesundheit auswirken können.

Im Vortrag soll ein Überblick darüber gegeben werden, wie hormonelle Übergangsphasen die Plastizität des Gehirns sowie kognitive und emotionale Prozesse beeinflussen und wie dies mit psychischer Gesundheit in Zusammenhang stehen könnte. Diesbezüglich soll auch das internationale Graduiertenkolleg IRTG 2804 vorgestellt werden.

Date: 05.02.2025, 6 pm to 8 pm
Location: Campus I, HS 8
Speaker: Prof. Dr. Birgit Derntl (University Clinic Tübingen)

Talk

The influence of transcotaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) on cognitive functions

Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique with potential cognitive benefits. However, mixed evidence on its efficacy may stem from variability in stimulation parameters and a lack of standardized biomarkers, such as vagally-mediated heart rate variability (vmHRV). This talk will examine the effects of taVNS on cognition, with a particular focus on its influence on executive functioning, highlight the challenges in interpreting its efficacy, and discuss the importance of optimizing protocols and validating biomarkers for further improving the use of this tool.

Date: 16.12.2024, 2 pm to 4 pm
Location: Campus I, HS 8
Speaker: Dr. Uirassu Borges (Sporthochschule Köln)

ICAN Day 2024

Friday, November 29th, 2024, 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm, Room K 101 at Campus II of Trier University

Thanks to all guests for the great interest in out work and many pleasant and informative conversations during the poster exhibition!

Special thanks to Prof. Axel Mecklinger for a captivating keynote talk, to the presenters at the poster session, and to the student research assistents without whose help this event would not have been possible!

Here you find some impressions from the event:

Keynote: Prof. Dr. Axel Mecklinger (Saarland University)

Memory electrified: Event-Related Potential Studies on Recognition Memory

In this talk, Prof. Mecklinger gave an overview of dual process models of recognition memory and sketch the empirical evidence in support of these models. He introduced his own work on ERP measures of recognition memory subprocesses, i.e. the FN400 and the late parietal old-new effect. He argued that familiarity memory is much more than the mere absence of recollection. An important distinction has to be made between a recent-exposure, relative familiarity mechanism indexed by the FN400 and an absolute/baseline familiarity mechanism being reflected by a coincidental but topographically distinct N400 ERP effect. He discussed that familiarity is not just a property of an event. Rather it results from a surprising difference between perceived and expected fluency and a mnemonic attribution process that ascribes this enhanced fluency to a prior experience with that event. Finally, the ecological validity of laboratory-based memory studies using word lists assessed.

Workshop

HRV - basic concepts und analysis approaches

HRV is a powerful way to learn about autonomic regulation. Different methods are used to extract information about heartbeat variability from ECG or pulse sensor data. André Schulz (University of Luxembourg) will give an introduction to the main concepts and analysis approaches. All interested persons, PhD students and post-doctoral students of the ICAN, psychology and related disciplines are welcome. We are looking forward to your coming!

NEW DATE: 01.07.2024, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Location: Johanniterufer 15, JU3.140
Speaker: Prof. Dr. André Schulz (University of Luxembourg)

News

New head coil for fMRI

ICAN receives funding from the state of Rhineland-Palatinate for MRI head-coil

At ICAN, Trier University and the Krankenhaus der Barmherzigen Brüder Trier are working together to research the neuronal basis of human experience and action. Among other things, they are using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the Center for Radiology at the Hospital of the Brüderkrankenhaus. The researchers can now add a 32-channel head coil to the equipment there with the help of funding from the Rhineland-Palatinate state research fund. This enables high-resolution images of the head.

News

ICAN receives funding from the state of Rhineland-Palatinate for new fNIRS device

Thanks to the approved funding, the state-of-the-art fNIRS system LUMO54 from Gowerlabs (London) could be purchased. With 54 optodes, it enables comprehensive recording of brain activity and offers high-resolution imaging. The system also measures head movements precisely during the examination using gyrometers and acceleration sensors. This significantly improves data quality, especially in children and older adults, as movement artifacts can be better controlled. LUMO54 is also characterized by its short preparation time and low weight, which significantly increases comfort for subjects and researchers.

With the new LUMO54 system, ICAN is now internationally at the cutting edge of fNIRS research. In addition, the system opens up new opportunities to better examine groups that were previously difficult to reach - such as geriatric patients or people of low socio-economic status - and thus further advance neurocognitive research.

Talk

Physiology meets Technology: Current Trends and Future Prospects of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation

Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is a non-invasive procedure for stimulating the afferent fibers of the vagus nerve. It can be used to specifically modulate activity in brain regions such as the nucleus tractus solitarius, the locus coeruleus and the limbic system. This has an effect on neurotransmitters such as noradrenaline, serotonin and gamma-aminobutyric acid. In addition to clinical applications, such as the treatment of epilepsy and depression, taVNS is also increasingly being used in cognitive neuroresearch. In his lecture, Prof. Julian Koenig will talk about current trends and future perspectives in (clinical) taVNS research and application.

Date: 18.06.2024 - 6:00 pm - 8.00 pm
Location: D 435
Speaker: Prof. Dr. Julian Koenig (University Hospital Cologne)
Registration: Open for all!

Workshop

Getting started with fNIRS experimental design and analysis

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a non-invasive, inexpensive, and flexible method to measure cortical brain activation. Similarly to fMRI, fNIRS uses the hemodynamic response to neural activity, to determine active brain areas with relatively high spatial precision. Other than fMRI, which makes use of the different magnetic properties of oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin, fNIRS uses the different spectral properties of oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin to measure local changes in blood flow.

On a theoretical level, the workshop will cover the physiological and technical foundations of fNIRS, as well as fNIRS experimental design, data preprocessing, and analysis. Additionally, the participants will learn how to program fNIRS experiments and prepare fNIRS measurements.

Date: 24.05.2024 - 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Location: D 034
Speaker: Dr. Christoph Geißler (Trier University)
Registration: Write an Email to icanuni-trierde

Talk

Endophenotypic markers and personality correlates in populations at increased risk for schizophrenia-spectrum disorders

Schizotypy is a multifaceted latent personality construct comprising traits that mirror the schizophrenia symptom clusters. From the viewpoint of psychiatry, schizotypy is genetically associated with schizophrenia and is directly related with the risk it carries for conversion into disease. From a psychologically-oriented viewpoint, schizotypy refers to non-pathological personality traits that lie in a continuum, and only when it exceeds a certain threshold, it indicates liability to schizophrenia-related disease states. Schizotypal traits have a mean prevalence of approximately 5% - 8% in the general population. The talk discusses the genetic, neurophysiological, neuroanatomical and neurocognitive backgrounds of schizotypy.

Date: 22.05.2024 - 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Location: D 435
Speaker: Prof. Dr. Stella Giakoumaki (University of Crete)
Registration: Open for all

ICAN Opening Ceremony

Wednesday, November 29th, 2023, 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm, Room K 101 at Campus II of Trier University

Thanks to all guests for the great interest in out work and many pleasant and informative conversations during the poster exhibition!

And special thanks to Prof. Eckkrammer and Prof. Jäckel for their heartfelt greetings, to Prof. Winfried Willinek, Prof. Sebastian Jud, Prof. Robert Kumsta, Prof. Stefanie Jung, Prof. Klaus Koch, and Prof. Yana Fandakova for the gripping presentations of the partner organizations, and finally, to all the helping hands that made the opening event possible!

Here you find the related press release of Trier University!
Here you find the report from Ärzteblatt!

And here some impressions from the event: