ICAN Report 2023/24
We are pleased to present ICAN's biennial report. A lot has happened at ICAN over the past two years. For ICAN, the past (first) two years have been characterised by significant progress, successful collaborations and inspiring scientific findings. Since the founding of in March 2023, our institute has established itself as a central hub for neuroscientific research in the Trier region. The interdisciplinary collaboration between Trier University, University of Luxembourg, Trier University of Applied Sciences and the Trier clinics has enabled innovative research projects and expanded our methodological spectrum. We are particularly proud of the large number of events that have further promoted scientific exchange and networking The grand opening of in November 2023 and the first ICAN Day in November 2024 offered intensive discussions and inspiring lectures. The regular workshops, such as on functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) or heart rate variability, have also underlined our commitment to methodological expertise and the promotion of young talent. The complete report is now available (in German) [Download PDF].
Selected Publications 2025
Becker, L. F., Sallandt, G. S., Rosolowsky, E., Hetzel, S., Frings, C., Bäumer, T., Mückschel, M., Beste, C., & Münchau, A. (in press). Modulation of response inhibition with event-related atVNS showed EEG but no behavioral effects. Scientific Reports.
Bergmann, T. O., Zoefel, B., Herrmann, C. S., Violante, I. R., Grossman, N., Hassan, U., Kasten, F. H., Siebner, H. R., Stecher, H. I., Marcantoni, E., ... Frings, C., … Hanslmayr, S. (2025). The tACS challenge: Does 10 Hz tACS rhythmically modulate visual perception in humans? Stage 1 Registered Report accepted at Nature Human Behaviour.
Constant, M., Mandal, A., Asanowicz, D., Panek, B., Kotlewska, I., Yamaguchi, M., Gillmeister, H., Kerzel, D., …, Frings, C., … Liesefeld, H. R. (2025). A multilab investigation into the N2pc as an indicator of attentional selectivity: Direct replication of Eimer (1996). Cortex, 190, 304-341.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2025.05.014
Croyé, M.-A., Freilinger, P., Jürgenlimke, H., Domes, G., & Meyer, J. (2025). Elevated autistic traits and social anxiety, and reduced empathy in adult women with triple X syndrome. Journal Of Neurodevelopmental Disorders, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s11689-025-09631-7
Domes, G., Croyé, M.A., Freilinger, P., Bohlscheid, A., Willinek, W.A., Meyer, J. (2025). Brain structure in triple X syndrome: regional gray matter volume and cortical thickness in adult women with 47,XXX karyotype. Journal Of Neurodevelopmental Disorders, 17(1), 18. https://doi.org/10.1186/s11689-025-09608-6
Eggert, E., Prochnow, A., Talebi, N., Frings, C., Münchau, A., & Beste, C. (2025). Uncovering the role of directed connectivity in alpha and theta band activity for sustaining perception-action links. Communications Biology, 8, 1147. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08601-y
Fellinger, E., Brandt, T., Schittenhelm, A., Quarg, E., Pröll, M., Domes, G., & Schmidt, A. (2025). Virtual stress testing: Analyzing endocrine, metabolic, cardiovascular, and psychological responses to the TSST-VR. Neurobiology Of Stress, 39, 100760. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ynstr.2025.100760
Geissler, C.F., Frings, C., Domes, G. (2025). The effects of stress on working-memory-related prefrontal processing: an fNIRS study. Stress, 28(1), 2472067. https://doi.org/10.1080/10253890.2025.2472067
Hao, Y., Wendiggensen, P., Bluschke, A., Rawish, T., Friedrich, J., Toth-Faber, E., Tarnok, T., Roessner, V., Frings, C., Weissbach, A., Bäumer, T., Münchau, A., & Beste, C. (2025). Evidence for temporal disintegration of information processing during sensorimotor integration in GTS. NeuroImage: Clinical, 48, 103844. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nicl.2025.103844
Hao, Y., Münster, N., Pastötter, B., Talebi, N., Bäumer, T., Münchau, A., Frings, C., Beste, C. (2025). Directed information transfer in theta networks: timing and its role in managing distractions during action control. Cortex, 189, 242-255. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2025.06.003
Jamous, R., Mocke, V., Kunde, W., Pastötter, B., Beste, C. (2025). Neurophysiological profiles underlying action withholding and action discarding. Cerebral Cortex, 35(2). https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhaf026
Knopf, L., Domes, G., & Kamp, S.-M. (2025). An intricate relationship: Stress markers and associative memory in a laboratory experiment in older adults. Frontiers In Ageing Neuroscience, in press.
Linnig, K., Seel, S., von Dawans, B., Standard, W., Zielasko, D., Weyers, B., Domes, G. (2025). Open TSST VR: Psychobiological reactions to an open version of the Trier Social Stress Test in virtual reality. Behavior Research Methods, 57(5), 147. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13428-025-02662-x
Neszmélyi, B., Pfister, R. (2025). To err is human: Differences in performance monitoring ERPs during interactions with human co-actors and machines. Biological Psychology, 194, 108965. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2024.108965
Pastötter, B., Beste, C., Münchau, A., & Frings, C. (2025). Perception-action integration is linked to posterior alpha/beta desynchronization. Journal Of Cognitive Neuroscience, 37, 1913-1928. https://doi.org/10.1162/jocn.a.52
Pastötter, B., Weissbach, A., Takacs, A., Moyé, J., Verrel, J., Chwolka, F., Friedrich, J., Paulus, T., Zittel, S., Bäumer, T., Frings, C., Beste, C., Münchau, A. (2025). Response to: 'Hyperbinding' in functional movement disorders: role of supplementary motor area efferent signalling. Brain Communications, 7(1), fcae465. https://doi.org/10.1093/braincomms/fcae465
Prochnow, A., Bluschke, A., Rawish, T., Friedrich, J., Hao, Y., Frings C., Bäumer, T.,,Münchau, A., Beste C. (2025). Differential modulation of neural oscillations in perception-action links in Tourette Syndrome. Brain Communications, 7(3), fcaf172. https://doi.org/10.1093/braincomms/fcaf172
Schwarze, S. A., Bonati, S., Cichy, R. M., Lindenberger, U., Bunge, S. A., & Fandakova, Y. (2025). Task-Switch Related Reductions in Neural Distinctiveness in Children and Adults: Commonalities and Differences. Journal Of Neuroscience. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2358-23.2025
Schwarze, S. A., Laube, C., Khosravani, N., Lindenberger, U., Bunge, S. A., & Fandakova, Y. (2025). Intensive task-switching training and single-task training differentially affect behavioral and neural manifestations of cognitive control in children. Cerebral Cortex, 35(5), bhaf103. https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhaf103
Seel, S., Pastötter, B., Domes, G. (2025). Experimental stress induction in children and adolescents with the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST): A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 177, 107454. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2025.107454
Tönsing, D., Schiller, B., Vehlen, A., Nickel, K., Van Elst, L. T., Domes, G., & Heinrichs, M. (2025). Altered interactive dynamics of gaze behavior during face-to-face interaction in autistic individuals: A dual eye-tracking study. Molecular Autism, 16(1), 12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13229-025-00645-5
2024
Vehlen, A., Belopolsky, A. V., & Domes, G. (2024). Gaze behavior in response to affect during natural social interactions. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1433483. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1433483
Smaczny, S., Klein, E., Jung, S., Moeller, K., & Karnath, H. O. (2024). The line bisection bias as a deficit of proportional reasoning− evidence from number line estimation in neglect. Neuropsychologia, 108848. doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2024.108848
Linnig, K., Seel, S., von Dawans, B., Zielasko, D., Standard, W., Weyers, B., & Domes, G. (2024, March 15). Open TSST VR: Psychobiological reactions to an open version of the Trier Social Stress Test in Virtual Reality. doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/fpe2h
Domes, G., Linnig, K., & von Dawans, B. (2024). Gonads under stress: A systematic review and meta-analysis on the effects of acute psychosocial stress on gonadal steroids secretion in humans. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 164, 107004. doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.107004
Strojny, J., von Dawans, B., Schächinger, H., & Domes, G. (2024). Hydrocortisone reduces altruistic punishment in healthy men. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 107027. doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.107027
Haase, L., Vehlen, A., Strojny, J., & Domes, G. (2024). Effects of menstrual cycle phase and ovulation on the salivary cortisol awakening response. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 160, 106669. doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106669
Prochnow, A., Mückschel, M., Eggert, E., Senftleben, J., Frings, C., Münchau, A., Roessner, V., Bluschke, A., Beste, C. (in press). The ability to voluntarily regulate theta band activity affects how pharmacological manipulation of the catecholaminergic system impacts cognitive control. International Journal Of Neuropsychopharmacology. doi.org/10.1093/ijnp/pyae003
Haase, L., Vehlen, A., Strojny, J., & Domes, G. (2024). Effects of menstrual cycle phase and ovulation on the salivary cortisol awakening response. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 160, 106669. doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106669
Neumann, R., & Schneider, L. J. (2024). What is in a smile: The role of evaluation goal and response labels in facial muscle responses to prejudiced groups. Psychophysiology, 00, e14518. doi.org/10.1111/psyp.14518
He, Q., Geißler, C. F., Ferrante, M., Hartwigsen, G., & Friehs, M. A. (2024). Effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation on reactive response inhibition. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 157, 105532. doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105532
Geissler, C. F.*, Schöpper, L.-M.*, Engesser, A. F., Beste, C., Münchau, A., & Frings, C. (2024). Turning the light switch on binding: Prefrontal activity for binding and retrieval in action control. Journal Of Cognitive Neuroscience, 36, 95-106. doi.org/10.1162/jocn_a_02071 *shared first-authorship.
Gholamipourbarogh, N., Eggert, E. Frings, C., Münchau, A., Beste, C. (2024). EEG tensor decomposition delineates neurophysiological principles underlying conflict-modulated action restraint and action cancellation. NeuroImage, 295, 120667. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2024.120667.
Haciahmet, C. C., Friehs, M. A., Frings, C., & Pastötter, B. (2024). Anodal tDCS of the left inferior parietal cortex enhances memory for correct information without affecting recall of misinformation. Memory, 32(10), 1371-1380. https://doi.org/10.1080/09658211.2024.2316174
Jamous, R., Ghorbani, F., Mückschel, M., Münchau, A., Frings, C., & Beste, C. (2024). Neurophysiological principles underlying predictive coding during perception-action integration. NeuroImage, 301, 120891. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2024.120891
Pastötter, B., Haciahmet, C. C., Beste, C., Münchau, A., & Frings, C. (2024). The interplay of cognitive control and feature integration: Insights from theta oscillatory dynamics during conflict processing. Cerebral Cortex, 34(8), bhae326. https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhae326
Pastötter, B., Weissbach, A., Takacs, A., Moye, J., Verrel, J., Chwolka, F., Friedrich, J., Paulus, T., Zittel, S., Bäumer, T., Frings, C., Beste, C., Münchau, A. (2024). Increased beta synchronization underlies perception-action hyperbinding in functional movement disorders. Brain Communications, 6(5), fcae301. https://doi.org/10.1093/braincomms/fcae301
Prochnow, A., Mückschel, M., Eggert, E., Senftleben, J., Frings, C., Münchau, A., Roessner, V., Bluschke, A., Beste, C. (2024). The ability to voluntarily regulate theta band activity affects how pharmacological manipulation of the catecholaminergic system impacts cognitive control. International Journal Of Neuropsychopharmacology, 27(1),pyae003. https://doi.org/10.1093/ijnp/pyae003
Rawish, T., Wendiggensen P., Friedrich, J., Frings, C., Münchau, A., & Beste, C. (2024). Neurophysiological processes reflecting the effects of the immediate past during the dynamic management of actions. NeuroImage, 288, 120526. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2024.120526
Talebi, N., Prochnow, A., Frings, C., Münchau, A., Mückschel, M., Beste, C. (2024). Neural mechanisms of adaptive behavior: dissociating local cortical modulations and interregional communication patterns. IScience, 27(10), 110995. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2024.110995
2023
Drost, L., Finke, J. B., Behrje, A., Rebeck, D., Domes, G., & Schächinger, H. (2023). Optimal timing of oral metyrapone intake for the suppression of cold-pressor stress-induced cortisol release. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 156, 106328. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106328
Halbeisen, G., Domes, G., & Walther, E. (2023). Is stress colorblind? Exploring endocrine stress responses in intergroup contexts using a virtual reality-based Trier Social Stress Test (TSST-VR). Psychoneuroendocrinology, 147, 105970. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105970
Pastötter, B., von Dawans, B., Domes, G., & Frings, C. (2023). The forward testing effect is resistant to acute psychosocial retrieval stress. Experimental Psychology, 70(1), 32–39. https://doi.org/10.1027/1618-3169/a000571
Press, S. A., Biehl, S. C., Domes, G., & Svaldi, J. (2023). Increased insula and amygdala activity during selective attention for negatively valenced body parts in binge eating disorder. Journal Of Psychopathology And Clinical Science, 132(1), 63–77. https://doi.org/10.1037/abn0000788
Geissler, C.*, Gauselmann, P.*, Jilek, C., Maus, H., Frings C., & Tempel, T. (2023). A functional near-infrared spectroscopy study on the prefrontal correlates of cognitive offloading via a personal knowledge assistant. Scientific Reports, 13, 13938. doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-39540-5 *shared first-authorship.
Geissler, C. F., Friehs, M. A., Frings, C., & Domes, G. (2023). Time-dependent effects of acute stress on working memory performance: A systematic review and hypothesis. Psychoneuroendocrinology148, 105998. doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105998
Nebe, S., Reutter, M., Baker, D. H., Bölte, J., Domes, G., Gamer, M., Gärtner, A., Gießing, C., Mann, C. G., Hilger, K., Jawinski, P., Kulke, L., Lischke, A., Markett, S., Meier, M., Merz, C. J., Popov, T., Puhlmann, L., Quintana, D. S., … Feld, G. (2023). Enhancing Precision in Human Neuroscience. doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/m8c4k
Pastötter, B., & Frings, C. (2023). Prestimulus alpha power signals attention to retrieval. European Journal Of Neuroscience, 58, 4328-4340.https://doi.org/10.1111/ejn.16181
Schulz, A., Larra, M. F., Vögele, C., Kölsch, M., & Schächinger, H. (2023). The relationship between self-reported chronic stress, physiological stress axis dysregulation and medically-unexplained symptoms. Biological Psychology, 183, 108690. doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2023.108690
Schulz, A., Welsch, S.-K., Etringer, S., Hansen, G., Milbert, L., Schneider, J., Taddei, G., Gomez Bravo, R., Lygidakis, C., van Dyck, Z., Lutz, A., Wilmes, P., & Vögele, C. (2023). Lower gastric sensitivity in quiescent inflammatory bowel disease than in irritable bowel syndrome. Physiology & Behavior, 270, 114293. doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2023.114293
Schwarze, S. A., Laube, C., Khosravani, N., Lindenberger, U., Bunge, S. A., & Fandakova, Y. (2023). Does prefrontal connectivity during task switching help or Hinder Children’s performance? Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, 60, 101217. doi.org/10.1016/j.dcn.2023.101217
Schwarze, S. A., Bonati, S., Cichy, R. M., Lindenberger, U., Bunge, S. A., & Fandakova, Y. (2023). Task-Switch Related Reductions in Neural Distinctiveness in Children and Adults: Commonalities and Differences. doi.org/10.1101/2023.12.22.572358
Schwarze, S. A., Laube, C., Khosravani, N., Lindenberger, U., Bunge, S. A., & Fandakova, Y. (2023a). Does prefrontal connectivity during task switching help or Hinder Children’s performance? Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, 60, 101217. doi.org/10.1016/j.dcn.2023.101217
Schwarze, S. A., Laube, C., Khosravani, N., Lindenberger, U., Bunge, S. A., & Fandakova, Y. (2023b). Intensive Task-Switching Training and Single-Task Training Differentially Affect Behavioral and Neural Manifestations of Cognitive Control in Children. doi.org/10.1101/2023.12.22.573065
