News & Events
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, 2:00 pm to 4 pm
Location: Campus I, HS8
Speaker:Dr. Uirassur Borges (Sporthochschule Köln)
Talk
Das weibliche Gehirn und Hormone: Psychische Gesundheit von Frauen in der reproduktiven Lebensphase
Birgit Derntl is professor for Innovative Neuroimaging in Psychiatry at University Clinic Tübingen. Her research is focused on psychoneuroendocrinology, social neurosciences, gender, stress (management), and emotional competence.
Date: 05.02.2025, 6:00 pm to 8 pm
Location:Campus I, HS8
Speaker: Prof. Dr. Birgit Derntl (University Clinic Tübingen)
Past Events
ICAN Day
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.
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!
And here some impressions from the event:
City Campus 2023
City Campus (Friday, September 29th, 2023, 4:00 – 12:00 pm, Domfreihof Trier)
Here some impressions of a great day at the City Campus 2023!
Thanks to everyone who was curious about neuroscience and stopped by to check it out.
And thank you to Christoph, Yana, Siri, Lisa, Thorsten, Luisa, Christian, ... for organizing the ICAN booth!!! Great job.
Workshop: Scientific Writing
Date: July 12th, 2023, 5.00 - 8.00 pm
Location: D435 Campus 1
Speaker: Prof. Dr. Christian Frings
Registration: Write an Email to ican@uni-trier.de