Project Area A

Characterization of prefrontal-amygdala-midbrain circuits as neuronal substrates of risk assessment and the switch from avoidance to approach behaviour.

This project will initially apply intersectional neuroanatomical tracing strategies using adeno-associated viral vectors (AAV) to visualize axon terminals of periaqueductal grey and central amygdala neurons, their cellular targets within the medial prefrontal cortex, as well as their collateral projections. Next, it will combine cell-type and projection-specific bulk imaging of calcium transients using photometry with EEG recordings during behavioural assays of defensive behaviour to understand the correlation of neuronal activity within prefrontal and CEA as well PAG circuit elements.

Applicants should have a background in (Neuro)biology, Biomedical Sciences, Psychology, or Biophysics.

Targeted manipulation of identified circuit elements to perturb risk assessment and avoidance behaviour.

This project will use optogenetics to interfere with normal activity within identified circuit elements in medial prefrontal cortex, central amygdala and periaqueductal grey to understand their function in risk assessment and switching from avoidance to approach. Addressing the expected complexity of the neuronal activation patterns, closed-loop stimulations of specific cell types and their terminals will be performed based on defined behavioural/autonomic and EEG states.

Applicants should have a background in (Neuro)biology, Biomedical Sciences, Psychology, or Biophysics.

Development of neurofeedback training for identified "switch" circuit elements to inhibit avoidance behaviour.

This project will focus on the development of a novel animal-neurofeedback paradigm, which uses neural activity linked to reduced avoidance to promote approach behaviour. Photometry-based calcium activity of identified circuit elements will be transformed into a neurofeedback signal. This will allow for targeted entrainment of desired network activity to attenuate avoidance or promote approach behaviour.

Applicants should have a background in (Neuro)biology, Biomedical Sciences, Psychology, or Biophysics.

Developing internally and externally valid paradigms to reliably elicit conflict situations between avoidance and approach.

To test the effects of altering oscillatory activity of the EEG (via neurofeedback) on risk assessment and the transition from avoidance to approach, we require experimental paradigms that reliably elicit such behaviour both under laboratory and field conditions. The project will start with an existing stop-signal task, which elicits goal-conflict specific EEG rhythmicity and corresponding behaviour. The core of the project will be to implement and newly establish approach and avoidance tasks and to describe the related EEG activity in different phases of the tasks. The result will be well characterised tasks to elicit approach and avoidance behaviour and specifically, to monitor the transition between approach and avoidance and vice versa.

Applicants should have a background in Psychology (cognitive, biopsychology, clinical) or Neuroscience (cognitive, clinical) and experience in experimental psychology and biopsychology/neuroscience. Basic experience in EEG data collection and analysis is a plus.

Neurofeedback of EEG correlates of approach-avoidance conflict and resolution.

This project relies on the application of neurofeedback, i.e. feedback of the neuronal activity of the brain in real-time to allow for validating the link between a specific neuronal measure and behaviour. In detail, we will train humans to down-regulate prefrontal theta synchrony to diminish reactions to fear-related stimuli and to increase alpha asymmetry in favour of left frontal alpha power to induce behavioural activation instead of conflict-induced inhibition. The respective brain activity will be recorded, filtered, and translated into a comprehensive feedback signal in real-time. Participants will be required to complete 10 neurofeedback sessions because self-regulation of brain activity involves learning by trial and error albeit strategies may be provided (e.g., imagination of action). Successful self-regulation and its effects on behaviour will be tested in respective approach-avoidance tasks in which participants will be required to apply the same mental strategy as learned during neurofeedback sessions while performing the probe task.

Applicants should have a background in Psychology (cognitive, biopsychology, clinical) or Neuroscience (cognitive, clinical) and experience in experimental psychology and biopsychology/neuroscience. Basic experience in EEG data collection and analysis is a plus.

Oscillatory brain activity underlying approach and avoidance behavior in migraine.

Migraine is a potentially debilitating disease with a high prevalence in the general population, and it can be regarded as a disorder of functional brain connectivity. While there is a genetic predisposition for migraine in general, many patients can identify triggers that evoke the individual attacks. Increased avoidance of these triggers may lead to sensitization and to thus to increased headache frequency. The aim of this project is to establish a conflict paradigm for approach/avoidance behaviour for the most frequently encountered migraine triggers, and to identify their EEG correlates. The obtained data will build the basis for neurofeedback training directed at the approach/avoidance behavior toward migraine triggers. 

Applicants should have good German and English communication skills. Experience in neurophysiology, specifically with high-density EEG, is of advantage.