54 research outputs found
Das Recht der Wirklichkeit : Plagiarismus als poetologischer Ernstfall der Gegenwartsliteratur
No full textFear Memories and Extinction Memories: Neurophysiological Indicators and the Role of Estradiol and Extinction Timing
No full textFear memories are necessary to initiate anticipatory fear responses when we are confronted with cues that predict an impending threat. However, when a cue no longer predicts threat, an extinction memory is formed that actively inhibits the expression of the fear memory. Failure to acquire, consolidate, or recall extinction memories causes fear memory expression (i.e., fear responding) in the absence of threat, which is a hallmark characteristic of most anxiety-related disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Of further importance, these disorders occur approximately twice as often in women than men, which is thought to partially rely on sex hormone mediated differences in fear extinction. Moreover, deficits in extinction memory processing can also hinder the success of extinction-based exposure therapy, which is commonly used to treat these disorders. Thus, a better understanding of the factors determining the quality of extinction memories is of utmost importance.
The present thesis focuses on three of these factors including the female sex hormone 17β-estradiol (E2), fear extinction timing, and the noradrenergic arousal system. To examine the role of E2 (Manuscript 1; low E2 levels or high E2 levels) and fear extinction timing (Manuscript 2; either immediately or delayed after the initial fear memory formation), we used a special differential fear conditioning procedure that allowed us to separately assess fear memories and extinction memories via peripheral arousal responses (measured via skin conductance responses [SCR]) and, most importantly, via central neurophysiological indicators (measured via electroencephalography [EEG]). Concerning EEG parameters, we were especially interested in neural oscillations (especially in the theta and gamma range). To further advance the understanding of the neurophysiological foundations of both memory systems, we also aimed at disentangling oscillatory and non-oscillatory brain activity (Manuscript 2). Moreover, the crucial role of the noradrenergic arousal system for the quality of extinction memories is highlighted in a review of relevant rodent and human studies (Manuscript 3).
By using the described multi-methodological approach, we were able to demonstrate for the first time that peripheral arousal as well as fear-related theta oscillations are sensitive to E2. This was indicated by less fear responding (attenuated peripheral arousal and attenuated theta oscillations) during the recall of fear and extinction memories under high peripheral E2 levels (Manuscript 1). Concerning the role of fear extinction timing, we demonstrate that delayed extinction is advantageous over immediate extinction in reducing peripheral arousal during the recall of the extinction memory (Manuscript 2). Additionally, by disentangling oscillatory and non-oscillatory brain activity, we demonstrate for the first time that oscillatory and non-oscillatory brain activity is sensitive to fear expression. Moreover, by reviewing different rodent and human studies, we highlight the important role of noradrenergic arousal for the recall of extinction memories and, importantly, provide a detailed mechanistic framework of how extinction deficits might be caused after immediate extinction (Manuscript 3).
In sum, the present thesis underscores the important role of E2, fear extinction timing, and the noradrenergic system for the recall quality of fear memories and extinction memories in humans
Aversive expectations enhance experienced aversiveness, early neural processing, and costly avoidance of benign events: data & code
No full textAs expectations are known to shape perception, individuals may experience objectively benign events as aversive only because they expect them to be so. We tested in two studies whether benign intensity noises are experienced as more aversive when preceded by cues conditioned to aversive vs. benign noise intensity. Results showed that physically identical benign stimuli were rated as more aversive and evoked potentiated early event-related EEG activity (N1, P2) when preceded by aversive vs. benign cues. Moreover, participants more frequently avoided re-experiencing benign stimuli at a monetary cost when the initial stimulus was preceded by aversive vs. benign cues. These findings demonstrate that aversive expectations exert a bias on perception that propagates into affective evaluation, causing benign stimuli to be experienced as aversive, neurally processed as more intense, and consequently more frequently avoided. This phenomenon informs how aversive expectations can be confirmed and may self-stabilize despite objective evidence for safety
Aversive expectations enhance experienced aversiveness, early neural processing, and costly avoidance of benign events: data & code
No full textAs expectations are known to shape perception, individuals may experience objectively benign events as aversive only because they expect them to be so. We tested in two studies whether benign intensity noises are experienced as more aversive when preceded by cues conditioned to aversive vs. benign noise intensity. Results showed that physically identical benign stimuli were rated as more aversive and evoked potentiated early event-related EEG activity (N1, P2) when preceded by aversive vs. benign cues. Moreover, participants more frequently avoided re-experiencing benign stimuli at a monetary cost when the initial stimulus was preceded by aversive vs. benign cues. These findings demonstrate that aversive expectations exert a bias on perception that propagates into affective evaluation, causing benign stimuli to be experienced as aversive, neurally processed as more intense, and consequently more frequently avoided. This phenomenon informs how aversive expectations can be confirmed and may self-stabilize despite objective evidence for safety
Isomeric effects in structure formation and dielectric dynamics of different octanols
No full textInternational audienceThe understanding of the microstructure of associated liquids promoted by hydrogen-bonding andconstrained by steric hindrance is highly relevant in chemistry physics, biology and for many aspects ofdaily life. In this study we use a combination of X-ray diffraction, dielectric spectroscopy and moleculardynamics simulations to reveal temperature induced changes in the microstructure of different octanolisomers, i.e., linear 1-octanol and branched 2-, 3- and 4-octanol. In all octanols, the hydroxyl groupsform the bases of chain-, cyclic- or loop-like bonded structures that are separated by outwardlydirected alkyl chains. This clustering is analyzed through the scattering pre-peaks observed from X-rayscattering and simulations. The charge ordering which pilots OH aggregation can be linked to thestrength of the Debye process observed in dielectric spectroscopy. Interestingly, all methods used hereconverge to the same interpretation: as one moves from 1-octanol to the branched octanols, thecluster structure evolves from loose large aggregates to a larger number of smaller, tighter aggregates.All alcohols exhibit a peculiar temperature dependence of both the pre-peak and Debye process, whichcan be understood as a change in microstructure promoted by chain association with increased chainlength possibly assisted by ring-opening effects. All these results tend to support the intuitive picture ofthe entropic constraint provided by branching through the alkyl tails and highlight its capital entropicrole in supramolecular assembly
Cultural Particularities and Its Role in the “Innovation Divide”: A Closer Look at the Origins of “Spreading Excellence and Widening Participation”
No full textPublisher Copyright: © 2023, The Author(s).The “innovation divide” has been a common and persistent problem since the onset of Framework Programmes for Research and Innovation. Especially, for the group of countries that joined the European Union after 2004. Several initiatives have been implemented by the Union for encouraging the participation of these countries in these collaborative programmes, trying to maximize and extend the benefits of a knowledge economy across the EU. In this chapter, we explore how these instruments have been deployed paying special attention to the origins of “Spreading Excellence and Widening Participation” Horizon 2020 Work Programme. We explore its objectives and rationale, and we address some of its weaknesses and pitfalls. We argue that the “innovation divide” is not only a matter of providing adequate resources and encouraging participation for these countries and they cannot be treated as a homogeneous group. Particularly, in a moment of transition regarding innovation policies.Peer reviewe
PaRDeS : Zeitschrift der Vereinigung für Jüdische Studien e.V. = Themenheft zum 150. Todestag von Heinrich Heine
No full textAus dem Inhalt dieser Ausgabe: Artikel und Miszellen: Karl E. Grözinger: Manfred Voigts zum Sechzigsten - 2.5.2006 Caspar Battegay: Wie nicht erinnern? - Die Frage nach der Jüdischkeit in Heinrich Heines autobiographischen Texten Edith Lutz: Heinrich Heine im "Verein für Cultur und Wissenschaft der Juden" Jakob Hessing: Wahrheit und Dichtung - Die Damaskusaffäre und Heines Der Rabbi von Bacharach Elvira Grözinger: Im Venusberg. Zu Gesundheit und Krankheit bei Heinrich Heine zwischen Eros und Thanatos Sabine Bierwirth: Meilenstein der Zeitgeschichtsschreibung: Heinrich Heines Berichte über die Judenverfolgung in Damaskus 1840 Hans Otto Horch: Die unheilbar große Brüderkrankheit - Zum programmatischen Zeitgedicht Das neue Israelitische Hospital zu Hamburg von H. Heine Hendrik Madsen: Vom Überleben der toten Schrift - Eine medientheoretisch orientierte Lektüre des Jeremiabuches Manfred Voigts: Moses Mendelssohn und Franz Kafka: Die Heilige Schrift Olivia Franz-Klauser: Samaritanerforschung im 19. Jahrhundert: Die Anfänge der historischen Kritik im Schatten religiöser Vorurteile, gezeigt an der Rezeption Moritz Heidenheims (1824-1898) Rezensionen: Mark R. Cohen: Unter Kreuz und Halbmond. Die Juden im Mittelalter (Daniel Jütte) Erika Timm: Historische jiddische Semantik. (Karl E. Grözinger) David B. Ruderman, Giuseppe Veltri (Hrsg.): Cultural Intermediaries. Jewish Intellectuals in Early Modern Italy (Daniel Jütte) Gian Maria Varanini, Reinhold C. Mueller (Hrsg.): Ebrei nella Terraferma veneta del Quattrocento (Daniel Jütte) Stefanie B. Siegmund: The Medici State and the Ghetto of Florence (Daniel Jütte) Johannes Mordstein: Selbstbewußte Untertänigkeit (Robert Jütte) Werner Heegewaldt, Oliver Sander (Hrsg.): Salomo Sachs (Elvira Grözinger) Philipp Theisohn: Die Urbarkeit der Zeichen. Zionismus und Literatur - eine andere Poetik der Moderne (Joachim Schlör) Jascha Nemtsov: Die Neue Jüdische Schule in der Musik (Susanne Hudak-Laziç) Ines Sonder: Gartenstädte in Eretz Israel. (Robert Jütte) Cilly Kugelmann (Hrsg.): Weihnukka. Geschichten von Weihnachten und Chanukka. (Daniel Jütte) Moshe Zimmermann, Yotam Hotam (Hrsg.): Zweimal Heimat. Die Jeckes zwischen Mitteleuropa und Nahost. (Anat Feinberg) Birgit Schlachter: Schreibweisen der Abwesenheit. (Elvira Grözinger) Jüdische Studien in aller Welt: Juden und Judentum im Iran - Einige zufällige und weniger zufällige Reiseeindrücke (Hans-Michael Haußig) Nachrichten Rückblick
Effects of phase synchronization and frequency specificity in the encoding of fear - an online study
No full textFirst human studies suggest a causal role of theta-phase synchronization for declarative episodic learning and memory. In a recent laboratory study, we provided evidence for corresponding effects in fear conditioning in humans. In a fear generalization procedure, we presented visual Gabor gratings of different orientations as the conditioned stimuli (CSs) and aversive noise as unconditioned stimulus (US). During acquisition, only one grating was paired with the US (= CS+), while the 4 perceptually similar gratings were not paired (CS-). Luminance of all CS and amplitude of the US were modulated at 4 Hz. In two independent groups, CS+ and US were either presented theta-phase synchronized (0° phase lag) or asynchronized (90°, 180°, 270° phase lag). We found an augmented discrimination of the paired CS+ vs. CS- gratings in the synchronized condition covering affective ratings of valence and arousal as well as CS-US contingency knowledge (US-expectancy ratings). In the current study we move from a laboratory setting to an online context. By applying the same paradigm, we will not only address the effect of synchronization in the theta-range, but also use in-phase vs. out-of-phase stimulation in a slower delta-frequency band (1.7 Hz). We aim to replicate the effects in the theta-band in an online setting and confirm the frequency-specificity of phase-synchronization
Examining the link between neuroticism, aversification, and approach-avoidance choice behavior
No full textThis preregistration investigates the relationship between neuroticism, trait anxiety, and aversification effects on approach-avoidance decision-making. Participants will be exposed to conditioned stimuli (CS) predicting either aversive or benign outcomes, followed by unconditioned stimuli (US) of varying intensities. We hypothesize that individuals with higher levels of neuroticism and trait anxiety will exhibit stronger subjective and physiological responses (e.g., event-related potentials, heart rate, and startle magnitude) to the same US intensity when it is preceded by an aversive CS compared to a benign CS. Furthermore, we will explore how these personality traits influence approach-avoidance choices. We hypothesize that individuals with higher neuroticism and trait anxiety will reject more trials overall and will have a higher aversification rejection rate, defined as the difference in rejection rates for the same US intensity when preceded by an aversive versus a benign CS. An exploratory mediation analysis will investigate the interactions between these personality traits, the magnitude of aversification, and aversification rejection rates. The data collected will provide insights into the association between neuroticism and trait anxiety and how aversive expectations alter the perception of stimuli (i.e., aversification), as well as how this altered perception influences approach-avoidance decision-making
Effects of phase synchronization and frequency specificity in the encoding of fear - an online study
No full textFirst human studies suggest a causal role of theta-phase synchronization for declarative episodic learning and memory. In a recent laboratory study, we provided evidence for corresponding effects in fear conditioning in humans. In a fear generalization procedure, we presented visual Gabor gratings of different orientations as the conditioned stimuli (CSs) and aversive noise as unconditioned stimulus (US). During acquisition, only one grating was paired with the US (= CS+), while the 4 perceptually similar gratings were not paired (CS-). Luminance of all CS and amplitude of the US were modulated at 4 Hz. In two independent groups, CS+ and US were either presented theta-phase synchronized (0° phase lag) or asynchronized (90°, 180°, 270° phase lag). We found an augmented discrimination of the paired CS+ vs. CS- gratings in the synchronized condition covering affective ratings of valence and arousal as well as CS-US contingency knowledge (US-expectancy ratings). In the current study we move from a laboratory setting to an online context. By applying the same paradigm, we will not only address the effect of synchronization in the theta-range, but also use in-phase vs. out-of-phase stimulation in a slower delta-frequency band (1.7 Hz). We aim to replicate the effects in the theta-band in an online setting and confirm the frequency-specificity of phase-synchronization
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