Research group: Affective neuroscience
| Head of group: |
Christian Büchel
Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience |
Overview
Using neuroscientific methods such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) we study the neural mechanisms of emotional processing and how emotions affect other cognitive functions such as learning or decision making. In part, we employ very simple paradigms such as classical conditioning, because this enables a link of our research to existing animal work. Methodologically, we are also bridging the gap between human neuroscientific research and animal neurophysiology by using high resolution fMRI for instance to investigate emotional processing in different subnuclei of the amygdala and the striatum. The interaction between emotion and cognition is also exemplified by the modulation of pain processing by various cognitive factors. A prime example of this effect is placebo analgesia in which expectation and experience shape pain perception. Using fMRI (including novel MR protocols to investigate spinal cord responses), pharmacological interventions and computational models, we investigate the neuronal mechanisms underlying this effect.
Research topics
- The neuronal basis of placebo and nocebo effects
- The role of the amygdala in emotion processing
- The role of fronto-striatal loops in reward and decision making
- Mechanisms of classical conditioning
Key publications
- Schneider S, Peters J, Bromberg U, Brassen S, Miedl SF, Banaschewski T, Barker GJ, Conrod P, Flor H, Garavan H, Heinz A, Ittermann B, Lathrop M, Loth E, Mann K, Martinot JL, Nees F, Paus T, Rietschel M, Robbins TW, Smolka MN, Spanagel R, Ströhle A, Struve M, Schumann G, Büchel C; the IMAGEN Consortium: Risk Taking and the Adolescent Reward System: A Potential Common Link to Substance Abuse. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 2011, ePub
- Peters J, Bromberg U, Schneider S, Brassen S, Menz M, Banaschewski T, Conrod PJ, Flor H, Gallinat J, Garavan H, Heinz A, Itterman B, Lathrop M, Martinot JL, Paus T, Poline JB, Robbins TW, Rietschel M, Smolka M, Ströhle A, Struve M, Loth E, Schumann G, Büchel C; IMAGEN Consortium.: Lower ventral striatal activation during reward anticipation in adolescent smokers. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 2011, 168(5): 540-549
- Peters J, Büchel C: Episodic future thinking reduces reward delay discounting through an enhancement ofprefrontal-mediotemporal interactions. Neuron 2010; 66:138-148
- Eippert F, Bingel U, Schoell ED, Yacubian J, Klinger R, Lorenz J, Büchel C: Activation of the opioidergicdescending pain control system underlies placebo analgesia. Neuron 2009; 63(4):533-43
- Eippert F, Finsterbusch J, Bingel U, Büchel C: Direct evidence for spinal cord involvement in placeboanalgesia. Science 2009; 326(5951):404
- Bingel U, Rose M, Gläscher J, Büchel C: FMRI reveals how pain modulates visual object processing in the ventral visual stream. Neuron 2007; 55(1):157-67
