Markus Ullsperger

Head of the Department of Neuropsychology, Institute of Psychology at the Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg

The overarching goal of our department is to develop and test neurobiologically plausible models of performance monitoring, resulting adaptive goal-directed behavior including value-based decision learning and making. The general research question is how and when the brain detects that adaptations in motor, cognitive, and affective functions are needed, and how these adaptations are implemented, e.g., via recruitment of cognitive control and learning/updating of value, belief and confidence representations. To this end we use a converging multimodal methods approach comprising model-based single-trial EEG and fMRI analyses in healthy volunteers and patients with neurological, neuropsychological, or mental disorders. Pharmacological challenges address the neurochemical underpinnings.

Keywords: performance monitoring – cognitive control – decision making – anterior (mid)cingulate cortex – reinforcement learning

Location: OVGU (FNW)

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