Events

International Lecture Series

October 8th, 9:30 am: Peter Uhlhaas on "Early Intervention of Emerging Mental Disorders during Youth: A Clinical and Translational Perspective"

Abstract: Evidence has accumulated that the period between 12-25 years may constitute a crucial period for the detection and treatment of mental disorders. This is supported by epidemiological data on the elevated incidence of ill mental health during youth as well as by findings that the majority of syndromes are preceded by a prodromal phase which has allowed the development of clinical high-risk criteria for psychosis and bipolar disorder (CHR-P/BP). In addition, there is emerging evidence that targeted psycho-social and pharmacological interventions can improve clinical outcomes in CHR-populations as well as those with a first-episode of psychosis, affective disorders and personality disorders. In my presentation, I will provide an overview of the clinical high-risk for psychosis approach and the search for biomarkers to enable early detection and diagnosis. I will focus specifically on the role of excitation and inhibition (E/I-balance) and associated oscillatory signatures in the pathophysiology of psychosis. Moreover, I will introduce novel approaches, such as optically pumped magnetometers and computational modelling, which could provide important insights into  circuit dysfunctions and pathophysiological mechanisms.

 

October 8th, 11:30 am: Hanneke den Ouden on "Motivational Priors in Action: Linking Lab-Induced Motivational Biases to Real-Life Mood Dynamics"

Abstract: Behaviour is not only shaped by ‘rational’ learning from experience, but also by ‘hardwired’ motivational biases, like a tendency to approach rewards. Observed through the lens of dynamic belief-updating, Pavlovian control may be conceptualised as evolutionarily learnt ‘beliefs’, embodying optimal priors for a species’  ‘average’ environmen. In contrast, instrumental learning reflects the ability to learn from personal experience, allowing agents to flexibly adapt to different environments. While these biases can offer adaptive decision shortcuts in unfamiliar or unpredictable environments, they may also lie at the core of mental health problems such as anxiety and mood disorders. In this talk, I will present evidence on the conditions under which individuals can flexibly suppress motivational biases when they are mal-adaptive, and dive into neurobiological mechanisms supporting this ability. Based on recent data from a large cross-sectional population-based study, and a two-week experience-sampling studie, I will then propose that while Pavlovian biases often appear maladaptive in the laboratory, in daily life they may confer emotional resilience. These findings highlight a more nuanced and adaptive role of motivational biases in shaping behaviour and wellbeing.

Both talks will take place at Feldbrunnenstraße 9, Hamburg.

Please e-mail to klinische.psych"AT"uni-hamburg.de for all requests related to the lecture series, including requests for the Zoom link to online lectures.