Translationaler Blick auf Extinktionslernen beim 54. DGPs-Kongress
Beim 54. DGPs-Kongress in Luxemburg widmet sich ein Symposium unter der Leitung von Prof. Dr. Christian Merz (Projektleiter A09) und Prof. Dr. Adriane Icenhour (Projektleiterin A10) der Frage, wie sich Erkenntnisse zum Extinktionslernen in die klinische Praxis übertragen lassen. Im Mittelpunkt stehen dabei die Rolle von Stress, Kognition und Interozeption bei der Entstehung und Aufrechterhaltung von Angst- und Schmerzstörungen sowie mögliche Ansätze zur Verbesserung von Expositionstherapien.
In fünf Beiträgen beleuchten Forschende unter anderem den Einfluss von Stresshormonen auf Extinktionsgedächtnisse, die Bedeutung kognitiver Faktoren bei Angststörungen sowie Mechanismen des schmerzbezogenen und viszeralen Angstlernens. Ergänzend wird untersucht, wie akute und chronische Entzündungsprozesse Lern- und Gedächtnisprozesse beeinflussen und damit zur Aufrechterhaltung von Schmerz beitragen können.
Das Symposium zeigt damit die enge Verbindung von Grundlagenforschung und klinischer Anwendung: Ein besseres Verständnis von Extinktionslernen soll dazu beitragen, neue therapeutische Strategien für Patient:innen mit Angststörungen sowie somatischen und viszeralen Schmerzerkrankungen zu entwickeln. Auch die langjährige Verbindung zur DGPs wird sichtbar: Prof. Dr. Onur Güntürkün (Projektleiter A01, F01, Z, Ö) war 2014 Kongresspräsident der DGPs, die ihren Kongress damals in Bochum ausrichtete.
Der DGPs-Kongress findet vom 7. bis 10. September 2026 in Luxemburg statt; das Symposium ist für den 7. September um 16:30 Uhr angesetzt.
New Year, New Me: The Facts
As the calendar turns to a new year, millions of people around the world commit to New Year’s resolutions, making promises to use the new year as a fresh beginning and an opportunity for transformation. In 2024, almost three-quarters of the British population set themselves New Year’s resolutions — that’s around 40 million people (or the entire population of Canada). This tradition was particularly strong among younger generations, with 96% of Generation Z (aged 18-27) planning resolutions, compared to just 35% of the Silent Generation (aged 79+).
Most common new years resolutions:
- Saving more money (52%)
- Eat healthier (50%)
- Exercise more (48%)
- Lose weight (37%)
- Spend more time with family/friends (35%)
How long do most resolutions normally last before being broken?
- Data from America (2016) shows that 75% of individuals maintain their resolutions through the first week.
- 64% of individuals maintain their resolutions through the first month.
- 46% of individuals in America keep their resolutions past the 6-month mark.
What makes resolutions stick?
Oscarsson et al. (2020) conducted research into what makes New Year’s resolutions stick. Biggest success rates depended on how people phrased their goals. Participants who set approach-oriented goals (trying to move toward or maintain a desirable outcome or state) than those with avoidance-oriented goals (trying to move toward or maintain a desirable outcome or state) were significantly more successful (58.9% vs. 47.1%) at sticking to their goals.
The study also investigates the effects of outside support. These participants received monthly follow-ups and emails with information and exercises for coping with hurdles when striving toward personal goals, and were also encouraged to set goals using the SMART technique and to set interim goals. The group that received some support was exclusively and significantly more successful compared to the groups who received a lot of support or no support at all.
Additionally, you might feel more successful if you set goals that are measurable in numbers. While success for a person striving to quit smoking or lose weight could easily be measured in the number of cigarettes smoked or body mass index, the success for a person striving to „take better care of themselves“ could be highly subjective and possibly impossible to measure.
So as we enter 2026, let’s remember to work with our brain’s natural learning system: Frame your goals positively, break them into manageable steps, and celebrate small wins along the way.