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Looking into the Brain with Artificial Intelligence (A05)

The Press Department of the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE) reports on their newsportal: A new junior research group currently being set up at the Medical Faculty of the UDE is taking a closer look at the human brain.  One of the aims is to gain a better understanding of complex brain functions, such as emotional learning processes in permanent pain.

Research is carried out on the basis of magnetic resonance imaging data, which are systematically collected in the Collaborative Research Centre (SFB) “Extinction Learning”, in which the UDE is involved. With the help of artificial intelligence, the available data will be evaluated functionally and structurally in order to make better diagnoses in (neuro)radiology.

The junior research group will work closely with the research focus “Translational Neuro- and Behavioural Sciences” and will be equipped with a PhD position. “In this way, we provide young scientists with ideal opportunities to develop their own scientific profile in a promising field at the forefront of research,” says Dagmar Timmann-Braun, Professor of Experimental Neurology at the Clinic for Neurology at Essen University Hospital (UK Essen) and vice speaker of our SFB 1280 at the RUB.

The junior research group “Advanced Methods in Brain MR-Imaging” will be established over a period of three years in the SFB “Extinction Learning” at the Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology at the UK Essen. The funding is provided by the internal research funding Essen (IFORES) of the Medical Faculty of the UDE.

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:

  1. Saving more money (52%)
  2. Eat healthier (50%)
  3. Exercise more (48%)
  4. Lose weight (37%)
  5. 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.