A01 A02 A03 A04 A05 A06 A07 A09 A10 A11 A12 A13 A14 A18 A19 A21 F01 F02 INF Ö

A05 – The contribution of the cerebellum to extinction: intrinsic mechanisms and cerebello-cerebral interactions

Dagmar Timmann-Braun, Harald H. Quick

Project A05 includes three 7T fMRI studies, two 3T fMRI studies and one behavioral study. Two of the 7T fMRI experiments (study 1 and 2) will be performed in the first two years of funding. The behavioral study (study 5) will start during the first year. The 3T fMRI experiments (study 3 and 4) will start in the second year. Study 3 makes use of the optimized cerebellar tDCS parameters established in the first year in A06. Study 4 will be performed in cerebellar patients. We expect data acquisition of studies 3–5 to be finished by the end of the third year. In the fourth year the tDCS set-up will be brought to the 7T MR scanner (study 6).

Guiding questions of A05:

  • Does the human cerebellum, more specifically the cerebellar vermis and the fastigial nuclei, contribute to the extinction of conditioned fear?
  • What are the intrinsic cerebellar mechanisms underlying extinction?
  • Does the cerebellum interact with cerebral areas, in particular the amygdala, hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, during extinction?
  • Do the posterolateral cerebellar hemispheres and vermis play a different role in extinction?
  • Can the proposed intrinsic cerebellar mechanisms and cerebello-cerebral interactions be modulated by cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and by cerebellar dependent motor learning?
Back to overview

Dagmar Timmann

Project Lead A05, F02

University of Duisburg-Essen

Harald-H. Quick

Project Lead A05

University of Duisburg-Essen

Thomas Ernst

Postdoc A05

University of Duisburg-Essen

Michael Klein

PhD Student A05

University of Duisburg-Essen

Alice Doubliez

PhD Student A05

University of Duisburg-Essen

Enzo Nio

PhD Student A05

University of Duisburg-Essen

10 project-relevant publications

Batsikadze G, Diekmann N, Ernst TM, Klein M, Maderwald S, Deuschl C, Merz CJ, Cheng S, Quick HH, Timmann D (2022) The cerebellum contributes to context-effects during fear extinction learning: A 7T fMRI study. Neuroimage 253:119080. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119080 

Batsikadze G, Pakusch J, Klein M, Ernst TM, Thieme A, Nicksirat SA, Steiner KM, Nio E, Genç E, Maderwald S, Deuschl C, Merz CJ, Quick HH, Mark MD, Timmann D (2024) Mild Deficits in Fear Learning: Evidence from Humans and Mice with Cerebellar Cortical Degeneration. eNeuro 11. https://doi.org/10.1523/ENEURO.0365-23.2023

Doubliez A, Koster K, Muntefering L, Nio E, Diekmann N, Thieme A, Albayrak B, Nicksirat SA, Erdlenbruch F, Batsikadze G, Ernst TM, Cheng S, Merz CJ, Timmann D (2025) Dopaminergic drugs modulate fear extinction related processes in humans, but effects are mild. bioRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.04.11.648372 

Englert R, Kincses B, Kotikalapudi R, Gallitto G, Li J, Hoffschlag K, Woo C-W, Wager TD, Timmann D, Bingel U, Spisák T (2023) Connectome-Based Attractor Dynamics Underlie Brain Activity in Rest, Task, and Disease. eLife13:RP98725. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.98725 

Ernst TM, Brol AE, Gratz M, Ritter C, Bingel U, Schlamann M, Maderwald S, Quick HH, Merz CJ, Timmann D (2019) The cerebellum is involved in processing of predictions and prediction errors in a fear conditioning paradigm. Elife 8. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.46831 

Inoue L, Ernst TM, Ferber II, Merz CJ, Timmann D, Batsikadze G (2020) Interaction of Fear Conditioning with Eyeblink Conditioning Supports the Sensory Gating Hypothesis of the Amygdala in Men. eNeuro 7. https://doi.org/10.1523/eneuro.0128-20.2020 

Mark MD, Pakusch J, Ernst TM, Timmann D (2022) Cerebellum and Emotion Memory. Adv Exp Med Biol 1378:53–73. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-99550-8_5 

Nio E, Pereira PP, Diekmann N, Petrenko M, Doubliez A, Ernst TM, Batsikadze G, Maderwald S, Deuschl C, Üngör M, Cheng S, Merz CJ, Quick HH, Timmann D (2025) Human cerebellum and ventral tegmental area interact during extinction of learned fear. eLife 14:RP105399. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.105399 

Petrenko M, Coenen L, Doubliez A, Ernst TM, Nio E, Diekmann N, Uengoer M, Cheng S, Merz CJ, Timmann D, Batsikadze G (2025) Appetitive and aversive classical conditioning: Self-reports and physiological responses. Behav Brain Res 484:115509. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2025.115509 

Thieme A, Spisák Z, Zeidan P, Klein M, Nio E, Ernst TM, Diekmann N, Göricke S, Cheng S, Merz CJ, Yavari F, Nitsche MA, Batsikadze G, Timmann D (2025) Cerebellar transcranial alternating current stimulation in the theta band facilitates extinction of learned fear responses. bioRxiv:2025.01.13.632735. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.01.13.632735 

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.