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Second Funding Period Approved!

The SFB 1280 goes into the next round! We are pleased to announce that another funding period has been approved by the German Research Foundation (DFG) for the SFB 1280. This means that there is nothing standing in the way of the researchers, who will now take a closer look at their findings and considerations from the first funding period in new studies.

The RUB news portal reports on the extension of the SFB 1280:

The SFB 1280 “Extinction Learning” has set itself ambitious goals for the second funding period: “In our research we want to comprehensively understand the mechanisms of extinction learning, from genes to the brain to behaviour,” explains spokesperson Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. Onur Güntürkün, holder of the Chair of Biopsychology at the RUB. “In doing so, we want to use or develop new methods that make it possible to track what happens in the brain during learning from the individual cell to the entire system, manipulate it experimentally and simulate it with computational models.” Based on these findings, the team hopes to develop new therapeutic options for patients suffering from anxiety disorders or chronic pain.

Original article of the RUB: >>

Original article as PDF: >>

Original announcement at the DFG: >>

The SFB 1280 at the DFG: >>

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.