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SFB 1280 invites: Katrin Amunts

Together with the Erwin L. Hahn Institute, we are pleased to welcome Prof. Dr. med. Dr. h.c. Katrin Amunts (Jülich Research Center, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf) to a talk as part of our SFB 1280 invites colloquium series!

Prof. Dr. Katrin Amunts was scientific director of the European Union flagship project Human Brain Project from 2016 until the end of the project in 2023. She will give a lecture on “the multi-level brain atlas: greater than the sum of its parts” – also known as the Jülich Brain Atlas, which she heads. It is a three-dimensional, so-called “living atlas” of the human brain, containing maps of over 200 cortical and subcortical regions. These are continuously expanded to bring together brain data in a uniform reference framework.

Prof. Dr. Amunts’ goal is to better understand the organizational principles of the human brain. She describes her motivation as follows: “I want to understand how the structure of our brain is related to our thinking, feeling, and development as humans—and to help people with brain diseases. A good atlas is crucial for understanding disease processes and developing new therapies.”

The talk will take place at 3:00 p.m. on October 15, 2025, in ID 03/445 at RUB.

Participation via Zoom is also possible >>

Meeting ID: 623 2641 0706

Password: 650778

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.