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Treasure Chest Funding for Enzo Nio (A05): Are you afraid of squares or diamonds?

Pupil size is an autonomic measure that is influenced by both sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system activity, making it a promising physiological marker for fear learning. Results from previous studies show that pupil dilation serves as an indicator of both arousal and cognitive engagement in fear conditioning paradigms. Because pupil size response is a relatively new measure in fear conditioning research, a variety of analytical methods have been used to evaluate it. These methods are often based on peak detection or averaging for fixed time windows, which cannot capture the temporal dynamics of the pupil size response. However, these methods cannot fully capture the complex interplay between autonomic processes. To solve this problem, Enzo Nio (A05) now wants to explore a more data-driven approach with his new project – temporal principal component analysis (tPCA). Enzo describes his project as follows:

In this study, we apply temporal principal component analysis (tPCA) to pupil size time-series from the fear acquisition and fear extinction phases of a three-day fear-conditioning experiment. We hypothesize tPCA will reveal distinct components that differentiate arousal responses from the conditioned fear response. To our knowledge, no prior studies have examined the use of tPCA for isolating distinct autonomic components in pupil size responses in the context of fear learning. We expect to refine the temporal characterization of autonomic fear responses and establish a method for quantifying distinct arousal and learning-related pupillary patterns. This approach could contribute to biomarker development for fear learning and provide a foundation for applying tPCA to other measures, such as skin conductance response, in fear conditioning research.

The SFB 1280 has set up a budget for its young scientists to realize their own research ideas. We use the “treasure chest” to finance convincing and independent study concepts of our early career researchers.

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.