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

A06 – Exploration kausaler Mechanismen der Furcht-Extinktion: Netzwerke, Plastizität und Weiteres

Michael Nitsche, Fatemeh Yavari

In diesem Projekt werden wir die spezifische Interaktion zwischen dem anterioren Netzwerk (Hippokampus, Amygdala, präfrontaler Kortex) und dem Kleinhirn für die Extinktion (Studie 1) untersuchen; werden nicht-invasive Hirnstimulationsprotokolle entwickeln, die geeignet sind für eine gezielte Modulation von Extinktions-relevanten Arealen wie sie in Studie 1 identifiziert wurden (Studie 2); werden diese anwenden, um die Kausalität entsprechender physiologischer Interaktionen für Extinktion zu untersuchen (Studie 3) und werden zelluläre Mechanismen in entsprechenden Ziel-Arealen für die Extinktion klären durch eine kombinierte Anwendung von Pharmakologie (Relevanz von Serotonin) und Stimulation (Studie 4).

Leitfragen des Projekts A06:

  • Interagiert das Kleinhirn während der Extinktion von Angst mit den vorderen Teilen des Extinktionsnetzwerkes zur Aktivitätssynchronisation, einschließlich seiner oszillatorischen Aktivität?
  • Was ist die spezifische Rolle von intrinsisch cerebellaren gegenüber anterior cerebellaren Netzwerkinteraktionen während der Angstextinktion – echte Interaktion oder eine modulatorische Rolle des Kleinhirns?
  • Führt eine Intervention durch nicht-invasive Hirnstimulation der entsprechenden Zielbereiche in Kombination mit serotonergenen Verstärkern zu einer optimierten Extinktion von Angst aufgrund der Modulation der Plastizität?
Zurück zur Projektübersicht

Michael A. Nitsche

Projektleiter A06

IfADo

Fatemeh Yavari

Projektleiterin A06

IfADo

Vuk Markovic

Doktorand A06

IfADo

Harleen Chhabra

Postdoc A06

IfADo

Yuanbo Ma

Doktorand A06

IfADo

10 projektrelevante Publikationen

Batsikadze G, Rezaee Z, Chang DI, Gerwig M, Herlitze S, Dutta A, Nitsche MA, Timmann D (2019) Effects of cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation on cerebellar-brain inhibition in humans: A systematic evaluation. Brain Stimul 12(5):1177–1186. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brs.2019.04.010

Chhabra H, Ma Y, Genç E, Nitsche MA, Yavari F (2025) The physiological foundation of extinction improvement by tDCS over the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC): An fMRI study. SSRN: abstract=5180197. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5180197 

Küper M, Mallick JS, Ernst T, Kraff O, Thürling M, Stefanescu MR, Göricke S, Nitsche MA, Timmann D (2019) Cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation modulates the fMRI signal in the cerebellar nuclei in a simple motor task. Brain Stimul 12:1169-1176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brs.2019.04.002

Ma Y, Jiao F, Batsikadze G, Yavari F, Nitsche MA (2024) The impact of the left INFerior frontal gyrus on fear extinction: A transcranial direct current stimulation study. Brain Stimul 17:816-825. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brs.2024.07.004 

Ma Y, Kyuchukova D, Jiao F, Batsikadze G, Nitsche MA, Yavari F (2025) The impact of temporal distribution on fear extinction learning. Int J Clin Health Psychol 25:100536. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijchp.2024.100536 

Marković V, Vicario CM, Yavari F, Salehinejad MA, Nitsche MA (2021) A systematic review on the effect of transcranial direct current and magnetic stimulation on fear memory and extinction. Front Hum Neurosci 15:655947. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2021.655947 

Marković V, Rizzo G, Yavari F, Vicario C, Nitsche MA (2025) Exploring the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation during REM sleep on fear extinction memory consolidation. bioRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.03.31.646182

Miterko, LN, Nitsche, M. A., Timmann, D., et al. (2019) Consensus paper: Experimental neurostimulation of the cerebellum. Cerebellum 18:1064–1097. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12311-019-01041-5 

Polanía R, Nitsche MA, Ruff CC (2018) Studying and modifying brain function with non-invasive brain stimulation. Nat Neurosci. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-017-0054-4

Stagg CJ, Antal A, Nitsche MA (2018) Physiology of transcranial direct current stimulation. J ECT 34:144–152. https://doi.org/10.1097/YCT.0000000000000510

Vicario CM, Makris S, Culicetto L, Lucifora C, Falzone A, Martino G, Ferraioli F, Nitsche MA, Avenanti A, Craparo G (2023) Evidence of altered fear extinction learning in individuals with high vaccine hesitancy during COVID-19 pandemic. Clin Neuropsychiatry 20:364–369. https://doi.org/10.36131/cnfioritieditore20230417 

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.