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Jun.-Prof. Dr. rer. medic. Lisa Wagels

Principal investigator Research training group (RTG) committee member

Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University

0000-0003-4874-4474

Lisa Wagels

Junior Professor for Social and Affective Neurosciences

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Projects

B04: Investigating psychological and neural correlates of intimate partner violence

Lisa Wagels Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg Katja Bertsch Julia Koch Julia Schräder Linda Wilkin-Krug RWTH Aachen Central Institute of Mental Health Julius-Maximilians University Würzburg Cognitive system Biological Psychiatry Clinical Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Focus on the neural correlates of characterizing cognitive control deficits during conflict situations. The project will investigate patients with varying levels of cognitive control along with their close partners (sibling or intimate partner) to identify the dynamics of self-regulation and co-regulation in provoked conflict situations in patients with control deficits. To identify the precursors and dynamics of conflict escalation, the project will apply measures of behavioral reactions, skin conductance, simulated or real conflict, fMRI and fMRI-hyperscanning techniques and physiological measures. Neuroimaging data will also be combined with information on stress, control and conflicts in real-life via EMA.

Publications

A cognitive neuroscience approach to understanding aggression and its treatment

Ute Habel Lisa Wagels A02: Context effects on threat processing in dependence of testosterone levels A04: Implicit chemosensory threat signals as stimulators of amygdala hyperresponsiveness in AMD B04: Investigating psychological and neural correlates of intimate partner violence Q03: Integrated Research Training Group (RTG) Q04: Central coordination Biological Psychiatry Clinical Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Negative valence system

While anyone can behave aggressively, some people are more prone to aggression than others. We present a neuro-cognitive model and consider several inter-individual differences that confer risk for aggression. Forms of atypical cognitive function include a hyperreactive acute threat response, poor emotion regulation, and mechanisms involved in choosing when to aggress. We show dysfunction in the neural systems mediating these functions may account for aggression in people high in psychopathy/callous unemotional traits, irritability/anger, hostility, impulsivity, and low in frustration tolerance. We then review promising interventions including psychological therapies and pharmaceuticals that might influence the neuro-cognitive underpinnings of these constructs. Although there is no overwhelming “one size fits all” approach to treating aggression, identifying the neural mechanisms implicated in these traits may improve individualized treatments.

Identifying P100 and N170 as electrophysiological markers for conscious and unconscious processing of emotional facial expressions

Ute Habel Julia-Schraeder Lisa Wagels B04: Investigating psychological and neural correlates of intimate partner violence Cognitive, Systems and Behavioural Neurobiology
Introduction: Everyday life requires correct processing of emotions constantly, partly occurring unconsciously. This study aims to clarify the effect of emotion perception on different event-related potentials (ERP; P100, N170). The P100 and N170 are tested for their suitability as electrophysiological markers in unconscious processing.

Methods: Using a modified backward masking paradigm, 52 healthy participants evaluated emotional facial expressions (happy, sad, or neutral) during EEG recording. While varying primer presentation time (16.7 ms for unconscious; 150 ms for conscious perception), either congruent or incongruent primer / target emotions were displayed.

Sites

RWTH Aachen

Natalia Chechko Thomas Frodl Ute Habel Kerstin Konrad Klaus Mathiak Vanessa Reindl Marc Spehr Lisa Wagels Carmen Weidler Jana Zweerings Christiane Licht Christina Neczewicz Nick Worm

RWTH Aachen University is one of Europe’s leading institutions for science and engineering education. Renowned for its strong emphasis on research and innovation, RWTH Aachen collaborates closely with industry and is part of the prestigious IDEA League. The university offers a wide range of programs and is known for its cutting-edge facilities and interdisciplinary approach to solving global challenges.