↓Skip to main content
  1. Research projects/

A04: Implicit chemosensory threat signals as stimulators of amygdala hyperresponsiveness in AMD

We make use of threat-related chemosensory stimuli, namely body odor, acquired during aggressive behavior (boxing) and unconsciously perceived, to investigate heightened amygdala responses to threat stimuli in aggressive patients. Body odors have the major advantage of being directly projected into the amygdala, circumventing cortical preprocessing, thereby enabling the differentiation of mechanisms between bottom-up altered limbic processing and top-down modulated altered cognitive evaluation. We investigate the potential of such body odors to bias responses to ambiguous visual social cues towards threat and their effects during peripersonal space (PPS) violation where they may be especially relevant.

Contributors

Natalia Chechko

A04: Implicit chemosensory threat signals as stimulators of amygdala hyperresponsiveness in AMD Principal investigator Public relations team member Equal opportunity committee member RWTH Aachen

Natalia Chechko’s research group investigates neuroscientific and bioscientific aspects of various psychiatric disorders, including depression, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders and autism spectrum disorder. Cerebral dysfunctions in women of reproductive age who suffer from affective disorders, e.g. postpartum depression, psychosomatic illnesses or chronic pain disorders, are a particular focus. The aim is to record emotional and cognitive dysfunctions multimodally in order to enable early detection and predict the response to therapy in affected women. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is used to analyse cerebral dysfunctions during visual, olfactory and nociceptive stimulation. Psychological test procedures and laboratory measurement techniques, such as blood serum analyses and hair sample analyses, are also used. Other influencing factors such as genetic disposition are also taken into account.

Ute Habel

A02: Context effects on threat processing in dependence of testosterone levels A04: Implicit chemosensory threat signals as stimulators of amygdala hyperresponsiveness in AMD Q01: Recruitment and biotyping transdiagnostic risk mechanisms for aggressive behaviors in mental disorders across the life span Q04: Central coordination Principal investigator Spokesperson Steering committee member Management board member Citizen Advisory Boad RWTH Aachen Research Center Jülich (FZJ)

Professor Ute Habel is a distinguished academic at RWTH Aachen University, renowned for her expertise in neuropsychology. Her research delves into the neural mechanisms of emotions, cognition, and psychiatric disorders, utilizing advanced neuroimaging techniques such as fMRI. With a prolific output of publications, she significantly contributes to the understanding of brain function in both health and disease. As a dedicated educator, she mentors students and fosters interdisciplinary collaborations, making substantial impacts on both academic research and clinical practices in neuropsychology and psychiatry.

News

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.