Main Content

Current Research Projects

Neuropsychology Section (Prof. Dr. Dr. Martin Peper)

Current research cooperations

UKGM, Klinik für Neurologie, Epilepsiezentrum (Prof. Knake)
Vitos Klinikum Gießen-Marburg und Haina
UKGM, Sektion BrainImaging (Dr. Sommer), Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie
Philipps-Universität Marburg, Department of Computer Science and Technology (Prof. Taentzer)
Rutgers University, Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience (Dr. Baker)

Overview of current and past research

The work program of the Neuropsychology Section covers experimental and clinical issues with core topics in the areas of experimental neuro-psychophysiology (Research Area 1) and emotion and personality psychology at the interface to the affective and social neurosciences (Research Area 2). We also explore the recent mobile assessment technologies and their application in everyday life and in the clinical setting (Research Area 3). In the field of clinical and medical neuropsychology (Research Area 4), we investigated the emotional, motivational and cognitive effects of various types of brain disease (e.g., epilepsy, brain tumors, intoxications). In a supplementary approach, we have also addressed forensic issues at the border to criminology and forensic psychology (see Research Area 5).

Research Area 1: Experimental neuropsychophysiology

Current research

  • P1: Executive emotions 

    PI: M. Peper with coworkers

    Emotions play an important role in the adaptive modulation of perception, learning and memory, decision-making, and the control of action (e.g., Schmidt-Atzert, Peper & Stemmler, 2014). Our projects investigate the cerebral correlates of emotional perception and learning and emotion regulation behavior as well as their inter-individual differences. We have previously studied stimulus-driven emotional responding using associative learning paradigms (see section 2). This work tested hypotheses from the affective neurosciences suggesting that the amygdala is a core structure of the fear system and plays an important role in the modulation and plasticity of conditioned defense reactions; here, we established an experimental setup to investigate emotional activation and learning in human subjects (e.g., Peper et al., 2001, 2006). Moreover, we explore the interactions of mesiotemporal and prefrontal brain regions during emotional learning and emotion regulation using psychophysiological and neuroimaging methods (see Robinson, Moser & Peper, 2016, for a review of imaging methods; Peper et al., 2006). The role of the prefrontal cortex in cognitive executive functioning is generally accepted today. However, it is a matter of debate whether a set of independent executive functions can be identified that incudes 'hot executive functions' or 'executive emotions'. The stimulus-driven and automatic emotional core functions are believed to be modulated by these more or less 'hard-wired' executive subfunctions. We have begun to study the interacting effects of emotional and cognitive control processes using aversive/appetitive learning tasks, PIT tasks, working memory and continuous performance tasks. Thus, the subfunctions of the cognitive control system such as maintenance (storage and processing of emotionally relevant information), coordination and manipulation of information to reach certain goals, as well as supervision, flexibility, and monitoring (experience and awareness) are put in relation to the emotion regulation process. We also  consider the predictions of a comprehensive neuropsychological model of neuro-emotional functioning, the Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory framework, to explain the deficits observed in patients with brain lesions or psychiatric disorders.

  • P1.1: Emotion regulation and executive control 

    PI: J.C. García Alanis, M. Peper; with M.L. Chavanon, M.R. Güth 
      
    We modulate or suppress emotional expressions as this might be inappropriate or disrupt a current task. The volitional down-regulation of expressive behavior during an emotional episode relies upon active exertion of executive control processes and has been reported to produce a high cognitive load (Gross, 2013). This project investigates how goal-directed regulation of emotional expressions alters preparatory and corrective control strategies in cognitive performance tasks during vivid affective states. Moreover, we are interested in the effects of inter-individual variation and personality traits such as the sensitivity to reward or punishment. We also study the underlying mechanisms, which are associated with the ability to cope with dual-task interference. In this research, we analyse components of the Event Related Potential as these might reflect the active maintenance of stimulus-related information and dynamic behavioral adjustment through corrective control processes. Moreover, gamma- and alpha-band oscillations are analysed as these are important for directing attentive processes, as well as theta and delta oscillations since these are believed to reflect efforts to implement a top-down control of goal directed action. The different control strategies will also be inspected in patient groups with expected alterations in these functions.
      
    García Alanis, J.C., Chavanon, M.-L., Musci, C., & Peper, M., (2016, submitted). Fronto-parietal oscillatory patterns reflect preparatory top-down control and active behavioural adaption during a continuous performance task. 6th Motivation and Cognitive Control Symposium, 24-26 August, 2016, University of St Andrews, Scotland. 
    Güth, M.R., Alanis, J.C.G., Chavanon, M.L., Hammelrath, L., & Peper, M. (May, 2016). Individual differences in reward sensitivity predict dynamic exertion of cognitive control during emotion suppression. Poster (C22) presented at the DGPs/DGPA 42. Tagung Psychologie und Gehirn Humboldt Universität zu Berlin (Germany), Berlin. 
    Hammelrath, L., Alanis, J.C.G., Chavanon, M.L., Güth, M.R. & Peper, M. (May, 2016). The cognitive consequences of suppressing emotional expressions - an ERP-study. Poster (C1) presented at the DGPs/DGPA 42. Tagung Psychologie und Gehirn Humboldt Universität zu Berlin (Germany), Berlin. 
    Peper, M., Chavanon, M.-L., Güth, M.R., Hammelrath, L., Alanis, J.G. (2016). Emotionsregulation und Arbeitsgedächtnis: Effekte von Ausdruckssuppression unter aversiven Bedingungen auf die kognitive Kontrolle. Poster to be presented at the 50. Kongress der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Psychologie (Germany), Leipzig. 
    Peper, M., Chavanon, M.L., Güth, M.R., Hammelrath, L., & Alanis, J.C.G. (2016). Arbeitsgedächtnis und Emotionsregulation: Effekte emotionaler Beanspruchung auf die prospektive kognitive Kontrolle. Poster at the 31. Jahrestagung der Gesellschaft für Neuropsychologie, Würzburg.

  • P1.2: Neurocognitive mechanisms of motivational conflict processing 

    PI: M. Peper, M.L. Chavanon; with J.C. García Alanis 
      
    Motivational functions of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and the anterior cingulate (ACC) have been conceptualized by the revised Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (RST) to explain approach or withdrawal behavior as well as motivational conflict processing. We investigate subjects with and without dysexecutive symptoms that are expected to show elevated reward-related activity (Behavioral Approach System, BAS) and/or decreased conflict processing (Behavioral Inhibition System, BIS). Increased impulsiveness is expected when responding to reward stimuli and reduced behavioral inhibition is occurring in situations with emotional or conflictual stimuli. Here, motivational conflicts are experimentally elicited in the context of a cross-modal Pavlovian-Instrumental Transfer (PIT) paradigm (i.e. a conflict between instrumentally and classically conditioned cues presented in the context of a "Social Talent Show Task" corresponding to a probabilistic decision-making procedure). 
      
    Peper, M., Ramm, M., Belke, M., Knake, S., & Chavanon, M.L. (2013). Neurostructural correlates of motivational conflict processing in social decision-making. Tagung experimentell arbeitender Psychologen (TeaP), Wien, 2013. 
    Peper , M. & Chavanon, M.L. (2012). The “Social Talent Show Task”: A new decision making paradigm for the implicit assessment of ventral brain function. 27. Jahrestagung der Gesellschaft für Neuropsychologie, 20.-22. September 2012 in Marburg, P22. Zeitschrift für Neuropsychologie, 23, 180. 
    Peper, M. & Chavanon, M.L. (2011). Kontrolltransfer bei probabilistischen Entscheidungen: Beziehungen zu Selbsteinschätzungen der Belohnungs- und Bestrafungssensitivität. 11. Arbeitstagung der Fachgruppe Differentielle Psychologie, Persönlichkeitspsychologie und Psychologische Diagnostik, Universität Saarbrücken, 26.-28.09.2011. 
    Peper, M. & Chavanon, M.L. (2011). Implicit assessment of reinforcement sensitivity and behavioral conflict in a social decision making task. 26. Tagung der Gesellschaft für Neuropsychologie, 22.-24.09.2011, RWTH Aachen. 

Completed research projects

  • Neuropsychology of Personality and Personality x Cognition Interactions 

    PI: M.L. Chavanon (former coworker of the neuropsychology section; research conducted together with the former Differential Psychology Section, former head Prof. G. Stemmler) 
      
    Recent advances in biological personality theorizing and empirical work focus on the dopaminergic basis of personality traits from the extraversion spectrum (e.g., Chavanon, Wacker, Leue & Stemmler, 2007). We aim for an in-depth analysis of the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system in relation to personality and associated individual differences in cognitive, emotional-motivational and motoric functioning. The dopaminergic system will be modulated pharmacologically in human volunteers and the sensitivity of the responses is registered by combining EEG/ERP methodology with MRI and multilevel assessment (working memory component processes, motor function, self-report). By using mixed D1/D2- and selective D2-agents we probe frontal vs. striatal DA-receptor stimulation already shown to be differentially associated with working memory components (set- shifting - striatal D2-receptor function vs. stable maintenance - frontal D1 receptor function) and identify differences and functional consequences of agentic extraversion-introversion. 
      
    Chavanon, M.-L., Wacker, J., Leue, A., & Stemmler, G. (2007). Evidence for a dopaminergic link between working memory and agentic extraversion: An analysis for load-related changes in EEG alpha 1 activity. Biological Psychology, 74, 46-59. 
    Chavanon M.-L., Leue A., Kemper C., & Stemmler, G. (2007). Agentic extraversion and mobilization of effort: Effects on autonomic activation components. Psychophysiology, 44, S13. 
    Chavanon, M.-L. & Stemmler, G. (2006). Is there a dopaminergic link between working memory and agentic extraversion? Journal of Psychophysiology, 20(2), 113-114. 
    Wacker, J., Chavanon, M.-L., Leue, A., & Stemmler, G. (2008). Is running away right? New evidence for the BIS/BAS model of anterior asymmetry. Emotion, 8, 232-249. 

Research Area 2: Affective and Social Neurosciences, Emotion Psychology

Current research

  • P2.1: Effects of reward and punishment sensitivity and context on error-related negativity and adaption of behavior during social interaction

    PI: J.C. García Alanis, M.L. Chavanon, M. Peper; with T.E. Baker 
      
    How we learn from our own mistakes is fundamental to theories of reinforcement 
    learning. In recent years, the neural mechanisms of how humans learn to pursue reward and avoid punishment are increasingly understood. It is well accepted that the prefrontal cortex (PFC), in particular, the dorsal region of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), contributes to high-level cognitive control, as it uses reward-related information to guide action selection (e.g., Baker et al., 2013). However, little is known about the neural response to internal and external reinforcement across different social situations and accompanying motivational states. To address this issue, we implemented a paradigm to examine the influences of cooperative and competitive behaviors and interpersonal traits on the ERN and FRN during performance of reinforcement-learning tasks. If there is a reliable link between social motivation and the ERN/FRN, this might crucially depend upon the incentive character of a given context. For this reason, we are particularly interested in the internal processes related to reward striving and enjoyment. 
      
    García Alanis, J. C., Chavanon, M.-L., Baker, T. E. & Peper, M. (2015, October). Agentic and affiliative extraversion diffrentially modulate the effects of two social contexts on electrophysiological measures of outcome monitoring. Poster presented at the 55th Annual Meeting of the Society for Psychophysiological Research (SPR), Seattle, WA. 
    García Alanis, J. C., Chavanon, M.-L., Baker, T. E. & Peper, M. (2015, September). Effects of agentic and affiliative extraversion on electrophysiological measures of performance monitoring during social interaction. In D. Hagemeyer (Chair), Genetics and Biological Foundations. Symposium conducted at the DPPD 13. Arbeitstagung der Fachgruppe Differentielle Psychologie, Persönlichkeitspsychologie und Psychologische Diagnostik (Germany), Mainz.

Completed research projects

Neuropsychological and functional magnetic resonance imaging studies of the cerebral mechanisms of emotional associative learning 
(Neuropsychologische und kernspintomographische Untersuchungen zu den cerebralen Mechanismen des emotionalen assoziativen Lernens; DFG Pe 499/3-2)

  • (1) Functional neuroimaging of emotional learning 

    PI: M. Peper, J. Hennig, Radiol. Universitätsklinik Freiburg (Research assistants M. Herpers, 1999-2001; K. Il'yasov/A. Schulte, 1997) 
      
    Functional imaging studies have demonstrated that amygdalo-cortical networks are involved in emotional perception and learning. In particular, a differential activation of the left or right amygdala appears to depend on the degree of awareness of the conditioned stimulus (CS). In our pilot work (1997), an echo-planar fMRI-technique (EPI) was applied to investigate stimulus- or response-related activations (BOLD) of the medial temporal lobe during fear conditioning. Healthy subjects participated in a differential conditioning paradigm with a facial CS+ predicting an aversive unconditioned stimulus (US; 95±3 dB, 3 s). BOLD effects and autonomic indicators of emotional learning (phasic SCRs, SCL, HR) were simultaneously assessed. Autonomic acquisition as well as BOLD effects showed a considerable interindividual variability. During acquisition, activation was observed in the left anterior medial temporal region for facial CS+ but not for CS-. In 1998, this experiment had to be transferred to a different 1.5T scanner to further examine the contributions of the anterior medial temporal lobe to emotional learning. In our subsequent papers, we focussed on the methodological difficulties associated with the neuroimaging of emotion, in particular, pertinent problems associated with defining, operationalising and measuring emotional activation. Despite the advances in assessing the cerebral correlates of emotional activation, a critical appraisal showed that functional neuroimaging approaches encounter difficulties regarding measurement precision (e.g., response scaling and reproducibility) and validity (e.g., response specificity, generalisation to other paradigms, subjects or settings). We recently revisited the methodological and technical challenges such as susceptibility-related signal loss, image distortion, physiological and motion artifacts and colocalized Resting State Networks (Robinson, Moser & Peper, 2009, 2016). Although neuroimaging studies of emotion encounter many limitations regarding measurement precision, research design and validation strategies, considerable improvement in data quality and sensitivity to subtle effects has been achieved. New methods offer the prospect for fMRI studies to provide more sensitive, reliable, and representative models that systematically relate the dynamics of emotion regulation behavior with topographically distinct patterns of brain activity. Major issues for future research could be to explore the modulatory influences of emotion regulation and of socio-cultural mechanisms of inhibitory control. 
      
    Peper, M. (2006). Imaging emotional brain functions: conceptual and methodological issues. Journal of Physiology Paris, 99, 293-307. 
    Peper, M., Herpers, M., Spreer, J., Hennig, J., & Zentner, J. (2006). Functional neuroimaging studies of emotional learning and autonomic reactions. Journal of Physiology Paris, 99, 342-354. 
    Robinson, S., Moser, E., & Peper, M. (2009, 2016). Functional magnetic resonance imaging of emotion. In Filippi, M. (Ed.), Functional MRI techniques. Neuromethods, 41, 411-456.. 
    Herpers, M., Huppertz, J., Zentner, J., & Peper, M. (2002). Temporomediale Korrelate des emotionalen Lernens: fMRI und intrazerebrale ERPs. In van der Meer et al. (Hrsg.), 43. Kongress der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Psychologie (S. 437). Lengerich: Pabst. 
    Peper, M., Herpers, M., v. Elverfeldt, D., Schulte, A., Zentner, J., & Hennig, J. (1999). fMRI-correlates of autonomic responses during aversive conditioning. Neuroimage, 9, 914. 
    Peper, M., von Elverfeldt, D., Rennwald, K., Schulte, A., Valerius, G., & Hennig, J. (1998). Activation of the temporal lobe during fear acquisition in humans: fMRI correlates of autonomic conditioning. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 24(1), 935. 
    Kubiak, T., Peper, M., Janz, C., Speck, O., & Hennig, J. (1998). A functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) approach to emotional associative learning. Journal of Psychophysiology, 12, 209. 

  • (2) Deep brain Event Related Potentials (ERPs, LFPs) and oscillatory coupling of the human amygdala 

    (DFG Pe 499/3-2; in cooperation with the Dept. of Neurosurgery, Prof. J. Zentner, Epilepsiezentrum Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Prof. Schulze-Bonhage; Research assistant M. Herpers) 
      
    The interactions of the amygdala with other brain regions during emotional learning have been studied by single cell and local field potential (LFP) recordings in animals. A synchronization of theta activity in the amygdalohippocampal network has previously been described as a correlate of fear conditioning. Here, we investigated synchronized oscillatory activities during emotional learning in humans. Deep electrode ERP recordings (LFPs) were obtained from electrode arrays implanted in the human temporal lobe during invasive presurgical monitoring in N=26 patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. Contact sites were located within the amygdala, hippocampus, as well as several neocortical sites. Cross correlation data from left (N=12) and right (N=13) amygdala and anterior hippocampus contacts were used to evaluate synchronized activities in the LFP signal during differential conditioning. The results indicated that stable ERPs could be obtained, emerging reliably from contacts in the right amygdala and the anterior hippocampus. A differential response to CS+ and CS+-alone trials as compared to CS- was found in the amygdala and anterior hippocampus LFPs at 450 ms. Event-related synchronizations (ERS) in the theta-band indicated neural coupling of the amygdala and hippocampus as well as temporolateral regions. Our findings provide evidence for an involvement of oscillatory amygdala-hippocampus interactions during emotional memory formation in humans. 
      
    Derix, J., Mutschler, I., Schulze-Bonhage, A., Herpers, M., Peper, M., & Ball, T. (2009). Time-frequency characteristics of Event-Related Local Field Potential changes in the human laterobasal amygdala. NeuroImage, 47, S39-41. 
    Peper, M, Herpers, M., Huppertz, J., Pape, H.-C., Schulze-Bonhage, A., & Zentner, J. (2005). Synchronized oscillatory activities of the right amygdala and hippocampus during emotional learning in epileptic patients. Journal of Psychophysiology, 19, 136. 
    Herpers, M., Huppertz, H.J, Pape, H.C., Schulze-Bonhage, A., Zentner, J., & Peper, M. (2004). Synchronized oscillatory activities of the human amygdala and hippocampus during emotional learning in epileptic patients. Klinische Neurophysiologie, 35, 104. DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-832016
    Herpers, M., Huppertz, J., Schulze-Bonhage, A., Quiske, A., Behrens, P., Zentner, J. & Peper, M. (2001). Tracking of aversive conditioning in the human medial temporal lobe: Event-related potentials recorded from intracerebral electrodes in epilepsy patients. Society for Neuroscience 31st Annual Meeting, San Diego, November 10–15, 2001. 
    Peper, M., Herpers, M., Huppertz, J., Schulze-Bonhage, A., Quiske, A., & Zentner, J. (2001). Event-related potentials from intracerebral electrodes in the human medial temporal lobe during autonomic conditioning in epilepsy patients. Society for Psychophysiological Research, 41st Annual Meeting, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, October 10-14, 2001. Psychophysiology, 38, S76. 

  • Neuropsychological study of the cerebral mechanisms of emotional associative learning 

    D(Neuropsychologische Untersuchung der zerebralen Mechanismen des emotionalen assoziativen Lernens) 
    PI: M. Peper, J. Zentner (DFG Pe 499/3-1; with Dept. of Neurosurgery, University of Freiburg) 
      
    Neuropsychological and brain imaging studies have shown that amygdalo-cortical networks are involved in emotional perception and learning in humans. Differential activations of the left and right amygdalae appear to depend on the degree of awareness of the conditioned stimulus (CS). Moreover, prefrontal and striatal areas have been implicated in the inhibitory control of aversive learning. In this study, a fear-conditioning paradigm was applied to patients with cerebral tumors in order to explore the differential effects of circumscribed lesions on preparatory and conditioned autonomic reactions (SCR, SCL, HR and vasoconstriction). Focal brain disease had differential effects on the orienting response, habituation, defense response, anticipatory responding as well as conditioned autonomic reactions. Attenuated autonomic reactivity was found in patients with prefrontal brain disease, in particular, a reduction of anticipatory autonomic reactivity. Temporal lobe disease affected the acquisition of autonomic reactions and prefrontal lesions differentially affected conditioned responding. Recently, we applied the lesion mapping methods of MRIcron to reanalyse lesion-deficit relationships in the present sample. 
      
    Peper, M., Lüken, U., Madlinger, A., & Zentner, J. (2003). Neuropsychologie des emotionalen Lernens: Untersuchungen zur vegetativen Reaktivität von Patienten mit fokalen Hirnläsionen. Forschungsbericht des Instituts für Psychologie, Universität Freiburg (Preprint no. 160). 
    Peper, M., Lüken, U., Madlinger, A., & Zentner, J. (2002). Differential modulation of emotional learning by the left and right prefrontal cortex: effects of unilateral brain damage. XIIth Conference of the International Society for Research on Emotions, July 20-24, Cuenca, Spain. 
    Peper, M., Madlinger, A., & Zentner, J. (2001). Aversive learning in patients with focal brain lesions: Effects on autonomic reactivity and emotional conceptualization. Psychophysiology, 38, S76. 
    Peper, M., Madlinger, A., & Zentner J. (2001). Aversive associative learning in patients with focal brain lesions. DGPA-Tagung, Marburg, 14.6.2001. 
    Peper, M., Häußler, K., Madlinger, A., & Zentner, J. (2000). Acquisition and extinction of autonomic reactions in aversive learning: Effects of frontal brain lesions. 4th European Conference of the Federation of Psychophysiology Societies, Amsterdam, May 24-27. Journal of Psychophysiology, 14, S54. 

  • Mechanisms of emotional learning in patients with lesions of the amygdala and hippocampus 

    (Cerebrale Mechanismen des emotionalen assoziativen Lernens nach Eingriffen im Bereich des medialen temporalen Cortex) 
    PI: M. Peper (DFG Pe 499/2-2; Research Assistant: Dr. S. Karcher; with the Epilepsy Center Freiburg-Kork, R. Wohlfarth, Dr. G. Reinshagen) 
      
    Previous visual half-field studies with healthy humans have demonstrated an advantage of the left visual field (LVF) in eliciting autonomic reactions to preattentively presented conditioned facial expressions (CS) with a negative emotional valence. The effects of lateralized medial temporal lesions on psychophysiological indicators of aversive learning (e.g., bilateral SCRs, HR) were studied in 14 patients with selective left amygdalohippocampectomy (AHE), 12 patients with right AHE, and 13 matched controls. In a differential conditioning paradigm with facial expressions, CS+ were associated with an aversive vocalization (US). During extinction, stimuli were presented laterally and preattentively using backward masking. Identification of the CS was controlled by determining appropriate SOAs prior to conditioning. In contrast to healthy subjects conditioned with fear-related stimuli, AHE patients did not show an autonomic conditioning effect following LVF presentations of masked negative stimuli. Patients with left or right AHE failed to show conditioned autonomic responses to emotionally prepared CS+ test-trials as a consequence of CS-US pairings. These findings elucidate the relationship of focal amygdala and hippocampus lesions and autonomic reactivity in humans. 
      
    Peper, M., Karcher, S., Wohlfarth, R., Reinshagen, G., & LeDoux J.E. (2001). Emotional associative learning in patients with unilateral lesions of the amygdala and hippocampus. Biological Psychology, 58, 1-23. 
    Peper, M. (2003). Automatic emotional memory: Associative learning of autonomic responses in healthy and brain damaged subjects. In A. Neugebauer & P. Calabrese (Eds.), Memory and emotion. New Jersey: World Scientific. Series on Biocybernetics, 12, 393-407. 
    Peper, M., & Markowitsch, H.J. (2001). Pioneers of affective neuroscience and early concepts of the emotional brain. Journal of the History of the Neurosciences, 10, 58-66. 
    Scherer, K.R., & Peper, M. (2001). Psychological theories of emotion and neuropsychological research. In G. Gainotti (Ed.), Handbook of neuropsychology, Vol. 5: Emotional behavior and its disorders (2nd edition, p. 17-48). Amsterdam: Elsevier. 
    Peper, M., Karcher, S., Saar, J., Wohlfarth, R., Martin, P., & Reinshagen, G. (1997). Differential conditioning of autonomic responses to lateralised preattentive emotional stimuli in patients with medial temporal lobe lesions. Experimental Brain Research, S 117, 41. 
    Peper, M., Karcher, S., Saar, J., Wohlfarth, R., Martin, P., Reinshagen, G., & Fischer, B. (1997). Patients with unilateral selective amygdalohippocampectomy fail to acquire differential autonomic responses in aversive conditioning. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 23(1), 569. 
    Peper, M., Saar, J., Wohlfarth, R., Martin, P., & Reinshagen, G. (1997). Long-term effects of unilateral selective amygdalohippocampectomy on emotional behavior and autonomic reactivity. In Hütter, B.O., & Gilsbach (Eds.), Neuropsychology in Neurosurgery, Psychiatry and Neurology. Aachen: Augustinus. 

  • Hemispheric asymmetries of emotional associative learning 

    PI: M. Peper (DFG Pe 499/2-1; Research Assistant Dr. S. Karcher, 1994-1997) 
      
    Research on hemispheric asymmetries in aversive learning suggested a right hemispheric advantage for autonomic reactions to preattentively presented conditioned facial stimuli (CS), which depicted threat-related emotion categories. This previous study investigated the effects of the emotional valence dimension, identification of the CS, and visual half-field on indicators of conditioning (bilateral SCRs, HR) in the context of a differential conditioning paradigm. Negative facial CS+ (group 1) or positive CS+ (group 2) were associated with an aversive vocalization (US). In a repeated measures design, CSs were presented with or without awareness during extinction (2 weeks apart, order counterbalanced). SOAs were adapted for each subject and condition prior to the experiment so that CS-identification was at chance level. Both negative and positive facial expressions could be aversively conditioned providing evidence for generalization learning in the valence dimension. During extinction, preattentive negative CS+ presented to the left visual field showed a trend towards greater electrodermal and heart rate reactions. However, under full awareness of the CSs, no such effect emerged. The results suggest a right hemisphere advantage in associative emotional learning, which is independent of hemispheric asymmetries of perceptual awareness. 
      
    Peper, M., & Karcher, S. (2001). Differential conditioning of emotional facial expressions: Effects of hemispheric asymmetries and CS-identification. Psychophysiology, 38, 936-950. 
    Peper, M. (2003). Assessment of non-declarative memory: Psychophysiological methods. In A. Neugebauer & P. Calabrese (Eds.), Memory and emotion. New Jersey: World Scientific. Series on Biocybernetics, 12, 202-218. 
    Peper, M. (2000). Awareness of emotions: A neuropsychological perspective. Advances in Consciousness Studies, 16, 245-270. 
    Karcher, S., Peper, M., Leonhart, R., Kubiak, T., Klein, C., & Oppelt, B. (1998). Differential conditioning of social stimuli in patients with general anxiety disorders: effects of CS-awareness. 3rd European Congress of Psychophysiology (Abstract). Journal of Psychophysiology, 12,202-203. 

  • Neuropsychological studies of emotion conceptualization in working memory 

    PI: M. Peper (LGFG Baden-Württemberg, supported in part by DFG Ir 15/3, 1987-1991; with: Prof. E. Irle, Prof. Dr. S. Kunze, retired head of Neurosurgery Dept., University of Heidelberg) 
      
    This study investigated the categorical and dimensional decoding of emotional facial expressions and vocal intonations in patients with focal brain lesions (Peper & Irle, 1997ab). It elucidated whether brain lesions differentially affect the ability to perceptually decode and conceptually abstract information in working memory: (1) The first substudy investigated the neurocognitive mchanisms of decoding facial expressions. The comprehension of discrete (primary) emotional categories was measured using selection of category labels and of named emotion categories, and categorical matching tasks. Dimensional decoding or concept formation was assessed by matching one face with two different expressions with regard to valence or arousal. 70 patients with well documented cerebral lesions and 15 matched hospital controls participated in the study. Right temporal and parietal lesioned patients were markedly impaired in the decoding of primary emotions and showed reduced arousal decoding. However, emotional conceptualization and face discrimination performance were not independent in these groups. Right frontal lesions appeared to interfere with the discrimination of negative valence. Moreover, patients with right brain disease were distracted by visual surface features depending on conceptual load. The results suggested that focal brain lesions differentially affect the comprehension of emotional meaning depending on conceptual in working memory. 
    (2) In the second substudy, 40 patients with well documented lesions and 12 matched hospital controls were included. Twenty-one had left brain damage (LBD); 19 had right brain damage (RBD). The decoding of emotion categories was measured using multiple-choice of verbal labels and matching one emotional vocalization (joy, fear, sadness or anger in semantically meaningless sentences) with two choice facial expressions. Crossmodal dimensional decoding was assessed by matching vocalizations with two facial expressions with regard to emotional valence or arousal. Results indicated that labelling was reduced in all lesion groups. Crossmodal categorical recognition was impaired in RBD, whereas LBD performance was comparable to controls. However, in the dimensional decoding task, a reduced recognition of valence in LBD and arousal in RBD was observed. Subjects with left ventral frontal lesions were predominantly impaired in the crossmodal identification of valence, whereas right temporoparietal lesions affected arousal decoding. Our results suggest that lateralized brain lesions differentially affected the crossmodal decoding of dimensional concepts such as valence and arousal in working memory. 
      
    Peper, M., & Irle, E. (1997a). Categorical and dimensional decoding of emotional intonations in patients with focal brain lesions. Brain and Language, 58, 233-264. 
    Peper, M., & Irle, E. (1997b). The decoding of emotional concepts in patients with focal cerebral lesions. Brain and Cognition, 34, 360-387. 
    Peper, M., & Irle, E. (1997c). Die Neuropsychologie der Emotionen. In H.J. Markowitsch (Hrsg.), Enzyklopädie der Psychologie: Themenbereich C Theorie und Forschung, Serie 1 Biologische Psychologie, Band 2: Klinische Neuropsychologie (S. 741-896). Göttingen: Hogrefe. 
    Irle, E., Peper, M., Wowra, B., & Kunze, S. (1994). Mood changes after surgery for tumors of the cerebral cortex. Archives of Neurology, 51, 164-174. 
    Peper, M., Seier, U., Krieger, D., & Markowitsch, H.-J. (1991). Impairment of memory and affect in a patient with reversible bilateral thalamic lesions due to internal cerebral vein thrombosis. Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience, 2, 155-162

Research Area 3: Biopsychology and psychophysiological methods

Current research

  • P3.1: Ambulant assessment technologies in neuropsychology 

    PI: M. Peper

    The modern ambulant technologies (mobile phones, tablets etc.) increasingly gain importance for neuropsychological assessment and interventions in patients with brain disease. These methods provide access to real life data and to new therapeutic options (see Peper & Löffler, 2014, for an overview). The new methods permit an improved assessment of physiological data, cognitive impairment, emotional states and behavioral problems in natural environments. Thus, they are likely to have a greater ecological validity than more traditional lab based approaches. In a current study, we compared stress reactions elicited by a common social stress test in the lab with a similar real-life condition using computerized experience sampling in combination with assessing autonomic and memory functions (Loeffler, Hennig & Peper, 2016, in press). A first group of subjects presented a university talk and a second group participated in a stress task (Trier Social Stress Test). Stress reactions were assessed by self-report, heart rate (i.e. additional heart rate increases (AHR) relative to individual and situational reference levels being corrected for movement activity) and saliva cortisol. A strong correlation between AHR and cortisol levels provided evidence that the former is a valid indicator of emotional arousal. This combined laboratory-field study shows how stress-related emotion-cognition interactions can be assessed using ambulatory recording techniques under real life conditions. In the upcoming projects, we will explore the opportunities and problems of these recent developments in the interface of e-health and neuropsychology (mobile EEG, autonomic measures, etc.). In particular, we intend to develop specific interventions for specific neurocognitive disorders in cooperation with the local departments of computer sciences and technology. 
      
    Loeffler, S.N., Hennig, J. & Peper, M. (2016). Assessing social stress reactions in natural and laboratory situations. Journal of Psychophysiology, 30(3). 
    Peper, M. & Loeffler, S.N. (2014). Neuropsychology in the real world: Applications and implications of ambulatory assessment. Journal of Neuropsychology, 25, 233-238.
    Loeffler, S.N. & Peper, M. (2014). Affect and memory in real life: Evaluating the utility of interactive ambulatory assessment. Journal of Neuropsychology, 25, 267-278. 

Completed research projects

  • Ambulatory monitoring of psychophysiological reactions, cognition and experience in everyday life situations 

    PI: S.N. Löffler (KIT Karlsruhe), M. Peper (in cooperation with the former Psychophysiology Section, Department of Psychology, University of Freiburg; former Profs. J. Fahrenberg, M. Myrtek) 
      
    In this series of experiments, we investigated the effects of stress and negative emotional states on psychophysiological reactions, cognition and experience in everyday life situations. In particular, we inspected emotion congruent long-term memory processes. Is the confidence justified that findings obtained in artificial lab settings (e.g., stress tasks, free speech situations) can be generalized to corresponding real life situations? The stress-dependent and emotion-congruent modulation of long-term memory might follow different laws in the natural setting. To explore mood-congruent memory and the role of arousal in daily life, we applied a new interactive ambulatory technique (Löffler, Myrtek & Peper, 2013). Psychophysiological arousal as indexed by non-metabolic heart rate, self-reported emotions and situational information were assessed during 24 h recordings in 70 healthy participants. The emotional state was used to trigger word list presentations on a minicomputer. Results show that psychophysiological arousal at the time of encoding enhanced the recall of negative words in negative emotional conditions, whereas low psychophysiological arousal facilitated recall of positive words. In positive contexts, mood congruency was more prominent when arousal was low. In another project, we presented emotional nouns to N=48 healthy volunteers using a palm top program during a stressful free speech situation or a neutral or pleasant control situation. We investigated the associations between psychophysiological reactions represented by Additional Heart Rate, endocrine reactions (salivary cortisol) and self-reports in real life and in the laboratory setting. The results show that even when situations with seemingly similar demands are compared such as delivering a speech in a laboratory or a real-life setting, the experiential, physiological and behavioral effects may diverge depending on situational factors and emotion regulation processes. In the real life speech situations, social stress was more ambiguous and influenced by additional factors. Although state-congruent memory effects were low in both settings, long-term retention of negative nouns was generally greater when previously encoded in a stressful situation; recall was also associated with the level of physiological activation at the time of learning. These results demonstrate how automated experimentation using mobile technology may help to assess emotional memory in real-world contexts, thus providing new methods for diverse fields of application (Peper & Loeffler, 2014). 
      
    Loeffler, S.N. & Peper, M. (Eds.) (2014). Neuropsychology in the real world. Journal of Neuropsychology, 25. 
    Peper, M. & Loeffler, S.N. (2014). Neuropsychology in the real world: Applications and implications of ambulatory assessment. Journal of Neuropsychology, 25, 233-238.  
    Loeffler, S.N. & Peper, M. (2014). Affect and memory in real life: Evaluating the utility of interactive ambulatory assessment. Journal of Neuropsychology, 25, 267-278. 
    Shammas, L., von Haaren, B., Kunzler, A., Zentek, T. & Rashid, A. (2014). Detection of parameters to quantify neurobehavioral alteration in Multiple Sclerosis based on daily life physical activity and gait using ambulatory assessment. Journal of Neuropsychology, 25, 253-265. 
    Loeffler, S.N., Myrtek, M. & Peper, M. (2013). Mood-congruent memory in real life: Evidence from interactive ambulatory monitoring. Biological Psychology, 93, 308-315. 
    Löffler, S.N. & Peper, M. (2010). Emotionen, Lernen und Gedächtnis im Lebensalltag: Interaktives psychophysiologisches Monitoring in Labor und Feld. (M. Myrtek & J. Fahrenberg, Hrsg., Psychophysiologie in Labor und Feld, Band 16). Frankfurt a.M.: Lang. 
    Peper, M., Braner, M., & Löffler, S. (2008). Effects of social stress on state-dependent learning: a comparison of lab and real life settings. International Congress of Psychology, Berlin, July 20-25, 2008. 
    Löffler, S., Braner, M., & Peper, M. (2008). Effects of emotional strain on declarative memory in daily life. International Congress of Psychology, Berlin, July 20-25, 2008. 
    Löffler, S., Braner, M., & Peper, M. (2007). Emotionale Beanspruchung und Gedächtnis im Alltag: Probleme der multimethodalen Erfassung mit dem Freiburger Monitoring System (FMS). 4th Conference of the European Network for Ambulatory Assessment. June 28-30, 2007, Fribourg, Switzerland. 
    Löffler, S., Braner, M., & Peper, M. (2007). Effekte emotionaler Beanspruchung auf deklarative Gedächtnisleistungen - Ambulantes psychophysiologisches Monitoring mit dem Freiburger Monitoring System. Kolloquium Ambulantes Assessment, European Network of Ambulatory Assessment, Universität in Mainz, 7. März 2007. 
    Peper, M., Löffler, S., Braner, M., & Hüttner, P. (2006). Effekte emotionaler Beanspruchung auf Gedächtnisleistungen im Alltag: Ambulantes psychophysiologisches Monitoring mit dem Freiburger FMS-System. 45. Kongress der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Psychologie, 17.-21. September 2006, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg. 

Research Area 4: Clinical and Medical Neuropsychology

Current research

  • P4.1: Social decision-making and motivational conflict processing in Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy (JME) 

    PI: M.L. Chavanon, M. Peper (with M. Ramm; Prof. S. Knake, Department of Neurology, Philipps-Universität Marburg) 
      
    Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) is the most common idiopathic generalized epilepsy and characterized by structural and functional abnormalities of the frontal lobes. It is charecterized by motivational and emotional abnormalities such as rapidly changing affect, unsteadiness, lack of drive and endurance. Approach or withdrawal tendencies as well as motivational conflicts can be studied within the context of Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (RST). Patients with JME are expected to show elevated reward-related activity (Behavioral Approach System, BAS) and decreased conflict processing (Behavioral Inhibition System, BIS) being associated with poor behavioral inhibition. These changes are expected to be associated with structural brain integrity of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and the anterior cingulate (ACC) as this is the basis of appropriate motivational functioning. Here, we compared patients with JME with matched controls. Motivation was assessed in the context of a cross-modal Pavlovian-Instrumental Transfer (PIT) paradigm inducing a conflict between instrumentally and classically conditioned cues (i.e., "Social Talent Show Task" corresponding to a probabilistic decision-making procedure). Regional brain volumes were assessed with voxel-based MRT morphometry. During conflict, participants with JME showed greater reward but no reduced BIS sensitivity. In JME patients, mOFC white matter volume was associated with lower distraction by conflictual cues. Performance differences during conflict were associated with rostral ACC volume in controls, but not in JME. The structural integrity of ACC and mOFC appears to be predictive of reward sensitivity and motivational conflict in social decision-making. 
      
    Peper, M., Ramm, M., Belke, M., Knake, S., & Chavanon, M.L. (2013). Motivational conflict processing in patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy: Neurostructural correlates of social decision-making. Joint Meeting of the FESN and the GNP (pp. 488), Free University Berlin, September 12-14, 2013. Also presented at the Tag der Wissenschaft, Philipps-Universität Marburg, 22.02.2013. 
    Peper, M., Ramm, M., Belke, M., Knake, S., & Chavanon, M.L. (2013). Neurostructural correlates of motivational conflict processing in social decision-making.In Ansorge, U., Kirchler, E., Lamm, L. & Leder, H. (Hrsg.), 55th Conference of Experimental Psychologists, University of Vienna (pp. 105). Lengerich: Pabst. 

Completed research projects

  • Neuropsychological Toxicology: Long-term effects of low-dose neurotoxic exposure 

    PI: M. Peper (in cooperation with Prof. Dr. M. Klett, formerly Public Health Unit Heidelberg; Prof. Dr. R. Morgenstern, formerly Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin; supported in part by the Ministry of Science, State of Baden-Württemberg, Research Program in Neuropsychology/ Neurolinguistics, University of Freiburg; participation in an EU concerted action related to solvents neurotoxicity 1994-1997) 
      
    Humans exposed to neurotoxicants may exhibit alterations in cognitive and affective functioning and report a wide range of subjective symptoms. The multidisciplinary field of neuropsychological toxicology provides a framework for the systematic assessment and interpretation of adverse effects. Neuropsychological assessment is of interest not only to the clinician, but also to regulatory and legislative authorities. The importance of neuropsychological toxicology in the area of occupational risk research is increasingly being recognized. Possible fields of applications include behavioral monitoring for preventive purposes, expert assessment in the context of compensation procedures, and treatment in rehabilitation programs. In this context, we conducted three studies exploring the neurobehavioral effects of chronic, low-dose exposure to polychlorinated compounds (Peper, 2004). 
      
    Peper, M., Klett, M., & Morgenstern, M. (2005). Neuropsychological effects of chronic low-dose exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs): a cross-sectional study. Environmental Health, 4(22), 1-12. 
    Peper, M. (2004). Umweltbezogene Verhaltensstörungen: Neuropsychologische Toxikologie der Chlorkohlenwasserstoffe. Landsberg: Ecomed. 
    Peper, M. (1999). Neuropsychological toxicology: Selected fields of research and of application. European Psychologist, 4, 90-105. 
    Peper, M., Ertl, M., & Gerhard, I. (1999). Long-term exposure to wood-preserving chemicals containing pentachlorophenol and lindane is related to neurobehavioral performance in women. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 35, 632-642. 
    Peper, M., Klett, M., Frentzel-Beyme, R., & Heller, W.D. (1994). Neuropsychological effects of chronic exposure to environmental dioxins and furans (reprint). In S. Araki, R. Gilioli, & P.J. Landrigan, & K. Yokoyama (Eds.), Neurobehavioral methods and effects in occupational and environmental health. San Diego: Academic Press. 
    Peper, M. (1993). Neuropsychologische Effekte von Dioxinen und Furanen. In D. Bunke, & J. Gröger (Hrsg.), Dioxine und Furane: Schadwirkung und Vorsorge (S. 31-35). Darmstadt: Öko-Institut. 
    Peper, M., Klett, M., Frentzel-Beyme, R., & Heller, W.D. (1993). Neuropsychological effects of chronic exposure to environmental dioxins and furans. Environmental Research, 60, 124-135. 
    Klett, M., Peper, M., Sennewald, E., & Heller, W.-D. (1992). Polychlorierte Dioxine und Furane (PCDD/PCDF). In Stadt Heidelberg (Hrsg.), Umweltbelastung und Gesundheit (S. 6-9). Heidelberg: Amt für Umweltschutz und Gesundheitsförderung. 
    Klett, M., Peper, M., Sennewald, E., & Heller, W.D. (1991). Bewertung der Toxizität partikelgebundener Dioxine und Furane im Umfeld einer Metallhütte. Öffentliches Gesundheitswesen, 53, 581-586.

  • Neuropsychological side-effects of radiation therapy 

    PI: M. Peper (in cooperation with Prof. Wannenmacher, retired head of Department of Radiology, University of Heidelberg; supported by former Research Program in Neuropsychology/Neurolinguistics Freiburg, and in part by BMVg InSan-I)
      
    Total body irradiation (TBI) in preparation for bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is a routine treatment of hematological malignancy. A retrospective and a prospective group study of long-term cerebral side effects was performed with a special emphasis on neurobehavioral toxicity effects. Twenty disease-free patients treated with hyperfractionated TBI (14.4 Gy; 12 x 1.2 Gy; 4 d), 50 mg/kg cyclophosphamide and autologous BMT (mean age 38 years, range 17-52 years; age at TBI 35 years, 16-50 years; follow-up time 32 months, 9-65 months) participated in a neuropsychological, neuroradiological and neurological examination. Data were compared with 14 patients, who were investigated prior to TBI. Eleven patients with renal insufficiencies, who were matched for sex and age (38 years; 20-52 years), served as controls. In a longitudinal approach, neuropsychological follow-up data were assessed in 12 long-term survivors (45 years, 23-59 years; follow-up time 8.8 years, 7-10.8 years; time since diagnosis 10.1 years, 7.5-14.2 years). No evidence of neurological deficits were found in Post-TBI patients except one case of peripheral movement disorder of unknown origin. Some patients showed moderate brain atrophy. Neuropsychological assessment showed a subtle reduction of memory performance of about one standard deviation. Cognitive decline in individual patients appeared to be associated with pre-treatment (brain irradiation, intrathecal methotrexate). 10 years post disease onset, survivors without pre-treatment showed behavioral improvement up to the premorbid level. The incidence of long-term neurobehavioral toxicity was very low for the present TBI/BMT regimen. 
      
    Peper, M., Steinvorth, S., Schraube, P., Frühauf, S., Haas, R., Kimmig, B.N., Lohr, F., Wenz, F., & Wannenmacher, M. (2000). Neurobehavioral toxicity of total body irradiation: A follow-up in long-term survivors. International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics, 46, 303-311. 
    Wenz, F., Steinvorth, S., Peper, M., et al. (1998). Acute and long-term CNS toxicity of total body irradiation (TBI). International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics, 42, 194. 
    Peper, M., Schraube, P., Kimmig, B., Wagensommer, C., Wannenmacher, M., & Haas, R. (1993). Long-term cerebral side-effects of total body irradiation and quality of life. Recent Results in Cancer Research, 130, 219-230.

  • Evaluation of cognitive and emotional alterations after treatment for brain tumors 

    PI: E. Irle (DFG Ir 15/3; with Dr. B. Wowra, Prof. Dr. S. Kunze, Dept. of Neurosurgery, University of Heidelberg) 
      
    Self-reported mood and personality changes as well as cognitive functioning were investigated to assess long-term side-effects of neurosurgical treatment in patients with intracranial tumors. Cortical lesion sites associated with mood alterations were identified in a prospective study design. Patients were neuropsychologically examined 1 to 5 days preoperatively as well as 2 to 10 days, several months, and several years postoperatively. A consecutive sample of 141 patients with brain tumors with cortical lesions caused by microsurgical tumor resection, 29 clinical control patients (surgery for slipped disks), as well as 18 normal controls were investigated. Preoperative and postoperative mood state was assessed with an adjective checklist. Patients, who had undergone resections within the ventral frontal lobe or the temporoparietal cortex reported significantly worse mood states such as anxiety/depression, irritability/anger or fatigue than patients with different lesion locations or controls. A detailed lesion analysis revealed that lesions of heteromodal frontal or parietal association cortices, combined with paralimbic lesions, were associated with negative mood states. Lesions of the sensorimotor cortices appeared to ameliorate the negative effects of heteromodal and paralimbic lesions. Lesion laterality did not influence mood state. We suggested that heteromodal cortices may be particularly concerned with emotionally relevant operations. Lesions of these regions may deprive limbic structures of their sources of input (i.e. regulatory influences) and are thus likely to produce changes in emotional states. 
      
    Irle, E., Peper, M., Wowra, B., & Kunze, S. (1994). Mood changes after surgery for tumors of the cerebral cortex. Archives of Neurology, 51, 164-174. 
    Keller, J., Irle, E., Peper, M., & Wowra, B. (1993). Postoperative Verlaufsbeobachtungen bei Hirntumorpatienten: Funktionelle Reorganisation und Krankheitsverarbeitung. In F. Muthny, & G. Haag (Hrsg.), Onkologie im sozialen Kontext (S. 86-98). Heidelberg: Asanger. 
    Irle, E., Wowra, B., Hampl, J., Peper, M., Kunert, J., Berger, H., & Kunze, S. (1992). Differential disturbances of memory and mood following striatum and basal forebrain lesions in patients with ruptures of the ACOA. Advances in Neurosurgery, 20, 191-197. 
    Peper, M., Wowra, B., Irle, E., & Kunze, S. (1992). Microsurgery of malignant gliomas of the temporal lobes: Cognitive deficits depend on the extent of lost tissue. Advances in Neurosurgery, 20, 310-315. 
    Wowra, B., Irle, E., Peper, M., Zeller, W.J., & Kunze, S. (1989). Evaluation of lesion volumes in neuro-oncology. Basic data for local carrier-mediated chemotherapy. Regional Cancer Treatment, 2, 178-183. 

Supplementary Research Area 5: Forensic (Neuro-)Psychology

Executive emotions (see Research Area 1) play an important role in the control of behavior. Dysexecutive problems are evident in many instances of abnormal behavior, in particular, reactive and instrumental aggression. Individuals with acquired sociopathy may show aggressive behaviors in response to threat or instrumental aggression directed at achieving certain goals. In our current studies, we investigate changes of working memory, executive control, emotional learning and socio-emotional regulation competences in subjects with extraversion, machiavellianism and egoism. Our current studies focus on the neuropsychological mechanisms of emotion regulation and empathy on instrumental approach behavior and executive control in subjects with successful psychopathy. The neuropsychological approach may provide important information concerning the plasticity of emotion processing systems in the brain to complement and inform the more traditional criminological assessment approaches. Neuropsychological concepts have also stimulated the design of new rehabilitation programs (cf. Ross & Hilborn, 2008). 
 

Current research

  • P5.1: Neurobehavioral indicators of motivational conflicts in subjects with extraversion, machiavellianism and egoism 

    M. Peper, M.L. Chavanon (2014f. with J.C. García Alanis, M.R. Güth) 
      
    Motivational functions of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and the anterior cingulate (ACC) have been conceptualized by the revised Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (RST) to explain approach or withdrawal behavior as well as motivational conflict processing. Subjects with elevated levels in extraversion, machiavellianism and egoism (psychopathic personality traits; PP+) are expected to show enhanced reward-related activity (Behavioral Approach System, BAS) and decreased conflict processing (Behavioral Inhibition System, BIS) associated with poor behavioral inhibition. Thus, PP+ should be associated with increased impulsivity when responding to reward stimuli and reduced behavioral inhibition in situations with emotional or conflictual stimuli as compared to PP-. Behavioral responding during reward and conflict processing was investigated by a social decision making task („Social Talent Show Task”) that combined appetitive social stimuli with conditioned aversive cues in the context of a Pavlovian-to-Instrumental-Transfer paradigm (PIT). The BIS-BAS self-report scales revealed greater sensitivity to reward and reduced inhibition in PP+, while the opposite was found in PP-. In the social decision making task, PP+ maximized their rewards more efficiently and were less prone to conflict than PP-. Both self-report as well as data from our challenge paradigm confirmed the assumptions of RST suggesting a common neurocognitive basis in successful and unsuccessful PP+. 
      
    Peper, M., & Chavanon, M.L. (2014). Neurobehavioral indicators of motivational conflict processing in subjects with psychopathic personality traits. 29. Jahrestagung der Gesellschaft für Neuropsychologie (GNP), P19. Zeitschrift für Neuropsychologie, 25, 210. 
    Peper, M. & Chavanon, M.L. (2014). Effects of self-reported psychopathy on behavioral activation and inhibition in experimentally induced motivational conflicts. Conference Psychopathy and violence risk management: Empirical and practical challenges. 7th to 8th May 2014, Berlin. 

  • P5.2: Psychophysiological correlates of cognitive control during emotion regulation in subjects with successful psychopathy 

    PI: M. Peper, J.C. García Alanis (with M.R. Güth) 
      
    In this project, we investigate participants with increased reward sensitivity and fearlessness suggesting 'successful psychopathy' (sPP). SPP is expected to be differentially associated with a specific pattern of cognitive control processes in working memory during a challenge paradigm requiring voluntary emotion regulation. Interindividual variation in sPP is expected to be related to the ability to simultaneously allocate proactive or reactive control functions. In particular, participants with sPP are expected to show emotion regulation strategies that interfere with the dynamic application of cognitive control strategies. Behavioral responses in a Dot Pattern Expectancy Task as well as event-related potentials (ERPs; P3a, P3b, N2, late positive potentials) are assessed. The interfering effects of reaction- and antecedent-focused emotion regulation on control processes in working memory and their psychophysiological correlates are studied in participants with high or low sPP. 

  • P5.3: Methodological problems of forensic evaluation research 

    Peper, M. (2016, in prep.). Variance decomposition models applicable to forensic program evaluations. 
    Peper, M. (2017, in prep.). Evaluating forensic intervention programs: A review of challenges and progress.

Completed research projects

  • Forensic research

    Peper, M., Krammer, S., & Klecha, D. (2016). A biopsychosocial model of female criminality: Implications for assessment and evidence-based treatment approaches. In Kury, H., Redo, S. & Shea, E. (Eds.), Women and children as victims and offenders: Background, prevention, reintegration - Suggestions for succeeding generations (Vol. 1, pp. 595-648). New York: Springer International. "... Peper, Krammer and Klecha present their cross-disciplinary research findings on offending behaviour by women and indicate how the complex factors underlying female criminality could be integrated in a multilevel model. For this purpose, the authors interlink clinical and other criminological information with recent results from the cognitive, social and affective neurosciences." (Kury, Redo & Shea, 2016, p. xxxvii).

    Krammer, S., Linder, Y., Peper, M., Covington, S. & Klecha, D. (2015). Traumatisierung und psychische Gesundheit bei inhaftierten Frauen in der Schweiz. Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Kriminologie, 2, 27-40. 
    Krammer, S., Peper, M. & Klecha, D. (2014). Wirksamkeit des Programms „Reasoning and Rehabilitation Revised“ für inhaftierte Frauen in der Schweiz. Forensische Psychiatrie, Psychologie, Kriminologie, 9, 29-37. DOI: 10.1007/s11757-014-0287-y 
    Peper, M. & Chavanon, M.L. (2011). The neuropsychology of punishment. In H. Kury & E. Shea (Eds.), Punitiveness: International developments (Vol. 3, pp. 231-290). Bochum, Germany: Brockmeyer. 
      
    New intervention programs and evaluation concepts in the Swiss penal system (Completed project, F P D Bern, 2010-2015). Peper, M. (external evaluation manager), Klecha, D. (project manager), Krammer, S. (internal deputy manager); project report completed (2015), for further information contact project manager.

  • Validity of testimonies and polygraph testing 

    Ambach, W., Stark, R., Peper, M., & Vaitl, D. (2008). An interfering Go/No-go task does not affect accuracy in a Concealed Information Test. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 68, 6-16. 
    Ambach, W., Stark, R., Peper, M., & Vaitl, D. (2008). Separating deceptive and orienting components in a Concealed Information Test. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 70, 95-104. 
    Ambach, W., Stark, R., Vaitl, D., & Peper, M. (2006). Processes involved in lying: separating lying and recognition in a Guilty Knowledge Test with polygraph recordings. Journal of Psychophysiology, 20, 115. 

  • Psychopathy research (see also project P5.1, P5.2)

    Schestag, M., Brandt, M., & Peper, M. (2010). Expression and perception of emotional prosody in forensic inpatients with schizophrenia and dissocial personality disorder. 10th Annual Conference of the International Association of Forensic Mental Health Services, May 25-27, 2010, Vancouver, Canada. 
    Guldimann, A., Oswald, M.E., Peper, M., & Ermer, A. (2008). Stalkerprofile bei leichter und schwerer Gewalt. Kongress der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Psychiatrie, Psychotherapie und Nervenheilkunde (DGPPN) am 27.11.2008 in Berlin. 

  • Research on allied disorders (Borderline Personality Disorder, Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) 

    Ebner-Priemer, U.W., Mauchnik, J., Kleindienst, N., Schmahl, C., Peper, M., Rosenthal, M.Z., Flor, H., & Bohus, M. (2009). Emotional learning during dissociative states in borderline personality disorder. Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, 34, 214-222. 
    Klein, Ch., Wendling, K., Hüttner, P., Ruder, H., & Peper, M. (2006). Intra-subject variability in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Biological Psychiatry, 60, 1088-1097. 
    Wendling, K., Hüttner, P., Peper, M., Ruder, H., & Ch. Klein (2006). Aufmerksamkeitsfluktuationen bei Patienten mit Aufmerksamkeitsdefizitstörungen (ADS). Zeitschrift für Neuropsychologie, 17, 167–180. 
     Peper, M., Cattapan-Ludewig, K., & Ermer, A. (2008). Modulation der akustischen Startle-Reaktion und Präpuls-Inhibition während einer emotionalen Arbeitsgedächtnis-Aufgabe. Tagung experimentell arbeitender Psychologen, Universität Marburg, 3-5.3.2008.