The group applies the narrative pschological approach to study the construction of identity, both personal and social identities and the processes of dealing with emotional information and experiences. To this end we use tools of automated linguistic analysis which are freely available for academic applications (see the storyanalysis.wixsite.com/storyanalysis webpage).

The themes of the group further include the psychobiographical exploration of the careers of Hungarian women intellectuals; the analysis of gender concepts of psychological studies; and the exploration of the psychological and social status of sexual minorities.

Current grants

OTKA K 124192 Social inequalities and prejudices in the light of psy-sciences in Hungary, Principal investigator: Anna Borgos

OTKA K 124206 Narrative construction as an indicator of ablility based Emotional Intelligence, Principal investigator: Tibor Pólya

Collaborations

James Liu, Massey University, New Zealand

European Society for the History of the Human Sciences

Doctoral School of Psychology, University of Pécs, Hungary

Leader

Tibor Pólya

Members

Nóra Bunford

Members

Mihály Racsmány

Members

Research topics

The primary goal is the investigation of the role of the so-called frontostriatal neural network (traditionally linked to skill-learning) in non-declarative learning and memory. The fundamental research question is thus the development of a new cognitive and neural explanatory framework for learning and memory based on empirical research data. At the same time, several applied sub-projects build upon this main fundamental research program. Among others, an important aim of the research project is the development of new rehabilitation programs that, utilizing the latest data from memory research, can lead to a breakthrough in the successful rehabilitation of various learning and memory dysfunctions in several neurological (e.g. Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, different forms of dementia) and psychiatric disorders (e.g. schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder). Another significant applied research project that builds upon the main fundamental research program is the development of new educational agendas based on memory retrieval and testing. Results of this latter project can form basis of new educational programs warranting successful long-term knowledge acquisition.

Grants

2017-1.2.1.-NKP-2017-00002 – National Brain Research Program, Hungary (NAP 2.0): The role of the frontostriatal system in long-term learning and cognitive disorders (PI: Mihály Racsmány)
NKFI K124094: Retrieval-based learning as skill-based declarative process – Automatization and the testing-effect (PI: Mihály Racsmány)

Collaborations

Szabolcs Kéri, Department of Cognitive Science, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Hungary; Nyírő Gyula National Institute of Psychiatry and Addictions, Hungary

Gyula Kovács, Institute of Psychology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany

Balázs Lendvai, Richter Gedeon Plc., Hungary

Ágnes Lukács, Momentum (Lendület) Research Group on Language Acquisition, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Hungary; Hungarian Academy of Sciences

Martin A. Conway, Department of Psychology, City University of London, London, UK

Dezső Németh, Language, Memory, and Neuroscience Research Group, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, Hungarian Academy of Sciences; Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary

Zoltán Sarnyai, Centre for Biodiscovery and Molecular Development of Therapeutics, James Cook University, Australia
Péter Simor, Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary

Csaba Szabó, Institute of Mathematics, Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary

István Szendi, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Hungary

Brigitta Szilágyi, Institute of Mathematics, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Hungary

István Valálik, Department of Neurosurgery, St. John Hospital, Hungary

Zoltán Vidnyánszky, Brain Imaging Centre, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Hungary

The main focus of research in our Nemeth Lab is the cognitive neuroscience and the neuropsychology behind implicit statistical learning. We explore the entire process of implicit learning from memory formation to consolidation and investigate how this process is affected by age, sleep, and various disorders such as autism, Tourette syndrome, Huntington’s disease, Mild Cognitive Impairment, and sleep-related disorders. These studies could lead us not only to a deeper understanding of this fundamental learning mechanism but also to discover how humans rewire their skills and boost habit change in general.

Current grants:

National Brain Research Program (2017-1.2.1- NKP-2017-00002)

Collaborations:

University of Jena (Prof. Gyula Kovacs)

Leader

Dezső Németh

Members

Sleep is a general, indispensable phenomenon, that has a role in maintaining the homeostasis of neurons, as well as in the consolidation of memory traces. Depending on the level of sleep, EEG is dominated by various rhythms. Sleep spindles are 10-15 Hz, 1-3 s long transient oscillations, mainly prevalent during stage 2. sleep, their density correlates with several cognitive and memory parameters.

Our group studies the generation and functional significance of these oscillations on single cell  and population levels. Amongs our weaponry are silicon probe recordings, capable of monitoring the simultaneous activity of multiple single neurons, optogenetic techniques used to activate / inactivate selected cell types, also analysis and modelling of the obtained data.

Current grants

KTIA-NAP13-2-2014-0016  Population activity in the thalamocortical system during sleep spindle oscillations

K119650 Role of cortical feedback in thalamocortical activity

Leader

Lóránd Péter Barthó

Members

Behavioural responses are evolutionarily important for adaptation and survival. In contrast to learnt responses, which are based on perception and consolidated memory requiring primer and associative sensory system, the innate (inborn) behavioural actions need no previous experience. Although there are known neuronal networks and molecular architectures which involved in innate and/or learnt emotional behavior, the neuronal mechanism explaining the ability of controlling distinct brain functions including emotional behavior is still not clear. Using multidisciplinary approaches, we are exploring how the emotional behaviors are modulated.

Current grants

National Brain Research Program, NKFIH

Collaborations

László Acsády (MTA KOKI, Budapest, Hungary)

Antal Berényi (University of Szeged)

Péter Barthó (MTA TTK KPI, Budapest, Hungary)

István Ulbert (MTA TTK KPI, Budapest, Hungary)

András Málnási-Csizmadia (ELTE TTK, Budapest, Hungary)

Ingrid Ehrlich (CIN Tübingen, Germany)

Ofer Yizhar (Weizmann Institute, Rehovot, Izrael)

Mario Penzo (NIH, Bethesda, USA)

Francisco Clasca (Autonoma University, Madrid, Spain)

Marco Diana (CNRS-UPMC, Paris, France)

Zsolt Lenkei (ESPCI-ParisTech, Paris, France)

Leader

István Ulbert (acting group leader)

Members

The main focus of the research group is the different aspects of the psychology of competition. One main investigation aims at revealing the relationship between competitiveness and coping with winning and losing with mental and somatic health.  Another major line of research investigates the  cultural differences of competition. Research on citizenship examines the determinants and educational implications of youth social activism in an international cultural comparative study.

Cultural comparative studies extend beyond the topic of competition: they examine the effect of physical appearance and clothing on workplace competition and promotion, the cultural determination of self-construals and the cultural differences in the experience of happiness.

Another research area of the group is related to talented/gifted people. At the meeting point of talent and competition research, the group studies what kind of role contests and competition have in the life of talented people and what kind of psychological components are needed for high achievement.

In the context of gifted studies the most important topics are: elaboration of online techniques to examine ability and ability development, developing 21^st century tools to help gifted people with exceptional needs, introducing new technologies for the inclusion of special needs students, particularly in learning foreign languages. A cultural comparative study investigates the concept, identification and treatment of ADHD.

Current and recent grants

2020-2024 Patterns of Competitive Behaviour in Development in a Developmental and Socio-cultural Approach: Interactions Between the Individual and Society. (NKFIH- OTKA-K 135963) Project leader: Márta Fülöp

2016-2019 Youth Activism, engagement and the development of new civic learning spaces. Leverhulme Foundation. Anglia.

2015-2019 The individual, situational and sociocultural determinants of psychologically and somatically healthy competition. OTKA (K-111 789) Projektvezető: Fülöp Márta

2014-2017 ISCH COST Action IS1210 2014-2017Appearance Matters: Tackling the Physical and Psychosocial Consequences of Dissatisfaction with Appearance

2013-2016 Öregedés a versengő társadalomban: a kockázatvállalást kísérő pszichofiziológiai folyamatok (Aging in a Competitive Society: Psychophysiological Correlates of Risk taking), OTKA (K 104332) (National Research Fund). Projekt leader: Márk Molnár

Collaborations

Office of Education, TalentGate (TehetségKapu),  Talent Case (TehetségTár)
Budapest University of Technology and Economics Group of Automation
University of Debrecen Institute of Psychology
Mensa HunagrIQa
Institute of Psychology, Polish Academy of Sciences
Freie Universitet, Berlin, Germany
English-At-Work, Dresden, Germany
University of Duisburg, Essen, Germany
Synscenter Refsnæs, Hillerod , Denmart
University of Sussex, United Kingdom
University of York, United Kingdom
University of Maryland, USA
Ontario Institute of Education, University of Toronto, Canada
University of South Australia, Australia
American University of Beirut, Lebanon
Nanyang Institute of Technology, Singapore
University of Birmingham, UK
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, USA

Leader

Márta Fülöp

Members

Cognitive processes in extreme environments

We study the impact of extreme conditions on cognitive processes with methods of experimental psychology and brain research. A significant part of our projects is related to space research, notably to experiments sponsored by the European Space Agency (ESA). Major projects in this direction are the Neurospat experiment performed on board the International Space Station and the Cognipole ESA experiment examining the over-wintering crews on Antarctic research stations.

The studies in extreme environments are complemented with laboratory experiments, in which in which we investigate attention and behavior control under the effect of stressors like hypoxia, sleep deprivation or cognitive fatigue.

Psychodynamic processes of isolated small groups

The other area of research is directed towards individual and group psychodynamic changes in extreme circumstances, especially under the conditions of confinement and isolation. These investigations are carried out by computerized psychological content analysis of linguistic manifestations (e.g. diaries, messages, chat).  Projects in this direction include the participation in the Mars-500 space simulation experiment in Moscow and the ongoing COALA and CAPA ESA experiments investigating the overwintering crews of two Antarctic research stations.

The purpose of this research, in addition to the study of psychology in isolated and extreme environments, is the development of a completely automated multilingual psychological content analysis system capable of remote monitoring the psychodynamics of inaccessible isolated groups.

Current grants

PECS, NeuroSpat, ESA/4000101994/10/NL/HE

PECS, Cognipole, ESA/4000103377/11/NL/KML

COALA-Content, ESA/PECS, 4000108001/13/NL/KML

Collaborations

Institut “Jozef Stefan”, SI

Institute for Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IBMP), RU

Technische Universität Graz, AT

The University of British Columbia, CA

Université Libre de Bruxelles, BE

Leader

István Ulbert (acting group leader)

Members

It is now widely accepted that the behaviour of a species (including humans) is shaped by the environment to which it has adapted during evolution. Increasing evidence support the notion that dogs possess social-communication skills that could resemble in many respects the human(infant)’s corresponding skills. It is also widely accepted that these behavioural similarities can be attributed to dogs’ unique domestication history (i.e. to dogs’ adaptation to human social environment). Although the complexity of the dog and human mind is evidently different, the aim of our research is to study whether, in addition to the behavioural similarities between dogs and children, there are functional similarities in the neural-, hormonal- and epigenetic mechanisms underlying some of these social behaviours. Our research programme innovatively combines traditional behavioural observations with modern neurocognitive methods (fMRI, EEG) and the analysis of gene x environment interactions (epigenetic profiling). The results will bring us closer to unravelling those hidden mechanisms that underlie the parallel evolution of the social-cognition in dogs and humans.

Research grants

OTKA K 112138 -Comparative investigation of the social-cognitive mechanisms in dogs and humans: an innovative methodological approach.

MTA FIKU -The role of social categorization in social learning processes.

OTKA PD 121038 -Responsiveness to social addressing signals in dogs and humans: a comparative approach.

Bial Foundation -The potential effect of behavioral stimulation on social competence in dogs (via endogenous oxytocin release).

MTA PD –The dog as a model for the social-cognitive deficits in autism spectrum disorder.

Collaborative Partners

Department of Ethology, Eötvös University Budapest

Faculty of Education and Psychology, Eötvös University Budapest

Semmelweis University

Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Romania

University of Helsinki Finnland

Messerli Institute Vienna, Austria

Leader

József Topál

Members

Development of MEMS technology-based neural sensors is one of the Group of Integrative Neuroscience’s main research topics. In order to reduce the impedance of recording electrodes and improve the signal-to-noise ratio of brain electric recordings, surface enhancement methods are under development by the group. In addition, new polymer based brain multielectrodes are also being developed and can be reproducibly batch fabricated with high yield. The new devices enable higher precision and more reliable brain electric recordings.

The other main topic of the research group is the investigation of hippocampal oscillations in animal and human brain tissue. They use a wide spectrum of investigation methods: extracellular local field potential, single and multiple unit and also intracellular recordings are performed, along with the most modern two-photon imaging and histology techniques. The aim of the studies is the deeper understanding of brain electric activities characteristic to the healthy and pathological brain tissue, which can contribute to the development of new epilepsy therapies.

Related to these investigations, in cooperation with the National Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, they record brain electric activity from humans intraoperatively to compare it with the results of in vitro measurements. They also cooperate with the Faculty of Information Technology and Bionics of the Pázmány Péter Catholic University to develop an EEG-based (non-invasive) brain-computer interface device equipped with feedback for human use.

Their main international cooperation is in the Neuroseeker EU FP 7 project, where they test the biocompatibility and in vivo performance of chronically implanted polymer-based deep brain electrodes, validate high spatial resolution, high channel count silicon based multielectrodes in vivo and also validate the devices developed for optogenetic experiments both in vitro and in vivo.

Current grants

Nemzeti Agykutatási Program: Ulbert István

EU FP7 Neuroseeker: Ulbert István

MTA Fiatal Kutatók Támogatása: Horváth Domonkos

MTA Fiatal Kutatók Támogatása: Márton Gergely

TTK Fiatal Kutatók Támogatása: Fiáth Richárd

Collaborations

KOKI

OKITI

PPKE ITK

IMTEK, Freiburg, Németország

IMEC, Leuven, Belgium

Leader

István Ulbert

Members