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Cite as:

Gaál, Zs.A., Horváth, J., Bunford, N., Várkonyi, E., D’Albini, Zs., Ehmann, B., Topál, J., Winkler, I. (2020) Protocol for experiments in human participants and dogs at the Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences (Budapest, Hungary) during the COVID-19 virus infection risk period.

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

A Lendület program további nyerteseiről az MTA.hu honlapján olvashatnak.

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