Welcome to SFB 1528 - Cognition of Interaction
Keeper or corner? How the brain enables flexible decisions
Our brain is remarkably flexible in producing different reactions to supposedly comparable situations. The same sensory information can lead to different decisions depending on the behavioral context. One example of this is a penalty kick in soccer: a player can either choose the empty corner of the goal as the target or aim directly at the goalkeeper in the hope that he will jump aside. Both decisions are based on the same perception of the goalkeeper's position, but lead to completely different actions. A team led by SFB speaker Alexander Gail investigated how the brain implements this type of flexibility. Their results show that, depending on the requirements, our brain either reuses known neural pathways or develops new patterns to select movements depending on the context. Thus, goal-directed behavior and cognitive flexibility can be achieved in different ways, depending on the circumstance that made the flexible adaptation of behavior necessary. The findings help to understand why it is more difficult to adapt to some new situations than to others - whether in social interactions or motor tasks
To the Press release
Successful start for panel discussion series "Interaktion neu denken"
Our new panel discussion series started January 22nd with a "full house" in the Alte Mensa am Wilhelmsplatz. More than 100 participants joined our panel to discuss how to improve the conditions for neurodivergent students and researchers in academia. Katrin Lux (Representative for students with disabilities and chronic illnesses, Uni Göttingen), Imke Heuer (autistic researcher at the UKE in Hamburg), Katrin Reich (Professor for Social work at the Hochschule München) and Marcella Woud (Professor of Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychopathology at Göttingen University) discussed with host Elena Everding (Göttinger Tageblatt) and the audience ways to create a diversity-friendly working environment. Importantly, not only large institutional changes, but also subtle individual adjustments can make a huge difference. But the most important message was how important it is not to talk about each other, but ot talk with each other! We look forward to the second panel discussion on February 27 on the topic of "Gleichstellung der Geschlechter - Wie man althergebrachte Barrieren überwindet"
„Interaktion neu denken“ – Panel discussion series organised by SFB 1528
Science is characterized by intense exchange and interaction among researchers, staff, students, and study participants. Scientific discourse and everyday life are based on a multitude of habits, norms and rules - often unwritten and unspoken. For people who are unfamiliar with these requirements and expectations, who are unable or unwilling to meet them, or who fail to recognize certain signals, the result is often an invisible barrier to a more diverse scientific community. In a three-part panel discussion series, SFB 1528 will explore the reasons that prevent people from participating equally in research and how we can all contribute to breaking down barriers in order to achieve greater diversity. Participants will represent affected people and stakeholders, as well as researchers working on the topic. All events will be moderated by Elena Everding of the Göttinger Tageblatt. All interested persons are cordially invited. Admission is free!
More information about the events can be found on our website
Julia Fischer Takes Over Johannes Gutenberg Endowed Professorship 2025 at the University of Mainz
Every year, the University of Mainz awards the Johannes Gutenberg Endowed Professorship to outstanding personalities who, "by virtue of their academic achievements or their significance in cultural and public life, are able to combine specialist perspectives and develop overarching insights". In a series of lectures, the professors will convey the image of a living science to the public at the University of Mainz. Julia Fischer will lead the audience through the world of primate societies. Topics will range from the diversity of social organisation and social behavior in primates, to the development and significance of social relationships, the adaptation of communication, and to social and ecological intelligence. Previous holders of the endowed chair include former German President Joachim Gauck, Nobel Laureate Anton Zeilinger and marine biologist Antje Boetius from the Alfred Wegener Institute in Bremerhaven.
To the Press release
Prof. Alexander Gail
Sensorimotor Neuroscience & Neuroprosthetics
University of Göttingen & German Primate Center Göttingen
Kellnerweg 4,
37077 Göttingen
Tel.: +49-551-3851-358 ContactDr. Christian Schloegl
Kellnerweg 4,
37077 Göttingen
Tel.: +49-551-3851-480
Contact