ERC Starting Grant "Body Memory"
Body memory is the sum of all past bodily experiences that are stored in memory and influence behavior. Body memories influence our daily life, for example when we remember injuries, accidents, or moments of bodily comfort, and they affect mental health, for example when they cause somatic symptoms, depression, or anxiety. Scientific knowledge on the neuroanatomical pathways and neuronal mechanisms that underlie human body memory is scarce. In this research project, we use cutting-edge methodology, including whole-body haptic suits, motion tracking, VR, Smartphone Applications (Apps) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), in healthy people and patients to understand the neuronal mechanisms that underlie human body memory and how we can use this knowledge to develop new treatment options. The research projects use state-of-the-art scientific tools and methods to gain basic and applied insights into a novel and far reaching research field with the final goal to develop novel technological interventions that change stored body memories.
"I am fascinated to understand the plasticity of body memories, because this can help us develop new therapies."
Peng Liu, Postdoc |
"I want to understand the neuronal mechanisms that underlie somatic symptoms."
Niloofar Mokhtari, PhD Student |
"I use cutting-edge technology including full-body haptic suits to understand the neuronal code of body memories."
Shreyas Indurkar, PhD Student |
"In my Master Thesis, I investigated how we can suppress the consolidation of negative bodily experiences."
Lilith-Sophie Lange, Student |
"I think it is very important to understand how body position influences memory storage mechanisms."
Betül Kayacik, Student |
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Novel App "Somascape" To investigate the neuronal mechanisms that underlie human body memories, we developed the novel App "Somascape". "Somascape" allows users to get a deeper understanding of their bodily symptoms. Via a body diary, the App collects information about somatic symptoms and associated impairments in mental wellbeing. Complex algorithms link this data to each other and provide insights on the relationship between bodily symptoms and mental wellbeing. More info |
+++ Body Memory News +++
Body memory starts with body perception. If you are interested in describing touch to the human skin in unprecedented detail, then this is for you: We published a 7T fMRI dataset, code and preprint on fine-grained 2D tactile population receptive field (pRF) mapping of a single fingertip, and the results are surprising!
We were part of a new podcast! Körpergedächtnis - Wie beeinflussen körperliche Erfahrungen unser Denken und Handeln? (listen to the Podcast via Spotify, Apple Podcast, or the Kortizes homepage)
We were in the news! Die Kraft in uns - Interview on Body Memory in "Freundin" makes the Cover Story of the issue (Ausgabe 10/2024) read here
I gave a Science Talk on Body Memory at the Planetarium Nürnberg more info
We were part of a new podast! In Touch mit unseren Gefühlen - Körperpsychotherapie (listen to the Podcast via Spotify, Apple Podcast, deezer)
We were in the radio! Deutschlandfunk Nova: Wie wir weniger grübeln listen to radio report here
We were part of a new podast! In Touch mit unseren Gefühlen - Körperpsychotherapie (listen to the Podcast via Spotify, Apple Podcast, deezer)
We were in the radio! Deutschlandfunk Nova: Wie wir weniger grübeln listen to radio report here
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We were in the radio! Deutschlandfunk Nova: Körpergedächtnis - Negative Gefühle mit positiven bekämpfen listen radio report here
We were in the news! MADAME: Der Körper vergisst nichts read interview here
We were in the news! Volksstimme: Wie Körper und Geist zusammen hängen read article here
There are a few interesting blogs and articles that I wrote about body perception, body memory and mental health, check them out here:
Wie sich dein Körper erinnert read Blog here
Ohnmacht - über das Gefühl, das Leben nicht im Griff zu haben read article here
Das Gehirn kann nicht abschalten - Was tun? read article here
Posteingang(10.098) - Lesen Sie die Signale, die Ihr Körper Ihnen sendet? read article here
+++ Scientific Publications on Body Memory +++
Stoll S, Luesebrink F, Schwarzkopf SD, Mattern H, Liu P, Noelle J, Kuehn E (2025) Modeling 2D spatio-tactile population receptive fields of the fingertip in human primary somatosensory cortex. bioRxiv [link]
Schaefer M, Kuehn E, Schweitzer F, Muehlhan M (2024) The neural networks of touch observation. Imaging Neuroscience [Epub ahead of print] [link]
Lange LS, Chrysidou A, Liu P, Kuehn E (2024) Tactile memory impairments in younger and older adults. Sci Rep 14:11766 [link]
Lange LS (2024) Investigation of the modifiability of body memory using the think/no-think paradigm. Master Thesis
Myga K, Kuehn E, Azanon E (2024) Changing tactile intensity and frequency perception via autosuggestion. Sci Rep 14:3072 [link]
Stoll S, Lüsebrink F, Schwarzkopf S, Mattern H, Liu P, Kuehn E (2023) Modeling Population Receptive Fields of the Fingertips in Human Primary Somatosensory Cortex. IASAT [link]
Gentsch A, Kuehn E (2022) Clinical Manifestations of Body Memories: The Impact of Past Bodily Experiences on Mental Health. Brain Sciences 12:594 [link]
