Prof. Benjamin BECKER

EDUCATION

• Ph.D. University of Duesseldorf (Germany) 2010
• M.S. University of Trier (Germany) 2005
• B.S. University of Trier (Germany) 2001

RESEARCH INTERESTS

My research aims at exploring the dynamic behavioral and neural mechanisms of affective and motivational processes, how these processes become dysregulated in mental disorders and can be modulated by neuropeptides (e.g. oxytocin, renin-angiotensin) or closed-loop modulation. To this end my research utilizes an entire array of cognitive neuroscience methods, particularly advanced neuroimaging in combination with machine learning based neural decoding and computational modeling as well as pharmacological and real-time fMRI-informed neuromodulation.

KEY PUBLICATIONS

Gan X, Zhou F, Xu T, Liu X, Zhang R, Zheng Z, Yang X, Zhou X, Yu F, Li J, Cui R, Wang L, Yuan J, Yao D, Becker B (2024) A neurofunctional signature of subjective core disgust generalizes to oral distaste and socio-moral contexts. Nature Human Behaviour (doi: 10.1038/s41562-024-01868-x)

Montag C, Becker B (2024) Use EU digital act to fund research on social-media harms. Nature 628, 268

Liu X, Jiao G, Zhou F, Kendrick KM, Yao D, Xiang S, Jia T, Zhang X, Zhang J, Feng J, Becker B (2024) A neural signature for the subjective experience of threat anticipation under uncertainty. Nature Communications 15:544

Montag C, Schulz PJ, Marciano L, Roman-Urrestarazu A, Rumpf HJ, Becker B (2024) Safeguarding young users on social media through academic oversight. Nature Reviews in Psychology (doi: 10.1038/s44159-024-00311-2)

Xu T, Chen Z, Zhou X, Wang L, Zhou F, Yao D, Zhou B, Becker B (2024) The central renin angiotensin II system – a genetic pathway, functional decoding and selective target engagement characterization in humans. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS) 121:8

Montag C, Marciano L, Schulz PJ, Becker B (2023) Unlocking social media’s brain secrets through neuroscience. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 27:12

Xu T, Zhou X, Kanen JW, Wan L, Chen Z, Zhang R, Jiao G, Zhou F, Zhao W, Yao S, Becker B (2023) Angiotensin blockade enhances motivational reward learning via enhancing ventral striatal prediction error and frontostriatal communication. Molecular Psychiatry 28: 1692-1702

Kou J, Zhang Y, Zhou F, Gao Z, Yao S, Zhao W, Li H, Lei Y, Gao S, Kendrick KM, Becker B (2022) Anxiolytic effects of chronic oxytocin on neural responses to threat are dose-frequency dependent. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics 91: 253-264

Zhou F, Zhao W, Qi Z, Geng Y, Yao S, Kendrick KM, Wager TD, Becker B (2021) A distributed fMRI-based neuromarker for the subjective experience of fear. Nature Communications 12:6643

Quintana D, Lischke A, Grace S, Scheele D, Ma Y, Becker B (2021) Advances in the field of oxytocin research: lessons learned and future directions for clinical research. Molecular Psychiatry 26: 80-91.

Xin F, Zhou X, Dong D, Zhao Z, Yang X, Wang Q, Gu Y, Kendrick KM, Chen A, Becker B (2020) Oxytocin differentially modulates amygdala responses during top-down and bottom-up aversive anticipation. Advanced Science 2001077.

Xu X, Dai J, Liu C, Chen Y, Xin F, Zhou F, Zhou X, Huang Y, Wang J, Zou Z, Li J, Ebstein RP, Kendrick KM, Zhou B, Becker B (2020) Common and disorder-specific neurofunctional markers of dysregulated empathic reactivity in major depression and generalized anxiety disorder. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics 89: 114-116.

Zhou F, Geng Y, Li J, Liu C, Zhao W, Feng T, Guastella A, Ebstein, RP, Kendrick KM, Becker B (2019) Human extinction learning is accelerated by an angiotensin antagonist via ventromedial prefrontal cortex and its connections with basolateral amygdala. Biological Psychiatry 86:910-920.

Zhao Z, Yao S, Li K, Sindermann C, Zhou F, Zhao W, Li J, Luehrs M, Goebel R, Kendrick KM, Becker B (2019) Real-time functional connectivity-based neurofeedback of amygdala-frontal pathways reduces anxiety. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics 88:5-15.

Li J, Xu L, Zheng X, Fu M, Zhou F, Xu X, Ma X, Li K, Kendrick KM, Becker B (2019) Common and dissociable contributions of alexithymia and autism to domain-specific interoceptive dysregulations – a dimensional approach. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics 88: 187-189.

Becker B, Wagner D, Koester P, Tittgemeyer M, Mercer-Chalmers-Bender K, Hurlemann R, Zhang J, Gouzoulis-Mayfrank E, Kendrick KM, Daumann J (2015) Smaller amygdala and medial prefrontal cortex predict escalating stimulant use. Brain 138:2074-86.

Becker B, Scheele D, Moessner R, Maier W, Hurlemann R (2013) Deciphering the neural signature of conversion blindness. American Journal of Psychiatry 170:121-122.

Becker B, Mihov Y, Scheele D, Kendrick KM, Feinstein JS, Matusch A, Aydin M, Reich H, Urbach H, Oros-Peusquens AM, Shah NJ, Kunz WS, Schlaepfer TE, Zilles K, Maier W, Hurlemann R (2012) Fear processing and social networking in the absence of a functional amygdala. Biological Psychiatry 72:70-77. 

For a full publication list see also google scholar  https://tinyurl.com/GSbbecker

RESEARCH LABORATORY

Neuroscience of Cognition, Affect and Motivation (N-CAM) Laboratory

RESEARCH INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

My team is always looking for motivated individuals with a strong interest in our research. Please contact me via mail.