Staff profile

Research Interests

My research is guided by the questions what motivates human behaviour and how motivation and reward are implemented in the neural architecture of the human brain. To study the “motivated brain”, I am using fMRI, real-time fMRI-based neurofeedback as well as behavioural techniques and computational modelling. Currently, my research focuses on:

(i) Neural processes and behavioural dynamics elicited by salient visual reward cues, for instance, pictures showing appetitive food or drugs.

See an example of this research in:

Ihssen, N., Cox, W.M., Wiggett, A., Fadardi, J.S. & Linden, D.E.J. (2011). Differentiating heavy from light drinkers by neural responses to visual alcohol cues and other motivational stimuli. Cerebral Cortex 21(6): 1408-1415.

(ii) The question whether and how visual cue reactivity, ‘wanting’ and craving can be altered by neurofeedback-guided self-regulation

Example:

Ihssen, N., Sokunbi, M. O., Lawrence, A. D., Lawrence, N. S. & Linden, D. E. J. (2017). Neurofeedback of visual food cue reactivity: a potential avenue to alter incentive sensitization and craving. Brain Imaging and Behavior, 11(3), 915-924.

(iii) Social factors affecting reward and reward learning

Example:

Ihssen, N., Mussweiler, T. & Linden, D. E. J. (2016). Observing others stay or switch - How social prediction errors are integrated into reward reversal learning. Cognition 153: 19-32.

Journal Article

• Zacharopoulos, G., Ohmann, K., Ihssen, N., Kedia, G., Mussweiler, T., & Linden, D. E. (2023). The role of outgroup homogeneity and the neurodynamics of the frontal cortex during beauty comparisons. Social Neuroscience, 18(6), 382-392. https://doi.org/10.1080/17470919.2023.2242098
• Wadsley, M., & Ihssen, N. (2023). A Systematic Review of Structural and Functional MRI Studies Investigating Social Networking Site Use. Brain Sciences, 13(5), Article 787. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13050787
• Wadsley, M., & Ihssen, N. (2023). Restricting social networking site use for one week produces varied effects on mood but does not increase explicit or implicit desires to use SNSs: Findings from an ecological momentary assessment study. PLoS ONE, 18(11), Article e0293467. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0293467
• Wadsley, M., Covey, J., & Ihssen, N. (2022). The Predictive Utility of Reward-Based Motives Underlying Excessive and Problematic Social Networking Site Use. Psychological Reports, 125(5), 2485-2516. https://doi.org/10.1177/00332941211025271
• Wadsley, M., & Ihssen, N. (2022). The roles of implicit approach motivation and explicit reward in excessive and problematic use of social networking sites. PLoS ONE, 17(3), Article e0264738. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0264738
• Buckley, M. G., Austen, J. M., Myles, L. A., Smith, S., Ihssen, N., Lew, A. R., & McGregor, A. (2021). The effects of spatial stability and cue type on spatial learning: Implications for theories of parallel memory systems. Cognition, 214, Article 104802. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2021.104802
• Subramanian, L., Skottnik, L., Cox, W. M., Luhrs, M., McNamara, R., Hood, K., …Linden, D. E. (2021). Neurofeedback Training versus Treatment-as-Usual for Alcohol Dependence: Results of an Early-Phase Randomized Controlled Trial and Neuroimaging Correlates. European Addiction Research, 27(5), 381-394. https://doi.org/10.1159/000513448
• Ihssen, N., & Wadsley, M. (2021). A Reward and Incentive-Sensitization Perspective on Compulsive Use of Social Networking Sites - Wanting but not Liking Predicts Checking Frequency and Problematic Use Behavior. Addictive Behaviors, 116, Article 106808. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2020.106808
• Leszkowicz, E., Maio, G. R., Linden, D. E., & Ihssen, N. (2021). Neural coding of human values is underpinned by brain areas representing the core self in the cortical midline region. Social Neuroscience, 16(5), 486-499. https://doi.org/10.1080/17470919.2021.1953582
• Sykes, L., Haddon, J., Lancaster, T. M., Sykes, A., Azzouni, K., Ihssen, N., …Hall, J. (2019). Genetic Variation in the Psychiatric Risk Gene CACNA1C Modulates Reversal Learning Across Species. Schizophrenia Bulletin: The Journal of Psychoses and Related Disorders, 45(5), 1024-1032. https://doi.org/10.1093/schbul/sby146
• Lancaster, T. M., Dimitriadis, S. L., Tansey, K. E., Perry, G., Ihssen, N., Jones, D. K., …Linden, D. E. (2019). Structural and Functional Neuroimaging of Polygenic Risk for Schizophrenia: A Recall-by-Genotype–Based Approach. Schizophrenia Bulletin: The Journal of Psychoses and Related Disorders, 45(2), 405-414. https://doi.org/10.1093/schbul/sby037
• Kedia, G., Mussweiler, T., Adam, R., Ischebeck, A., Ihssen, N., & Linden, D. E. (2019). So pretty! The neural correlates of self-other vs familiar-other attractiveness comparisons. Social Neuroscience, 14(1), 41-52. https://doi.org/10.1080/17470919.2017.1397544
• Lancaster, T. M., Ihssen, N., Brindley, L. M., & Linden, D. E. (2018). Preliminary evidence for genetic overlap between body mass index and striatal reward response. Translational Psychiatry, 8, Article 19. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-017-0068-4
• Zacharopoulus, G., Hanel, P., Lancaster, T., Ihssen, N., Drakesmith, M., Foley, S., …Linden, D. (2017). Nonlinear associations between human values and neuroanatomy. Social Neuroscience, 12(6), 673-684. https://doi.org/10.1080/17470919.2016.1229215
• Humpston, C. S., Evans, L. H., Teufel, C., Ihssen, N., & Linden, D. E. (2017). Evidence of absence: no relationship between behaviourally measured prediction error response and schizotypy. Cognitive Neuropsychiatry, 22(5), 373-390. https://doi.org/10.1080/13546805.2017.1348289
• Lancaster, T., Ihssen, N., Brindley, L., & Linden, D. (2017). Further support for association between GWAS variant for positive emotion and reward systems. Translational Psychiatry, 7, Article e1018. https://doi.org/10.1038/tp.2016.289
• Cox, W., Subramanian, L., Linden, D., Luehrs, M., McNamara, R., Playle, R., …Ihssen, N. (2016). Neurofeedback training for alcohol dependence versus treatment as usual: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials, 17(1), Article 480. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-016-1607-7
• Zacharopoulos, G., Lancaster, T., Bracht, T., Ihssen, N., Maio, G., & Linden, D. (2016). A Hedonism Hub in the Human Brain. Cerebral Cortex, 26(10), 3921-3927. https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhw197
• Ihssen, N., Mussweiler, T., & Linden, D. (2016). Observing others stay or switch - How social prediction errors are integrated into reward reversal learning. Cognition, 153, 19-32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2016.04.012
• Ihssen, N., Sokunbi, M., Lawrence, A., Lawrence, N., & Linden, D. (2016). Neurofeedback of visual food cue reactivity: a potential avenue to alter incentive sensitization and craving. Brain Imaging and Behavior, 11(3), 915-924. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11682-016-9558-x
• Leszkowicz, E., Linden, D., Maio, G., & Ihssen, N. (2016). Neural evidence of motivational conflict between social values. Social Neuroscience, 12(5), 494-505. https://doi.org/10.1080/17470919.2016.1183517
• Habes, I., Rushton, S., Johnston, S., Sokunbi, M., Barawi, K., Brosnan, M., …Linden, D. (2016). fMRI neurofeedback of higher visual areas and perceptual biases. Neuropsychologia, 85, 208-215. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2016.03.031
• Lancaster, T., Ihssen, N., Brindley, L., Tansey, K., Mantripragada, K., O'Donovan, M., …Linden, D. (2016). Associations between polygenic risk for schizophrenia and brain function during probabilistic learning in healthy individuals. Human Brain Mapping, 37(2), 491-500. https://doi.org/10.1002/hbm.23044
• Ihssen, N., Linden, D., Miller, C., & Shapiro, K. (2015). Neural mechanisms underlying visual short-term memory gain for temporally distinct objects. Cerebral Cortex, 25(8), 2149-2159. https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhu021
• Sokunbi, M., Linden, D., Habes, I., Johnston, S., & Ihssen, N. (2014). Real-time fMRI brain-computer interface: development of a "motivational feedback" subsystem for the regulation of visual cue reactivity. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 8, Article 392. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2014.00392
• Ihssen, N., & Keil, A. (2013). Accelerative and decelerative effects of hedonic valence and emotional arousal during visual scene processing. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 66(7), 1276-1301. https://doi.org/10.1080/17470218.2012.737003
• Kedia, G., Lindner, M., Mussweiler, T., Ihssen, N., & Linden, D. (2013). Brain networks of social comparison. NeuroReport, 24(5), 259-264. https://doi.org/10.1097/wnr.0b013e32835f2069
• Heim, S., Ihssen, N., Hasselhorn, M., & Keil, A. (2013). Early adolescents show sustained susceptibility to cognitive interference by emotional distractors. Cognition and Emotion, 27(4), 696-706. https://doi.org/10.1080/02699931.2012.736366
• Keil, J., Mueller, N., Ihssen, N., & Weisz, N. (2012). On the variability of the McGurk effect: Audiovisual integration depends on prestimulus brain states. Cerebral Cortex, 22(1), 221-231. https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhr125
• Ihssen, N., Cox, W., Wiggett, A., Fadardi, J., & Linden, D. (2011). Differentiating heavy from light drinkers by neural responses to visual alcohol cues and other motivational stimuli. Cerebral Cortex, 21(6), 1408-1415. https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhq220
• Keil, A., Bradley, M., Ihssen, N., Heim, S., Vila, J., Guerra, P., & Lang, P. (2010). Defensive engagement and perceptual enhancement. Neuropsychologia, 48(12), 3580-3584. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2010.08.007
• Ihssen, N., Linden, D., & Shapiro, K. (2010). Improving visual short-term memory by sequencing the stimulus array. Psychonomic Bulletin and Review, 17(5), https://doi.org/10.3758/pbr.17.5.680