The research I conducted over the last four years since my graduation has focused on so-called dissociative symptoms. Most recently, I investigated emotional memory functioning and autonomic reactivity in patients with Depersonalization Disorder (DPD) at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York. Moreover, I served, among others, as co-investigator in studies on neuropsychological functioning and emotion regulation in DPD. In a related line of research, I investigated the relationship between dissociative tendencies, disruptions in memory (i.e., dissociative amnesia and confabulations) and attention. These studies led to the discovery that dissociative tendencies were accompanied by a profound tendency of high dissociators to commit commission errors, while contrary to anecdotal evidence no signs of dissociative amnesia were discovered for highly emotional stimulus material. In addition, these studies revealed that high dissociators displayed a global deficit in executive functioning even under emotionally neutral conditions. In addition, the influence of dissociative tendencies on stress reactions was investigated and quantified by means of pschophysiological measures (e.g., skin conductance and cortisol response). Moreover, my research was directed at the influence of a disrupted sleep-wake cycle on dissociative experiences. Furthermore, I examined the neurophysiology of dissociation by means of EEG and the elicitation of acute dissociative symptoms during painful stimulation and under conditions of sleep deprivation.

Download my dissertation 'Dissociation: A defensive maneuver?'

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have a look at my publications.