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PROF. DR. DR. H.C. DR. H.C. HERTA FLOR

Our research focuses is the investigation of brain and behavior interactions - especially how behavior and experience influence neuronal processes and how neuronal processes change behavior and experience. A particular focus is on examining the role of learning and memory processes and associated neuroplastic changes in the brain in the development and maintenance of mental disorders such as chronic pain, anxiety disorders and pathological aging. This includes experimental-psychological approaches, neuropsychological tests, peripheral physiological measures as well as structural and functional imaging and stimulation methods. In addition, we develop and investigate novel therapeutic approaches, especially with regard to behavior therapy, also combined with pharmacological intervention. These include extinction training, sensory discrimination training, virtual reality applications, neurofeedback and brain-computer interfaces.  (Figure 1).

Figure 1 (A): (Neuro) feedback protocol using functional magnetic resonance imaging,
(B): mirror box system based on virtual reality for examinations using functional magnetic resonance imaging: detection of illusion-related brain activations (left: view of the glasses and the data glove, right: virtual environment the subject's / patient's view - presented over the glasses), (C): Brain reactions to heat pain stimuli in a high-field (7 Tesla) magnetic resonance scanner.

We examine chronic pain with a special focus on phantom limb pain and chronic back pain in collaborative research center 1158 on pain and in the Perpain project of the Federal Ministry of  Education and Research. In a Koselleck award, we develop new brain-based augmented and virtual reality as well as sensorimotor  interventions for early indicators of dementia, immobility and frailty as well as chronic pain (Figure 2).

Figure 2: Participant (left) wearing the orthosis and the head-mounted display for augmented (or virtual) reality training during periods of immobilization. Increased whole brain task-neural activity (T1 -T2) in primary motor and somatosensory cortices (right) in the baseline group compared to the mirror-training group.

In collaborative research center TRR 265 we examine mechanisms of top down and bottom-up interventions for smoking addiction and in Graduate Research Program  2350 we examine determinants and consequences of violent video gaming. In the IMAC-MIND consortium we develop new screening and prevention instruments for addiction in adolescents.

National and international joint research projects

2020-2023

Collaborative Research Network PerPAIN - Improvement of the treatment of chronic musculoskeletal pain disorders through a personalized therapy approach with cross-disease multilevel diagnostics and mechanism-oriented intervention - Analysis of dysfunctional behaviour patterns, neural circuits and low-threshold intervention and process evaluation through ambulatory assessment for chronic musculoskeletal pain disorders funded by Ministery of Education and Research, (01EC1904C)

2019-2023

Collaborative Research Center TRR 265 “Losing and regaining control over drug intake: From trajectories to mechanisms to interventions“ funded by the German Research Foundation.

Project C01, “Modification of the imbalance between goal-directed and habitual behavior in human addiction” together with Professor (apl.) Dr. Sabine Vollstädt-Klein                                           

2019-2023

Collaborative Research Center 1158 “From nociception to chronic pain: Structure-function properties of neural pathways and their reorganization”, 2nd funding period, funded by the German Research Foundation (spokesperson: Rohini Kuner, Ph.D., vice-spokesperson: Herta Flor, Ph.D.).

2 projects:

  1. B03 – “Role of learning, stress and underlying brain circuits involving prefrontal-limbic interactions in the development of chronic back pain” together with Dr. Frauke Nees.
     
  2. B07 – “Neural circuits involved in phantom limb pain” together with Dr. Jamila Andoh.

2018-2022

Research Training Group GRK 2350 Impact of adverse childhood experiences on psychosocial and somatic conditions across the lifespan
Project: A04 The relationship of ACE and violent video gaming: Effects on pain perception, pain-related empathy and aggression towards self and others, together with PD Dr. Susanne Becker, funded by German Research Foundation

2017-2020

Improving Mental Health and Reducing Addiction in Childhood and Adolescence through Mindfulness: Mechanisms, Prevention, Treatment, Subproject 2: Development of addiction-relevant screening and prevention instruments in a mechanism-based approach
together with Dr. Frauke Nees funded by the German Ministry of Science and Education (01GL/17445B)

2015-2020

Reinhart-Koselleck-Project „Body representation and sensorimotor function as agents for brain reorganization and behavior change: from chronic pain to immobility and dementia” funded by the German Research Foundation (FL156/41-1)

2015-2019

Collaborative Research Center 1158 “From nociception to chronic pain: Structure-function properties of neural pathways and their reorganization”, funded by the German Research Foundation (spokesperson: Rohini Kuner, Ph.D., vice-spokesperson: Herta Flor, Ph.D.).
    
2 projects:

  1. B03 – “Role of learning, stress and underlying brain circuits involving prefrontal-limbic interactions in the development of chronic back pain” together with Dr. Frauke Nees.
  2. B07 – “Neural circuits involved in phantom limb pain” together with Dr. Jamila Andoh.

2016-2018

FRAILBRAIN: “Reversing maladaptive reorganization in frail brains: sensorimotor training, brain plasticity and the role of BDNF", Hector II Foundation Project

2015-2018

Project: “Mechanisms of Disturbed Emotion Processing in Borderline Personality Disorder (KFO 256)”, 2nd funding period, funded by the German Research Foundation (FL 156/35-2)

2015-2017

ZIM II Project: Assessment of human bodies in motion with stripe light scanners to identify maladaptive movement patterns  in the musculoskeletal system, funded by BMWE (ZF4070801CR5).

2015-2017

Quality of life, pain and neuropsychological impairments in patients with mitochondrial disorders, funded by the German Society for Muscular Disorders. (DGM), (Fl1/1).

Selected publications

  1. Chronic Pain as a Neglected Core Symptom in Mitochondrial Diseases.
    Löffler M, Gamroth C, Becker S & Flor H. (2020) Neurology Feb 25;94(8):357-359.
  2. The evaluation and brain representation of pleasant touch in chronic and subacute back pain.
    Nees F, Usai K, Loffler M, Flor H. (2019) Neurobiol Pain 5:100025.
  3. Default mode network connectivity of fear- and anxiety-related cue and context conditioning.
    Zidda F, Andoh J, Pohlack S, Winkelmann T, Dinu-Biringer R, Cavalli J, Ruttorf M, Nees F, Flor H. (2018) Neuroimage 165:190-199.
  4. Placebo effects of a sham opioid solution: a rondomized controlled study in patients with chronic low back pain.
    Klinger,R, Kothe,R, Schmitz,J, Kamping S, Flor H. (2017) Pain 158:1893-1902.
  5. Structural plasticity and reorganisation in chronic pain.
    Kuner R & Flor H. (2017) Nature Reviews Neuroscience 18, 20-30.
  6. Neural basis of reward anticipation and its genetic determinants.
    Jia T, Macare C, Desrivieres S, Gonzalez DA, Tao C, Ji X, Ruggeri B, Nees F, Banaschewski T, Barker GJ, Bokde AL, Bromberg U, Buchel C, Conrod PJ, Dove R, Frouin V, Gallinat J, Garavan H, Gowland PA, Heinz A, Ittermann B, Lathrop M, Lemaitre H, Martinot JL, Paus T, Pausova Z, Poline JB, Rietschel M, Robbins T, Smolka MN, Muller CP, Feng J, Rothenfluh* A, Flor* H, Schumann* G, Consortium I. (2016) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 113:3879-3884. *joint last authors
  7. Contextual fear conditioning in humans using feature-identical contexts.
    Baeuchl C, Meyer P, Hoppstädter M, Diener C, Flor H. (2015) Neurobiol Learn Mem 121:1-11.
  8. BRAIN NETWORKS. Correlated gene expression supports synchronous activity in brain networks.
    Richiardi J, Altmann A, Milazzo AC, Chang C, Chakravarty MM, Banaschewski T, Barker GJ, Bokde AL, Bromberg U, Buchel C, Conrod P, Fauth-Buhler M, Flor H, Frouin V, Gallinat J, Garavan H, Gowland P, Heinz A, Lemaitre H, Mann KF, Martinot JL, Nees F, Paus T, Pausova Z, Rietschel M, Robbins TW, Smolka MN, Spanagel R, Strohle A, Schumann G, Hawrylycz M, Poline JB, Greicius MD, IMAGEN consortium. (2015) Science 348:1241-1244.
  9. Real time fMRI feedback of the anterior cingulate and posterior insular cortex in the processing of pain.
    Rance M, Ruttorf M, Nees F, Schad LR, Flor H. (2014) Hum Brain Mapp 35 (12): 5784-98.
  10. Deficient fear extinction memory in posttraumatic stress disorder. 
    Wicking M, Steiger F, Nees F, Diener SJ, Grimm O, Ruttorf M, Schad L, Winkelmann T, Wirtz G, Flor H. (2016) Neurobiol Learn Mem 136:116-126.

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