Hard Science for Soft Skills
The power of the Neuroscientific approach
Actions, emotions, and decisions arise from countless neuronal interactions occurring every second. Only a small fraction of these interactions reach our conscious awareness. This is often likened to an iceberg, where the majority is hidden below the surface.
To uncover the underlying influences that shape our choices and to prevent mistakes and stress, it is essential to explore the deeper layers of the “iceberg” through objective neurobiological and behavioral testing.
The science behind our assessments
Current soft skills assessment approaches rely on Self-report measures which can be susceptible to biases and deception. These might include games that claim to be “neuroscience-based” but do not include any objective biological measures. Others are expensive and time-consuming external observations which are equally distorted by the assessor’s biases and personal experience.
The EyeQ Assessment measures your conscious and subconscious reactions during the assessment.
Our Research Contributions
Explore a selection of our peer-reviewed publications that highlight the innovative research conducted by the MGME team. These example studies underscore our commitment to advancing knowledge and expertise in our field.
Neuroeconomics
1. Edelson, M. G. et al. Computational and neurobiological foundations of leadership decisions. Science.
This study that investigates the cognitive and neural mechanisms of leadership decisions.
2. Alós-Ferrer, C., García-Segarra, J., & Ritschel, A. Generous with individuals and selfish to the masses. Nature Human Behaviour.
Research that analyzes decision-making processes and the mechanisms behind prosocial and selfish behaviors in different scenarios
3. Kahnt, T. et al. Perceptual learning and decision-making in human medial frontal cortex. Neuron.
This study focuses on both learning processes and the evaluation of decision outcomes.
4. Doren, N. et al. Acetylcholine and noradrenaline enhance foraging optimality in humans. PNAS.
The paper shows that the neurotransmitters acetylcholine and noradrenaline enhance human decision-making and the ability to make optimal choices in uncertain environments.
5. Kim, J. C. et al. Neural Representation of Valenced and Generic Probability and Uncertainty. Journal of Neuroscience.
This study explores how the brain makes decisions under uncertainty and risk.
6. Kurniawan, I. T. et al. Anticipatory Energization Revealed by Pupil and Brain Activity Guides Human Effort-Based Decision Making. Journal of Neuroscience.
Using pupil dilation and brain activity, this study demonstrates how the body prepares for effortful tasks.
7. Alós-Ferrer, C. et al. Habituation does not rescue depletion: Two tests of the ego-depletion effect. Journal of Economic Psychology.
This paper examines the cognitive processes involved in self-control and decision-making, particularly how these processes can be influenced by prior exertion of self-control.
8. Alós-Ferrer, C., Jaudas, A., & Ritschel, A. Attentional shifts and preference reversals: An eye-tracking study. Judgment and Decision Making.
Eyetracking research analyzing viewing pattern and the role of attention and cognitive framing in choices, providing insights into the underlying mechanisms of decision-making.
9. Alós-Ferrer, C., & Ritschel, A. Attention and salience in preference reversals. Experimental Economics.
Eyetracking research analyzing attentional shifts and salience impact the evaluation and decision-making processes in contexts.
10. Alós-Ferrer, C., Jaudas, A., & Ritschel, A. Effortful Bayesian updating: A pupil-dilation study. Journal of Risk and Uncertainty.
Pupillometry research investigating the cognitive mechanisms behind belief updating, incentives and cognitive effort.
Computational Analysis
1. von Ziegler, L. M. et al. Analysis of behavioral flow resolves latent phenotypes. Nature Methods.
This study developed a novel computational pipeline using machine learning to analyze behavior, capturing and quantifying the transitions between different behavioral states.
2. Barretto-Garcia, et al. Individual risk attitudes arise from noise in neurocognitive magnitude representations. Nature Human Behaviour.
The paper demonstrates that individual risk preferences stem from how the brain represents magnitudes, which influences decision-making under uncertainty.
3. Brus, J. et al. Causal phase-dependent control of non-spatial attention in human prefrontal cortex. Nature Human Behaviour.
The paper shows that neural oscillations at specific phases of brain activity influence attentional processes crucial for focusing and efficient decision-making.
4. Privitera, M. et al. A complete pupillometry toolbox for real-time monitoring of locus coeruleus activity in rodents. Nature Protocols.
This study presents a comprehensive toolkit for pupillometry to monitor locus coeruleus activity in rodents including hardware and software components designed for real-time data acquisition and analysis.
5. Grueschow, M. et al. Real-world stress resilience is associated with the responsivity of the locus coeruleus. Nature Communication.
Using imaging and pupil dialtion this study reveals that an individual's resilience to real-world stress is closely tied to the responsiveness of the locus coeruleus, a brain region critical for managing stress and arousal levels.
6. Grueschow, M., Polania, R., Hare, T. A., & Ruff, C. C. Automatic versus Choice-Dependent Value Representations in the Human Brain. Neuron.
This study showed for the first time how neural decision-making mechanisms differ for preference, and perceptual choices.
7. Brus, J., Aebersold, H., Grueschow, M., & Polania, R. Sources of confidence in value-based choice. Nature Communications.
Using eye-gaze analysis and computational modelling, this study demonstrates that subjective certainty in preference based choices depends on the quality of evidence supporting the choice and neural mechanisms that integrate this information.
8. Polania, R. et al. The precision of value-based choices depends causally on fronto-parietal phase coupling. Nature Communications.
Using non-invasive brain stimulation, this study highlights the critical role of synchronized brain activity for making accurate choices based on preferences.
9. Polania, R. et al. Neural oscillations and synchronization differentially support evidence accumulation in perceptual and value-based decision making. Neuron.
Using neural oscillations, this paper reveals distinct neural mechanisms for evidence accumulation processes during perceptual decision-making and value-based decision-making.
10. Sturman, O. et al. Deep learning-based behavioral analysis reaches human accuracy and is capable of outperforming commercial solutions. Neuropsychopharmacology.
This study developed machine learning classifiers to analyze behavior, with accuracy surpassing commercial solutions.
Neurophysiology
1. Edelson, M. et al. Following the crowd: brain substrates of long-term memory conformity. Science.
The research explores the neural mechanisms underlying memory conformity, particularly how social influences can alter brain activity and processing
2. von Ziegler, L. M. et al. Multiomic profiling of the acute stress response in the mouse hippocampus. Nature Communications.
This study investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying the acute stress response
3. Eriksson, A. et al. Investigating heart rate variability measures during pregnancy as predictors of postpartum depression and anxiety: an exploratory study. Translational Psychiatry.
The paper investigates how heart rate variability (HRV) measures can predict the risk of postpartum depression and anxiety.
4. Edelson, M. G. et al. Brain substrates of recovery from misleading influence. Journal of Neuroscience.
The study explores the brain's mechanisms for correcting misinformation, specifically how the amygdala and hippocampus interact to facilitate recovery from misleading influence.
5. Edelson, M. G., & Hare, T. A. Goal-dependent hippocampal representations facilitate self-control. Journal of Neuroscience.
The Study explores neural mechanisms underlying self-control to reach goal-directed behavior.
6. Wienke, C. et al. Phasic, Event-Related Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation Modifies Behavioral, Pupillary, and Low-Frequency Oscillatory Power Responses. Journal of Neuroscience.
This study demonstrates that non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation influences behavior, pupil responses, and brain oscillations, showing that this technique can modulate autonomic and neural processes providing the basis for future therapeutic applications.
7. Maier, S. U., & Grueschow, M. Pupil dilation predicts individual self-regulation success across domains. Scientific Reports.
This study shows that pupil dilation can serve as a reliable physiological indicator of how well individuals succeed in self-regulation across various domains, such as controlling impulses or maintaining focus.
8. Grueschow, M., Kleim, B., & Ruff, C. C. Role of the locus coeruleus arousal system in cognitive control. Journal of Neuroendocrinology.
This paper highlights the critical role of the arousal system, in facilitating cognitive control by modulating attention and goal-directed behavior based on situational demands.
9. Grueschow, M., Kleim, B., & Ruff, C. C. Functional Coupling of the Locus Coeruleus Is Linked to Successful Cognitive Control. Brain Sciences.
This paper shows how a small brain stem region, the locus coeruleus supports successful cognitive control, suggesting its central role in managing attention and goal-directed behavior.
10. Ludmer, R., Edelson, M. G., & Dudai, Y. The N aïve and the D istrustful: State dependency of hippocampal computations in manipulative memory distortion. Hippocampus.
The paper investigates the neural mechanisms underlying memory processing and how these mechanisms are influenced by cognitive states such as trust and suspicion