Universität Wien
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200113 SE Advanced Seminar: Mind and Brain (2026S)

Mechanisms of exposure therapy as a dynamic feedback system

4.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 20 - Psychologie
Continuous assessment of course work

Vertiefungsseminare können nur für das Pflichtmodul B verwendet werden! Eine Verwendung für das Modul A4 Freie Fächer ist nicht möglich.

Dieses Vertiefungsseminar kann für alle Schwerpunkte absolviert werden.
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 20 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Wednesday 11.03. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal E Psychologie, Liebiggasse 5 1. Stock
  • Wednesday 18.03. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal E Psychologie, Liebiggasse 5 1. Stock
  • Wednesday 25.03. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal E Psychologie, Liebiggasse 5 1. Stock
  • Wednesday 15.04. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal E Psychologie, Liebiggasse 5 1. Stock
  • Wednesday 22.04. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal E Psychologie, Liebiggasse 5 1. Stock
  • Wednesday 29.04. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal E Psychologie, Liebiggasse 5 1. Stock
  • Wednesday 06.05. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal E Psychologie, Liebiggasse 5 1. Stock
  • Wednesday 20.05. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal E Psychologie, Liebiggasse 5 1. Stock
  • Wednesday 27.05. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal E Psychologie, Liebiggasse 5 1. Stock
  • Wednesday 03.06. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal E Psychologie, Liebiggasse 5 1. Stock
  • Wednesday 10.06. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal E Psychologie, Liebiggasse 5 1. Stock
  • Wednesday 17.06. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal E Psychologie, Liebiggasse 5 1. Stock
  • Wednesday 24.06. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal E Psychologie, Liebiggasse 5 1. Stock

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Exposure therapy is a highly effective behavioral intervention to treat anxiety disorders. However, much of what is known about exposure therapy is based on experience rather than on empirical evidence. In this seminar, we will first aim at dissecting the psychological and neuroscientific underpinnings of exposure therapy. Subsequently, we will develop a theoretical framework to optimize, and even automate, exposure therapy.
Specifically, we will address the following questions:
- What is exposure therapy and how is it currently used?
- What is the common core of all exposure therapy variants?
- What are the key parameters of successful exposure therapy?
- What are the neural underpinnings of how exposure therapy acts?
- Can we formulate exposure therapy as a dynamic feedback system to optimize and maybe even automate exposure therapy?

Assessment and permitted materials

- attendance
- active participation in discussions
- presentation of a scientific paper

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

- missing 2 classes max (attendance is essential to meet the teaching and learning objectives and is required to fulfill active participation as part of the assessment)
- active participation in discussions: 50%
- presentation of a scientific paper (approx. 10min): 50%

Examination topics

Active participation in discussions of literature covered in the seminar, critical thinking, sharing knowledge, and asking relevant questions.
The presentation of the scientific paper will cover a concise summary of its content, provide context, and stimulate discussion of open questions.
There won’t be a written exam.

Reading list

ill be announced in the seminar. Here are some examples:
Böhnlein J, Altegoer L, Muck NK, Roesmann K, Redlich R, Dannlowski U, Leehr EJ. Factors influencing the success of exposure therapy for specific phobia: A systematic review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2020 Jan;108:796-820. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.12.009. Epub 2019 Dec 9. PMID: 31830494.
Launes G, Hagen K, Sunde T, Öst LG, Klovning I, Laukvik IL, Himle JA, Solem S, Hystad SW, Hansen B, Kvale G. A Randomized Controlled Trial of Concentrated ERP, Self-Help and Waiting List for Obsessive- Compulsive Disorder: The Bergen 4-Day Treatment. Front Psychol. 2019 Nov 15;10:2500. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02500. PMID: 31803089; PMCID: PMC6873786.
Lindner, P., … Carlbring, P. (2020). Gamified, Automated Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy for Fear of Spiders: A Single-Subject Trial Under Simulated Real-World Conditions. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11(March), 1–9.
Taschereau-Dumouchel V. et al.: Towards an unconscious neural reinforcement intervention for common fears. PNAS. 2018 Mar 27;115(13):3470-3475. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1721572115.
Shanechi, M.M. Brain–machine interfaces from motor to mood. Nat Neurosci 22, 1554–1564 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-019-0488-y
Reddan, M. C., Wager, T. D., & Schiller, D. (2018). Attenuating Neural Threat Expression with Imagination. Neuron, 100(4), 994-1005.e4.

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Mo 27.07.2026 09:27