Dr. Timo Torsten Schmidt
Neurocomputation and Neuroimaging Unit
Researcher
Room JK 25/222d
14195 Berlin
Supervision:
It is possible to conduct Bachelor and Master theses under my supervision. I feel qualified to supervise work on topics from the research areas of: Working memory, mental imagery, altered states of consciousness, phenomenology of drug experiences. Methodologically I work with: fMRI, specifically task-based univariate and multivariate (MVPA) analysis methods, functional (PPI) and effective (DCM) connectivity approaches, as well as resting-state fMRI; EEG; online surveys; questionnaires on altered states of consciousness experiences; databases (e.g. the altered states database).
If you are interested in a Bachelor or Master thesis, please feel free to contact me via E-Mail. A decision to accept a supervision will depend on the fit of the suggested topic and my expertise, as well as on the resources of the Neurocomputation and Neuroimaging Unit.
In the past, I have been involved in the supervision of the following theses:
Master Theses
2017
Katharina Dworatzyk, Cognitive Science Master, Universität Osnabrück (Primary Supervison), Title: A validation study of a novel German scale to measure changes in self-perception
Ann Xavier, Cognitive Science Master, Universität Osnabrück (Primary Supervision), Title: An EEG study on Multi-modal integration failures during the Ganzfeld-Experience
2016
Nisha Jagannathan, Cognitive Science Master, Universität Osnabrück (Co-Supervision), Title: The Ganzfeld experiences: Characterizing multimodal integration failure using resting state fMRI and psychometric measures
Michal Ljubljanac, Cognitive Science Master, Universität Osnabrück (Co-Supervision), Title: Meta-analysis of resting-state fMRI: The feasability of establishing valid links between phenomenology and resting-state connectivity data
Pia Schröder, Research Master in Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Maastricht University (Co-Supervision), Title: Dynamic integration of early sensory areas supports perceptual awareness: An fMRI study on somatosensory target detection
2015
Yuan-Hao Wu, SCAN Master, Freie Universität Berlin (Co-Supervision), Title: Neuronal representation of vibrotactile working memory content
Lisa Velenosi, SCAN Master, Freie Universität Berlin (Co-Supervision), Title: The neuronal representation underlying maintained and mentally manipulated tactile stimuli
Bachelor Theses
2018
Daniela Hohmann, Cognitive Science Bachelor, Universität Osnabrück (Primary Supervision), Title: A functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study on the processing of spatial stimulus information in the tactile and visual modality
2017
Julia Prein, Cognitive Science Bachelor, Universität Osnabrück (Primary Supervision), Title: A study on the modulation of multimodal integration failures in the Ganzfeld experience by the variation of auditory stimulation
Lara Knaup, Cognitive Science Bachelor, Universität Osnabrück (Primary Supervision), Title: Developing a Predictive Coding Taxonomy for Alterations of Consciousness
I am a neuroscientist interested in the neuronal underpinnings of human consciousness. I work with methods from the field of computational cognitive neuroscience with a focus on functional neuroimaging.
In my research I focus on :
(1) the mental representation of consciousness content (working memory and mental imagery)
(2) mechanisms underlying altered states of consciousness
Also see: Google Scholar Profile
Peer-reviewed Journal Articles – Published
18. Schmidt TT, Blankenburg (2019): The somatotopy of tactile mental imagery. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
17. Schmidt TT*, McCormick Miller N*, Blankenburg F, Pulvermüller F (2019) Language facilitated tactile processing through coupling of somatosensory and auditory cortices. Scientific Reports.
16. Schmidt TT, Prein JC (2019): The Ganzfeld experiences -A stably inducible altered state of consciousness: Effects of different auditory homogenizations. PsyCh - Special Issue: Altered States of Consciousness.
15. Uluc I, Schmidt TT, Wu Y-H., Blankenburg F (2018) Content-specific codes of parametric auditory working memory in humans. NeuroImage.
14. Schmidt TT, Berkemeyer H (2018) The Altered States Database: Psychometric data on altered states of consciousness. Frontiers in Psychology.
13. Schmidt TT, Blankenburg F (2018) Brain regions that retain the spatial layout of tactile stimuli during working memory – A ‘tactospatial sketchpad’? NeuroImage.
12. McCormick Miller N*, Schmidt TT*, Blankenburg F, Pulvermüller F (2017) Verbal labels facilitate tactile perception. Cognition 171:172-179.
11. Wu, Y.-H.*, Uluc I*, Schmidt TT, Tertel K, Kirilina E, Blankenburg F (2017): Overlapping frontoparietal networks for tactile and visual parametric working memory representations. NeuroImage 166:325-334.
10. Schmidt TT, Wu Y.-H., Blankenburg F (2017): Content-specific codes of parametric vibrotactile working memory in humans. Journal of Neuroscience 37(40):9771-9777.
9. Majić T, Jungaberle H, Schmidt TT, Zeuch A, Hermle L, Gallinat J (2017): Psychotherapie mit adjuvanter Gabe von serotonergen psychoaktiven Substanzen – Möglichkeiten und Hindernisse / Psychotherapy with an adjuvant use of serotonergic psychoactive substances – possibilities and challenges. Fortschr Neurol Psychiatr 85(07):383-392.
8. Stuke H, Gutwinski S, Wiers C, Schmidt TT, Gröpper S, Parnack J, Gawron C, Hindi Attar C, Spengler S, Walter H, Heinz A, Bermpohl F (2016): To drink or not to drink: Harmful drinking is associated with hyperactivation of reward areas rather than hypoactivation of control areas in men. Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience 41(3):E24-36.
7. Majić T*, Schmidt TT*, Gallinat J (2015): Peak experiences and the after-glow phenomenon: When and how do therapeutic effects of hallucinogens depend on psychedelic experiences? Journal of Psychopharmacology (3):1-13
6. Schmidt TT, Ostwald D, Blankenburg F (2014):Imaging Tactile Imagery: Changes in brain connectivity support perceptual grounding of mental images in primary sensory cortices. NeuroImage 98:216-224
5. Rea E, Rummel J, Schmidt TT, Hadar R, Heinz A, Mathe AA, Winter C (2013): Anti-anhedonic effect of deep brain stimulation of the prefrontal cortex and the dopaminergic reward system in a genetic rat model of depression: An intracranial self-stimulation paradigm study. Brain Stimulation 7(1):21-28
4. Spitzer B, Gloel M, Schmidt TT, Blankenburg F (2013): Working Memory Coding of Analog Stimulus Properties in the Human Prefrontal Cortex. Cerebral Cortex, 24(8):2229-2236
3. Schmidt TT, Rea E, Klein J, Panagis G, Winter C (2012): Enhanced reward-facilitating effects of d-amphetamine in rats in the quinpirole model of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol, 16(5):1083-91
2. Klein J, Hadar R, Männer A, Eberhardt C, Baldassarri J, Schmidt TT, Kupsch A, Heinz A, Morgenstern R, Schneider M, Weiner I, Winter C (2012) Mapping brain regions in which deep brain stimulation affects schizophrenia-like behavior in two rat models of schizophrenia. Brain Stimulation, 6(4):490-499
1. Ostwald D, Spitzer B, Guggenmos M, Schmidt TT, Kiebel S, Blankenburg F (2012) Evidence for neural encoding of Bayesian surprise in human somatosensation. NeuroImage, 62(1): 177-88
Book Chapters
2. Schmidt TT, Majić T (2016): Empirische Untersuchung veränderter Bewusstseinszustände: Definition, Quantifizierung und Forschungsperspektiven. Handbuch Psychoaktiver Substanzen, Springer Verlag
1. Majić T, Schmidt TT, Hermle L (2016): Flashbacks und anhaltende Wahrnehmungsstörungen nach Einnahme von serotonergen Halluzinogenen. Handbuch Psychoaktiver Substanzen, Springer Verlag
Theses
PhD-Thesis (2018): Tactile Mental Representations. Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
MSc-Thesis (2011): Intracranial Self-Stimulation in Different Rat Models of Dopaminergic Dysregulation.
Laboratory for Experimental Psychiatry (Prof. Dr. Winter), Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
BSc-Thesis (2009): Marker protein expression patterns during retinoic acid-induced differentiation of NTera2 cells and effects of different culturing techniques.
Department of Neurobiology (Prof. Dr. Brandt), University of Osnabrück, Germany
Conference Workshops and Tutorials:
3. Schmidt TT (2018)3h Tutorial: The empirical study of altered states of consciousness: Common standards in the psychometric assessment of subjective experiences. 22st Annual meeting of the Association for the Scientific Study of Consciousness (ASSC): Krakow, Poland.
2. Schmidt TT (2017)3h Workshop: The empirical study of altered states of consciousness: Common standards in the psychometric assessment of subjective experiences. #DrugScience2017, Charité, Berlin, Germany
1. Schmidt TT (2017)3h Tutorial: The empirical study of altered states of consciousness: Common standards in the psychometric assessment of subjective experiences. 21st Annual meeting of the Association for the Scientific Study of Consciousness (ASSC): Beijing, China.
Conference Abstracts and Posters:
2018
26. Uluc I, Schmidt TT, Wu YH, Blankenburg F (2018) Frequency-Specific Codes of Auditory Working Memory in Humans, SAMBA 2018, Salzburg, Austria.
25. Velenosi L, Wu YH, Schmidt TT, Blankenburg F (2018) Neural basis of somatosensory target detection: From local interactions to frontoparietal networks, SAMBA 2018, Salzburg, Austria.
24. Velenosi L, Wu YH, Schmidt TT, Blankenburg F (2018) Decoding working memory representations of individual and grouped tactile stimuli, OHBM 2018, Singapore; SAMBA 2018, Salzburg, Austria.
23. Schmidt TT, Blankenburg F (2018) The tactospatial sketchpad, OHBM 2018, Singapore.
2017
22. Jagannathan N, Ljubljanac M, Nierhaus T, Schmidt TT (2017) The Ganzfeld experience: Characterizing multimodal integration failure using resting-state fMRI, Neuroscience 2017, Washington, USA.
21. Schwartz J, Scott R, Kebiri H, Hayden DJ, Agyei D, Gutknecht A, Schmidt TT (2017) How does it feel to be on Salvinorin A?, #DrugScience2017, Charité Berlin, Germany.
20. Gutknecht A, Nierhaus L, Beering F, Schmidt TT (2017) Meta-analyses of dose-response relationships using the Altered States Database, #DrugScience2017, Charité Berlin, Germany.
19. Mukhina A, Schreiber F, Schrumpf J, Ortlieb M, Prien M, Berkemeyer H, Schmidt TT (2017) The Altered States Database – communicating DrugScience to the public. #DrugScience2017, Charité Berlin, Germany.
18. Ziegler F, Räuker M, Radovic T, Schmidt TT (2017) Altered states of consciousness as an experimental tool for neuroscience. #DrugScience2017, Charité Berlin, Germany.
17. Ljubljanac M, Jagannathan N, Xavier A, Nierhaus T, Schmidt TT (2017) The Ganzfeld experience: A non-pharmacologically induced altered state of consciousness investigated with fMRI. #DrugScience2017, Charité Berlin, Germany
16. Dworatzyk K, Jansen T, Schmidt TT (2017) Translation and Validation of the German Ego-Dissolution Inventory (EDI) and the German Challenging Experience Questionnaire (CEQ). #DrugScience2017, Charité Berlin, Germany.
15. Schmidt TT, Blankenburg F (2017) Maintenance of sensory and abstract Information in the somatosensory Modality – A Predictive Coding Account of Working Memory. OCCAM, Osnabrück, Germany.
14. Schröder PK, Schmidt TT, Blankenburg F (2017) Recurrent processing supports perceptual awareness: An fMRI study on somatosensory target detection. OHBM: Organization of Human Brain Mapping, Vancouver, Canada.
13. Schmidt TT (2017) Identifying common structures of altered states experiences by meta-analysis of questionnaire data. 21st annual meeting of the Association for the Scientific Study of Consciousness (ASSC): Beijing, China.
12. McCormick Miller N, Schmidt TT, Blankenburg F, Pulvermüller F (2017) Language facilitates tactile discrimination. CNS: Cognitive Neuroscience Society, San Francisco, USA.
2016
11. Schmidt TT (2016): Phenomenoconnectomics. Neuroscience 2016 - SfN, San Diego, USA.
10. Schmidt TT, Blankenburg F (2016): The left premotor cortex is involved in the updating of pictorial and abstract working memory. OHBM: Organization of Human Brain Mapping, Genever, Swizerland.
9. Garita Figueiredo R, Berkemeyer H, Dworatzyk K, Schmidt TT (2016): Building a unifying database to enable flexible meta-analyses of data on altered states of consciousness. ICPR: Interdisciplinary Conference on Psychedelic Research, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
8. Jagannathan N, Räuker M, Vargas C, Schmidt TT (2016): Taxonomization of Experimental Induction Methods for Altered States of Consciousness. ICPR: Interdisciplinary Conference on Psychedelic Research, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
7. Velenosi LA*, Schmidt TT*, Blankenburg F (2016): Neural representations of spatial layout across mental transformation – a tactile fMRI study. CNS: Cognitive Neuroscience Society, New York, USA.
6. McCormick Miller T*, Schmidt TT*, Blankenburg F, Pulvermüller F (2016): Language facilitates tactile perception. CNS: Cognitive Neuroscience Society, New York, USA.
2015
5. Schmidt TT, Wu Y.H., Blankenburg F (2015): PFC maintains abstract quantitative but not spatial tactile stimulus features during working memory. OHBM: Organization for Human Brain Mapping, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
4. Schmidt TT, Wu Y.H., Blankenburg F (2015): The somatotopy of mental tactile images. BBD: Berlin Brain Days, and CNS: Cognitive Neuroscience Society, New York, USA.
2014
3. Rea E, Rummel J, Schmidt TT, Heinz A, Mathe AA, Winter C (2014): Deep brain stimulation of the prefrontal cortex decreases depression-like behavior in a genetic rat model of depression. SOBP
2. Schmidt TT, Ostwald D, Blankenburg F (2014): Imaging tactile imagery. OHBM: Organization for Human Brain Mapping, Seatle, USA.
2013
1. Schmidt TT, Klein J, Panagis G, Winter C (2013): The influence of Dopaminergic Dysregulations on Brain Stimulation Reward. SfN: Society for Neuroscience, Washington, USA.