Project Details
Projekt
Effects of social observation on placebo and nocebo responses in a rat model of depression (A09)
Subject Area
Biological Psychiatry
Term
since 2020
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 422744262
Project A09 will extend their balanced placebo design to investigate the modulatory role of social factors in the impact of positive or negative treatment experiences on future treatment outcomes under pharmacological antidepressant treatment, by using ultrasonic vocalization as a social signal. A novel experimental approach will enable the investigation of real-life social activities and socio-affective information transfer in freely interacting rats. The selective deactivation of brain regions at predefined time points will allow the underlying neural circuitry and temporal dynamics of placebo vs. nocebo effects to be elucidated.
DFG Programme
CRC/Transregios
Applicant Institution
Universität Duisburg-Essen
Project Heads
Professor Dr. Rainer K.W. Schwarting, until 6/2024; Professor Dr. Markus Wöhr
