@article{BeurskensSteinbergAntoniewiczetal.2016, author = {Beurskens, Rainer and Steinberg, Fabian and Antoniewicz, Franziska and Wolff, Wanja and Granacher, Urs}, title = {Neural Correlates of Dual-Task Walking}, series = {Neural plasticity}, volume = {2016}, journal = {Neural plasticity}, publisher = {Hindawi}, address = {New York}, doi = {10.1155/2016/8032180}, pages = {1 -- 9}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Walking while concurrently performing cognitive and/or motor interference tasks is the norm rather than the exception during everyday life and there is evidence from behavioral studies that it negatively affects human locomotion. However, there is hardly any information available regarding the underlying neural correlates of single- and dual-task walking. We had 12 young adults (23.8 ± 2.8 years) walk while concurrently performing a cognitive interference (CI) or a motor interference (MI) task. Simultaneously, neural activation in frontal, central, and parietal brain areas was registered using a mobile EEG system. Results showed that the MI task but not the CI task affected walking performance in terms of significantly decreased gait velocity and stride length and significantly increased stride time and tempo-spatial variability. Average activity in alpha and beta frequencies was significantly modulated during both CI and MI walking conditions in frontal and central brain regions, indicating an increased cognitive load during dual-task walking. Our results suggest that impaired motor performance during dual-task walking is mirrored in neural activation patterns of the brain. This finding is in line with established cognitive theories arguing that dual-task situations overstrain cognitive capabilities resulting in motor performance decrements.}, language = {en} } @article{BeurskensSteinbergAntoniewiczetal.2016, author = {Beurskens, Rainer and Steinberg, Fabian and Antoniewicz, Franziska and Wolff, Wanja and Granacher, Urs}, title = {Neural Correlates of Dual-Task Walking: Effects of Cognitive versus Motor Interference in Young Adults}, series = {Neural plasticity}, journal = {Neural plasticity}, publisher = {Hindawi}, address = {London}, issn = {2090-5904}, doi = {10.1155/2016/8032180}, pages = {9}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Walking while concurrently performing cognitive and/or motor interference tasks is the norm rather than the exception during everyday life and there is evidence from behavioral studies that it negatively affects human locomotion. However, there is hardly any information available regarding the underlying neural correlates of single-and dual-task walking. We had 12 young adults (23.8 +/- 2.8 years) walk while concurrently performing a cognitive interference (CI) or a motor interference (MI) task. Simultaneously, neural activation in frontal, central, and parietal brain areas was registered using a mobile EEG system. Results showed that the MI task but not the CI task affected walking performance in terms of significantly decreased gait velocity and stride length and significantly increased stride time and tempo-spatial variability. Average activity in alpha and beta frequencies was significantly modulated during both CI and MI walking conditions in frontal and central brain regions, indicating an increased cognitive load during dual-task walking. Our results suggest that impaired motor performance during dual-task walking is mirrored in neural activation patterns of the brain. This finding is in line with established cognitive theories arguing that dual-task situations overstrain cognitive capabilities resulting in motor performance decrements.}, language = {en} } @article{BrandWolffHoyer2013, author = {Brand, Ralf and Wolff, Wanja and Hoyer, J{\"u}rgen}, title = {Psychological Symptoms and Chronic Mood in Representative Samples of Elite Student-Athletes, Deselected Student-Athletes and Comparison Students}, series = {School mental health : a multidisciplinary research and practice journal}, volume = {5}, journal = {School mental health : a multidisciplinary research and practice journal}, number = {3}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {New York}, issn = {1866-2625}, doi = {10.1007/s12310-012-9095-8}, pages = {166 -- 174}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Stress-levels experienced by school-aged elite athletes are pronounced, but data on their mental health status are widely lacking. In our study, we examined self-reported psychological symptoms and chronic mood. Data from a representative sample of 866 elite student-athletes (aged 12-15 years), enrolled in high-performance sport programming in German Elite Schools of Sport, were compared with data from 80 student-athletes from the same schools who have just been deselected from elite sport promotion, and from 432 age-and sex-matched non-sport students from regular schools (without such programming). Anxiety symptoms were least prevalent in female elite student-athletes. In male elite student-athletes, only symptoms of posttraumatic stress were less prevalent than in the other groups. Somatoform symptoms were generally more frequent in athletes, a trend that was significantly pronounced in deselected athletes. Deselected athletes showed an increased risk for psychological symptoms compared with both other groups. Regarding chronic mood, again deselected athletes showed less positive scores. While there was a trend toward high-performance sport being associated with better psychological health at least in girls, preventative programs should take into account that deselection from elite sport programming may be associated with specific risks for mental disorders.}, language = {en} } @article{BrandWolffThieme2014, author = {Brand, Ralf and Wolff, Wanja and Thieme, Detlef}, title = {brief implicit attitude test identifies substance abuse in bodybuilders}, series = {Substance abuse treatment, prevention, and policy}, volume = {9}, journal = {Substance abuse treatment, prevention, and policy}, publisher = {BioMed Central}, address = {London}, issn = {1747-597X}, doi = {10.1186/1747-597X-9-36}, pages = {10}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Methods: We approached a group of 61 male competitive bodybuilders and collected urine samples for biochemical testing. The pictorial doping Brief Implicit Association Test (BIAT) was used for attitude measurement. This test quantifies the difference in response latencies (in milliseconds) to stimuli representing related concepts (i.e. doping-dislike/like-[health food]).}, language = {en} } @article{BrandWolffZiegler2016, author = {Brand, Ralf and Wolff, Wanja and Ziegler, Matthias}, title = {Drugs As Instruments: Describing and Testing a Behavioral Approach to the Study of Neuroenhancement}, series = {Frontiers in psychology}, volume = {7}, journal = {Frontiers in psychology}, publisher = {Frontiers Research Foundation}, address = {Lausanne}, issn = {1664-1078}, doi = {10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01226}, pages = {11}, year = {2016}, language = {en} } @article{EnglertWolff2015, author = {Englert, Chris and Wolff, Wanja}, title = {Neuroenhancement and the strength model of self-control}, series = {Frontiers in psychology}, volume = {6}, journal = {Frontiers in psychology}, publisher = {Frontiers Research Foundation}, address = {Lausanne}, issn = {1664-1078}, doi = {10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01425}, pages = {4}, year = {2015}, abstract = {Neuroenhancement (NE), the use of substances as a means to enhance performance, has garnered considerable scientific attention of late. While ethical and epidemiological publications on the topic accumulate, there is a lack of theory-driven psychological research that aims at understanding psychological drivers of NE. In this perspective article we argue that self-control strength offers a promising theory-based approach to further understand and investigate NE behavior. Using the strength model of self-control, we derive two theory-driven perspectives on NE-self-control research. First, we propose that individual differences in state/trait self-control strength differentially affect NE behavior based on one's individual experience of NE use. Building upon this, we outline promising research questions that (will) further elucidate our understanding of NE based on the strength model's propositions. Second, we discuss evidence indicating that popular NE substances (like Methylphenidate) may counteract imminent losses of self-control strength. We outline how further research on NE's effects on the ego-depletion effect may further broaden our understanding of the strength model of self-control.}, language = {en} } @article{EnglertWolff2015, author = {Englert, Chris and Wolff, Wanja}, title = {Ego depletion and persistent performance in a cycling task}, series = {International journal of sport and exercise psychology}, volume = {46}, journal = {International journal of sport and exercise psychology}, number = {2}, publisher = {Pozzi}, address = {Roma}, issn = {0047-0767}, doi = {10.7352/IJSP2015.46.137}, pages = {137 -- 151}, year = {2015}, abstract = {We tested the assumption that persistent performance in an exhausting indoor cycling task would depend on momentarily available self-control strength (N = 20 active participants). In a within-subjects design (two points of measurement, exactly seven days apart), participants' self-control strength was experimentally manipulated (depletion: yes vs. no; order counterbalanced) via the Stroop test before the participants performed a cycling task. In line with our hypothesis, hierarchical linear modelling (HLM) revealed that participants consistently performed worse over a period of 18 minutes when they were ego depleted. In addition, HLM analysis revealed that depleted participants invested less effort in the cycling task, as indicated by their lower heart rate. This effect escalated over time, as indicated by a time x condition interaction. These results indicate that self-control strength is necessary to obtain an optimal level of performance in endurance tasks requiring high levels of persistence. Practical implications are discussed.}, language = {en} } @article{SchindlerWolffKissleretal.2015, author = {Schindler, Sebastian and Wolff, Wanja and Kissler, Johanna M. and Brand, Ralf}, title = {Cerebral correlates of faking}, series = {Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience}, volume = {9}, journal = {Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience}, publisher = {Frontiers Research Foundation}, address = {Lausanne}, issn = {1662-5153}, doi = {10.3389/fnbeh.2015.00139}, pages = {1 -- 13}, year = {2015}, abstract = {Direct assessment of attitudes toward socially sensitive topics can be affected by deception attempts. Reaction-time based indirect measures, such as the Implicit Association Test (IAT), are less susceptible to such biases. Neuroscientific evidence shows that deception can evoke characteristic ERP differences. However, the cerebral processes involved in faking an IAT are still unknown. We randomly assigned 20 university students (15 females, 24.65 +/- 3.50 years of age) to a counterbalanced repeated-measurements design, requesting them to complete a Brief-IAT (BIAT) on attitudes toward doping without deception instruction, and with the instruction to fake positive and negative doping attitudes. Cerebral activity during BIAT completion was assessed using high-density EEG. Event-related potentials during faking revealed enhanced frontal and reduced occipital negativity, starting around 150 ms after stimulus presentation. Further, a decrease in the P300 and LPP components was observed. Source analyses showed enhanced activity in the right inferior frontal gyrus between 150 and 200 ms during faking, thought to reflect the suppression of automatic responses. Further, more activity was found for faking in the bilateral middle occipital gyri and the bilateral temporoparietal junction. Results indicate that faking reaction-time based tests alter brain processes from early stages of processing and reveal the cortical sources of the effects. Analyzing the EEG helps to uncover response patterns in indirect attitude tests and broadens our understanding of the neural processes involved in such faking. This knowledge might be useful for uncovering faking in socially sensitive contexts, where attitudes are likely to be concealed.}, language = {en} } @article{TimmeWolffEnglertetal.2022, author = {Timme, Sinika and Wolff, Wanja and Englert, Chris and Brand, Ralf}, title = {Tracking Self-Control - Task Performance and Pupil Size in a Go/No-Go Inhibition Task}, series = {Frontiers in Psychology}, volume = {13}, journal = {Frontiers in Psychology}, publisher = {Frontiers}, address = {Lausanne, Schweiz}, issn = {1664-1078}, doi = {10.3389/fpsyg.2022.915016}, pages = {11}, year = {2022}, abstract = {There is an ongoing debate about how to test and operationalize self-control. This limited understanding is in large part due to a variety of different tests and measures used to assess self-control, as well as the lack of empirical studies examining the temporal dynamics during the exertion of self-control. In order to track changes that occur over the course of exposure to a self-control task, we investigate and compare behavioral, subjective, and physiological indicators during the exertion of self-control. Participants completed both a task requiring inhibitory control (Go/No-Go task) and a control task (two-choice task). Behavioral performance and pupil size were measured during the tasks. Subjective vitality was measured before and after the tasks. While pupil size and subjective vitality showed similar trajectories in the two tasks, behavioral performance decreased in the inhibitory control-demanding task, but not in the control task. However, behavioral, subjective, and physiological measures were not significantly correlated. These results suggest that there is a disconnect between different measures of self-control with high intra- and interindividual variability. Theoretical and methodological implications for self-control theory and future empirical work are discussed.}, language = {en} } @article{WolffBaumgartenBrand2013, author = {Wolff, Wanja and Baumgarten, Franz and Brand, Ralf}, title = {Reduced self-control leads to disregard of an unfamiliar behavioral option: an experimental approach to the study of neuroenhancement}, doi = {10.1186/1747-597X-8-41}, year = {2013}, language = {en} }