Jun. Prof. Dr. Esther Diekhof

Psychoneuroendocrinology, Decision Neuroscience, Reinforcement Learning

• Computer-based behavioral experiments  (Behavioral biological testlaboratory at Biozentrum Grindel)
• Psychophysiological meassurements (Electroencephalography (EEG), Testing of skin conductivity,  Eye Tracking) (Behavioral biological testlaboratory at Biozentrum Grindel)
• Brain imaging studies with  “funktional magnetic resonance imaging” ( fMRT) in cooperation with the Institut für Systemische Neurowissenschaften at UKE ( Prof. Christian Büchel)
• Determination of hormone concentration in saliva with immuno-assays
• Anthropometric meassurements

2022

• Keller JK, Wülfing C, Wahl J, Diekhof, EK (2022). Disease-related disgust promotes antibody release in human saliva. Brain Behav. Immun. - Health 24, 100489.
• Kohne S, Diekhof EK (2021). Testosterone and estradiol affect adolescent reinforcement learning. PeerJ, Vol. 38, 10: e12653.

2021

• Kohne S, Reimers L, Müller M, Diekhof EK (2021). Daytime and season do not affect reinforcement learning capacity in a response time adjustment task. Chronobiology International, Vol. 38, No. 12: 1738-1744.
• Diekhof EK, Geana A, Ohm F, Doll BB, Frank MJ (2021). The Straw That Broke the Camel's Back: Natural Variations in 17β-Estradiol and COMT-Val158Met Genotype Interact in the Modulation of Model-Free and Model-Based Control. Frontiers of Behavioral Neuroscience,  8;15:658769. Part of Research Topic ""Sex Hormone Fluctuations Across the Female Lifespan: Mechanisms of Action on Brain Structure, Function, and Behavior"
• Diekhof EK, Richter A, Brodmann K, Gruber O (2021). Dopamine multilocus genetic profiles predict sex differences in reactivity of the human reward system. Brain Structure and Function, 226: 1099–1114.

2020

• Holtfrerich SKC, Knipper S, Purwins J, Castens J, Beyer B, Schlomm T, Diekhof EK (2020). The impact of long-term androgen deprivation therapy on cognitive function and socioeconomic decision making in prostate cancer patients. Psycho-Oncology, 29 (8): 1338-1346.
• Diekhof EK, Korf S, Ott F, Schädlich C, Holtfrerich SKC (2020). Avoidance Learning Across the Menstrual Cycle: A Conceptual Replication. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 11: 231. Part of the Research Topic “Recent Progress and Perspectives in Neurosteroid Research”

2019

• Reimers L, Kappo E, Stadler L, Yaqubi M, Diekhof EK (2019). Endogenous testosterone correlates with parochial altruism in relation to costly punishment in different social settings. PeerJ 7:e7537https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.7537
• Richter A, Krämer B, Diekhof EK, Gruber O (2019). Resilience to adversity is associated with increased activity and connectivity in the VTA and hippocampus. NeuroImage. Vol. 23
• Schwarz KA, Sprenger C, Hidalgo P, Pfister R, Diekhof EK, Büchel C (2019). How Stereotypes Affect Pain. Scientific Reports 9, Article number: 8626
• Diekhof EK, Reimers L, Holtfrerich SKC (2019). Hormonal Modulation of Reinforcement Learning and Reward-Related Processes – A Role for 17ß-Estradiol, Progesterone and Testosterone, in: Schultheiss, O., Mehta, P. (Eds.), Routledge International Handbook of Social Neuroendocrinology. Routledge, London and New York, 420–441.

2018

• Sommer T, Richter K, Singer F, Derntl B, Rune GM, Diekhof EK, Bayer, J (2018). Effects of the experimental administration of oral estrogen on prefrontal functions in healthy young women. Psychopharmacology. Oct. 2018: 1-13.
• Holtfrerich SKC, Pfister R, El Gammal AT, Bellon E, Diekhof EK (2018). Endogenous testosterone and exogenous oxytocin influence the response to baby schema in the female brain. Scientific Reports. 8:7672, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-26020-4
  
• Diekhof EK, Reimers L, Holtfrerich SKC, n.d. Hormonal Modulation of Reinforcement Learning and Reward-Related Processes – A Role for 17ß-Estradiol, Progesterone and Testosterone. in: Schultheiss O, Mehta P (Eds.), Routledge International Handbook of Social Neuroendocrinology. 
• Diekhof EK (2018).Estradiol and the reward system in humans. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, 23: 58-64. Part of the Research Topic “Gender Differences in the Brain”
• Jakob K, Ehrentreich H, Holtfrerich SKC, Reimers L, Diekhof EK (2018). DAT1-Genotype and Menstrual Cycle, but Not Hormonal Contraception, Modulate Reinforcement Learning: Preliminary Evidence. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 9: 60. Part of the Research Topic “Steroids and the Brain”

2017

• Diekhof EK, Kraft S (2017). The association between endogenous testosterone level and behavioral flexibility in young men - Evidence from stimulus-outcome reversal learning. Hormones and Behavior. 89: 193-200. 
• Reimers L, Büchel C, Diekhof EK (2017). Neural substrates of male parochial altruism are modulated by testosterone and behavioral strategy. NeuroImage. 156: 265-276

2016

• Diekhof EK, Ratnayake M (2016). Menstrual cycle phase modulates reward sensitivity and performance monitoring in young women: Preliminary fMRI evidence. Neuropsychologia. 84:70-80. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2015.10.016. Epub 2015 Oct 22.
• Holtfrerich SK, Schwarz KA , Sprenger C , Reimers L , Diekhof EK (2016). Endogenous Testosterone and Exogenous Oxytocin Modulate Attention Processing of Infant Faces. PLoS One. 2016 Nov 18;11(11):e0166617.  eCollection 2016.
• Trost S, Diekhof EK, Mohr H, Vieker H, Krämer B, Wolf C, Keil M, Dechent P, Binder EB, Gruber O. (2016). Investigating the Impact of a Genome-Wide Supported Bipolar Risk Variant of MAD1L1 on the Human Reward System. Neuropsychopharmacology.  [Epub ahead of print]
• Zilles D, Lewandowski M, Vieker H, Henseler I, Diekhof E, Melcher T, Keil M, Gruber O (2016). Gender Differences in Verbal and Visuospatial Working Memory Performance and Networks. Neuropsychobiology. 73: 52-63. Epub 2016 Feb 10. 

2015

• Diekhof EK (2015). Be quick about it. Endogenous estradiol level, menstrual cycle phase and trait impulsiveness predict impulsive choice in the context of reward acquisition. Hormones and Behavior, 74: 186-93
• Reimers L, Diekhof EK (2015). Testosterone is associated with cooperation during intergroup competition by enhancing parochial altruism. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 9: 183  Free PMC Article
• Chahine G, Diekhof EK, Tinnermann A, Gruber O. (2015). On the role of the anterior prefrontal cortex in cognitive 'branching': An fMRI study. Neuropsychologia, 77: 421-9
• Wolf C, Mohr H, Diekhof EK, Vieker H, Goya-Maldonado R, Trost S, Krämer B, Keil M, Binder EB, Gruber O. (2015). CREB1 Genotype Modulates Adaptive Reward-Based Decisions in Humans. Cerebral Cortex, pii: bhv104. [Epub ahead of print]
• Richter A, Petrovic A, Diekhof EK, TroHyst S, Wolter S, Gruber O. (2015). Hyperresponsivity and impaired prefrontal control of the mesolimbic reward system in schizophrenia. Journal of Psychiatry Research, 71: 8-15
• Goya-Maldonado R, Weber K, Trost S, Diekhof E, Keil M, Dechent P, Gruber O. (2015). Dissociating pathomechanisms of depression with fMRI: bottom-up or top-down dysfuntions of the reward system. European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, 265(1):57-66  

2014

• Diekhof EK, Wittmer S, Reimers L (2014). Does competition really bring out the worst? Testosterone, social distance and inter-male competition shape parochial altruism in human males. PLoS ONE, 9: e98977
• Reimers L, Büchel C, Diekhof EK (2014). How to be patient. The ability to wait for a reward depends on menstrual cycle phase and feedback-related activity. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 8: 401
• Diekhof EK, Gruber O (2014). Untersuchung funktioneller und effektiver Konnektivität mit fMRT. In: Gruber, O., Falkai, P. (Eds.): Systemische Neurowissenschaften in der Psychiatrie, Kohlhammer-Verlag
• Trost S, Diekhof EK, Zvonik K, Lewandowski M, Usher J, Keil M, Zilles D, Falkai P, Dechent P, Gruber O (2014). Disturbed anterior prefrontal control of the dopaminergic reward system and increased impulsivity in bipolar disorder. Neuropsychopharmacology, 39: 1914-1923

2012

• Diekhof EK, Keil M, Obst KU, Henseler I, Dechent P, Falkai P, Gruber O (2012). A functional neuroimaging study assessing gender differences in the neural mechanisms underlying the ability to resist impulsive desires. Brain Research, 1473: 63 -77
• Diekhof EK, Nerenberg L, Falkai P, Dechent P, Baudewig J, Gruber O (2012). Impulsive personality and the ability to resist immediate reward: An fMRI study examining interindividual differences in the neural mechanisms underlying self-control. Human Brain Mapping, 33: 2768-2784
• Diekhof EK, Kaps L, Falkai P, Gruber O (2012). The role of the human ventral striatum and the medial orbitofrontal cortex in the representation of reward magnitude - An activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis of neuroimaging studies of passive reward expectancy and outcome processing. Neuropsychologia, 50(7):1252-66

 2011

• Diekhof EK, Kipshagen HE, Falkai P, Dechent P, Baudewig J, Gruber O (2011). The power of imagination--how anticipatory mental imagery alters perceptual processing of fearful facial expressions. Neuroimage, 54(2): 1703-14
• Diekhof EK, Geier K, Falkai P, Gruber O (2011). Fear is only as deep as the mind allows: a coordinate-based meta-analysis of neuroimaging studies on the regulation of negative affect. Neuroimage, 58(1): 275-85
• Diekhof EK, Falkai P, Gruber O (2011). The orbitofrontal cortex and its role in the assignment of behavioural significance. Neuropsychologia, 49(5): 984-91

2010

• Diekhof EK, Gruber O (2010). When desire collides with reason: functional interactions between anteroventral prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens underlie the human ability to resist impulsive desires. Journal of Neuroscience, 30(4): 1488-1493
• Gruber O, Diekhof EK, Kirchenbauer L, Goschke T (2010). A neural system for evaluating the behavioural relevance of salient events outside the current focus of attention. Brain Research 10, 1351:212-21 

2009

• Diekhof EK, Falkai P, Gruber O (2009). Functional interactions guiding adaptive processing of behavioral significance. Human Brain Mapping, 30 (10): 3325-3331
• Diekhof EK, Biedermann F, Ruebsamen R, Gruber O (2009). Top-down and bottom-up modulation of brain structures involved in auditory discrimination. Brain Research, 1297: 118-123
• Gruber O, Melcher T, Diekhof EK, Karch S, Falkai P, Goschke T (2009). Brain mechanisms associated with background monitoring of the environment for potentially significant sensory events. Brain and Cognition, 69: 559-64

2008

• Diekhof EK, Falkai P, Gruber O (2008). Functional neuroimaging of reward processing and decision-making: A review of aberrant motivational and affective processing in addiction and mood disorders. Brain Research Reviews, 59: 164-184
• Diekhof EK, Gruber O (2008). [Functional organisation of frontal cortex. Part 1: Elementary findings in systemic neuroscience]. Fortschritte der Neurologie Psychiatrie, 76(1):49-57
• Gruber O, Diekhof EK, Falkai P (2008). [Functional organisation of frontal cortex]. Fortschitte der Neurologie Psychiatrie, 76(3):174-80

2011

• Diekhof EK. Trait impulsivity and interindividual differences in the neural mechanisms underlying self-control. Vortrag auf dem 17. Kongress der Organization for Human Brain Mapping in Québec/ Kanada.

2010

• Diekhof EK. The power of imagination. How mental imagery alters perception of fearful faces. Vortrag auf dem 16. Kongress der Organization for Human Brain Mapping in Barcelona/ Spanien.

2011

• Trainee Abstract Award from the Organization for Human Brain Mapping (17th Annual Meeting of the Organization for Human Brain Mapping in Québec, Kanada)

• Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) - Scholarship, (Kongressreise “17th Annual Meeting of the Organization for Human Brain Mapping” in Québec, Kanada)

2009

• Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) - Scholarship,  (Kongressreise “15th Annual Meeting of the Organization for Human Brain Mapping" in San Francisco, CA, USA)

2006

• Trainee Abstract Award from the Organization for Human Brain Mapping (12th Annual Meeting of the Organization for Human Brain Mapping in Florenz, Italien)

• Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) - Scholarship, (Kongressreise “12th Annual Meeting of the Organization for Human Brain Mapping” in Florenz, Italien)

2005

• Trainee Abstract Award from the Organization for Human Brain Mapping (11th Annual Meeting of the Organization for Human Brain Mapping in Toronto, Kanada)