Abteilung Psychologie

Strictly speaking, movement provides the only means by which we can physically interact with the world. Consequently, the motor system is vital to the understanding of basic processes underlying any kind of (inter-) action with the sensory environment. The fact that there are many ways in which we can perform a movement in order to achieve the same goal (e.g., to open a door we can use our dominant or non-dominant hand, or even other body parts such as our knees, feet, etc.) poses a computational challenge to the central nervous system. Yet, we select, perform, and adapt these actions smoothly, accurately, and seemingly without spending too much thought on it. My research seeks to elucidate the cognitive and neurophysiological underpinnings of how our brain decides between and plans different movement alternatives, and how other factors can influence these sensorimotor decisions.