Overview Research Education Contact
Before joining UT, I've worked at the Max-Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences (GER), the University of Saskatchewan (CAN), University College Dublin (IRE) as well as Trier University (GER), where I also got my PhD. Over the last years I've collaborated with researchers around the globe on a multitude of projects ranging from fundamental research on the neurophysiological underpinnings of cognitive control to investigating how motivation can shape performance and how games can shape motivation.
If you are interested in my research, a collaboration, a thesis project for your degree or an internship feel free to contact me. I accept external internships as well!
For a copy of my CV, please refer to: https://tinyurl.com/CV-Friehs (updated semi-regularly)
Expertise Psychology Response Inhibition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Gaming Stop-Signal Task Research Conversation False Memory Neuroscience Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Organisations In general, I am interested in changing behavior. I want to understand human behavior and experience in order to be able to enhance it in performance-critical situations.
Currently, two major research topics for me are:
Human-Mediated Reality-Interactions : How do certain aspects of virtual agents influence human experiences and behavior? Can we elicit ārealisticā behaviors and experiences in a game? What game-design features can be most motivating? How can we immerse people in a virtual environment best? For which goals is co-design in a mediated reality best suited?Shaping Cognitive Control : How can we optimize processing of and reaction to stimuli (e.g., warning signals)? What are the constraints in which lab research can be translated to the real world? Can we enhance performance reliably? What is the impact of altered neurophysiological states (e.g., via acute stress or non-invasive brain stimulation)?I'm open for research on other topics; don't hesitate to contact me. Similarly, if you'd like to collaborate: feel free to reach out!Ā
If you're a student: extracurricular projects and internships are possible.Ā
For an up-to-date look at my peer-reviewed research output please refer to GoogleScholar or ResearchGate .
Publications Jump to: 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021
Cognitive influences on biosecurity measure compliance during a global pandemic (2024) Frontiers in psychology, 15 . Article 1306015. Jara-Rizzo, M. F., Soria-Miranda, N., Friehs, M. A. , Leon-Rojas, J. E. & Rodas, J. A.https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1306015 Letās Talk Games: An Expert Exploration of Speech Interaction with NPCs (2024) International journal of human-computer interaction (E-pub ahead of print/First online). Zargham, N., Friehs, M. A. , Tonini, L., Alexandrovsky, D., Ruthven, E. G., Nacke, L. E. & Malaka, R.https://doi.org/10.1080/10447318.2024.2338666 Measuring the Reliability of a Gamified Stroop Task: Quantitative Experiment (2024) JMIR Serious Games, 12 (1). Article e50315. Wiley, K., Berger, P., Achim Friehs, M. & Lee Mandryk, R.https://doi.org/10.2196/50315 Fighting fair: community perspectives on the fairness of performance enhancement in esports (2024) Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 6 . Article 1330755. Friehs, M. A. , Klarkowski, M., Frommel, J., Phillips, C. & Mandryk, R. L.https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2024.1330755 A touching advantage: cross-modal stop-signals improve reactive response inhibition (2024) Experimental brain research, 242 (3), 599-618. Friehs, M. A. , Schmalbrock, P., Merz, S., Dechant, M., Hartwigsen, G. & Frings, C.https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-023-06767-7 Social VR design features and experiential outcomes: narrative review and relationship map for dyadic agent conversations (2024) Virtual reality, 28 (1). Article 45. Mulvaney, P., Rooney, B., Friehs, M. A. & Leader, J. F.https://doi.org/10.1007/s10055-024-00941-0 Us Versus Them: The Role of National Identity in the Formation of False Memories for Fake News (2024) Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, 30 (1), 33-47. Delaney, T., Castillo, L., Friehs, M. A. , Buttlar, B. & Greene, C. M.https://doi.org/10.1037/xap0000498 Anodal tDCS of the left inferior parietal cortex enhances memory for correct information without affecting recall of misinformation (2024) Memory (E-pub ahead of print/First online). Haciahmet, C. C., Friehs, M. A. , Frings, C. & Pastötter, B.https://doi.org/10.1080/09658211.2024.2316174 Effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation on reactive response inhibition (2024) Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 157 . Article 105532. He, Q., Geißler, C. F., Ferrante, M., Hartwigsen, G. & Friehs, M. A. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105532 No effects of 1Ā Hz offline TMS on performance in the stop-signal game (2023) Scientific reports, 13 (1). Article 11565. Friehs, M. A. , Siodmiak, J., Donzallaz, M. C., Matzke, D., Numssen, O., Frings, C. & Hartwigsen, G.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-38841-z You Got It in Your Hands: Stop-Signal Modality Influences on Reactive Response Inhibition with Gaming Controls (2023) International journal of human-computer interaction (E-pub ahead of print/First online). Markiewicz, N., Russa, M., Fokkens, A., Dechant, M. & Friehs, M. A. https://doi.org/10.1080/10447318.2023.2285624 From C-3PO to HAL: Opening The Discourse About The Dark Side of Multi-Modal Social Agents (2023) In CUI '23: Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Conversational User Interfaces . Article 62. Avanesi, V., Rockstroh, J., Mildner, T., Zargham, N., Reicherts, L., Friehs, M. , Kontogiorgos, D., Wenig, N. & Malaka, R. https://doi.org/10.1145/3571884.3597441 The Influence of Environmental Context on Social Anxiety in Virtual Scenes: A Pilot Study (2023) [Contribution to conference › Poster] 26th Annual CyberPsychology, CyberTherapy & Social Networking Conference, CYPSY 2023 . Mulvaney, P., Rooney, B. & Friehs, M. Us Versus Them: The Role of National Identity in the Formation of False Memories for Fake News (2023) Journal of Experimental Psychology (E-pub ahead of print/First online). Delaney, T., Castillo, L., Friehs, M. A. , Buttlar, B. & Greene, C.https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/t86n4 A proof-of-concept study exploring the effects of impulsivity on a gamified version of the stop-signal task in children (2023) Frontiers in psychology, 14 . Article 1068229. Gallagher, R., Kessler, K., Bramham, J., Dechant, M. & Friehs, M. A. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1068229 Home based remotely supervised tDCS in children with aquired brain injury: a feasibility study protocol (2023) [Contribution to conference › Poster] 5th Brain Stimulation Conference 2023 . Stein, A., Iyer, K. K., Dux, P. E., Friehs, M. , Riddle, J., Craven, M. P., Groom, M. J. & Barlow, K. M. Time-dependent effects of acute stress on working memory performance: A systematic review and hypothesis (2023) Psychoneuroendocrinology, 148 . Article 105998. Geißler, C. F., Friehs, M. A. , Frings, C. & Domes, G.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105998 Tasting inhibition: A proof-of-concept study of the food stop-signal game (2023) In Game-Based Learning in Education and Health Part B (pp. 57-80) (Progress in Brain Research; Vol. 279). Elsevier. Kirsten, H., Dechant, M., Gibbons, H. & Friehs, M. A. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.pbr.2022.12.002 The influence of tDCS on perceived bouncing/streaming (2023) Experimental brain research, 241 , 59-66. Friehs, M. A. , Stegemann, M. J., Merz, S., Geißler, C., Meyerhoff, H. S. & Frings, C.https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-022-06505-5 More than skin deep: about the influence of self-relevant avatars on inhibitory control (2022) Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications, 7 . Article 31. Friehs, M. A. , Dechant, M., Schäfer, S. & Mandryk, R. L.https://doi.org/10.1186/s41235-022-00384-8 Enhanced Esports: Community Perspectives on Performance Enhancers in Competitive Gaming (2022) ACM Proceedings on Human-Computer Interaction, 6 . Article 231. Friehs, M. A. , Klarkowski, M., Frommel, J., Phillips, C. & Mandryk, R. L.https://doi.org/10.1145/3549494 The (Gami)fictional Ego-Center: Projecting the Location of the Self Into an Avatar (2022) Frontiers in psychology, 13 . Article 918688. Friehs, M. A. , Schäfer, S. & Frings, C.https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.918688 Stimulating performance: A scoping review on transcranial electrical stimulation effects on olympic sports (2022) Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 59 . Article 102130. Friehs, M. A. , Whelan, E., Güldenpenning, I., Krause, D. & Weigelt, M.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2021.102130 Effects of single-session transcranial direct current stimulation on reactive response inhibition (2021) Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 128 , 749-765. Friehs, M. A. , Frings, C. & Hartwigsen, G.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.07.013 Transcranial direct current stimulation over the left anterior temporal lobe during memory retrieval differentially affects true and false recognition in the DRM task (2021) European journal of neuroscience, 54 (2), 4609-4620. Friehs, M. A. , Greene, C. & Pastötter, B.https://doi.org/10.1111/ejn.15337 Research profiles Affiliated study programs Courses academic year 2024/2025 Courses in the current academic year are added at the moment they are finalised in the Osiris system. Therefore it is possible that the list is not yet complete for the whole academic year.
Courses academic year 2023/2024 Courses academic year 2022/2023