dr. M.A. Friehs (Max)

Background

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. Now I am also part of the Sector Plan Team Societal Transitions and Behaviour Change (my profile). 

Collaboration Possibilities

My work bridges psychology, neuroscience, and human-computer interaction, enabling collaborations across these domains and beyond (e.g., with video game developers, applied research institutions or public services). In the past I have worked in multiple counties and gained ample experience in the integration of various viewpoints and experts into a project. I believe that for true change to occur – be it on the individual level or larger scale societal change – more than just one perspective is needed and there is no one-size-fits-all recipe for behaviour change.

If you are interested in my research, a collaboration, a thesis project for your degree or an internship feel free to contact me. You can find my publications via GoogleScholar

For Students

I accept internal as well as external internships and thesis students! For a small student club I run please refer to: The Research Enthusiasts Club

Expertise

• Psychology

  • Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
  • Gaming
  • Response Inhibition
  • Brain Injury
  • Stop-Signal Task
  • Research
  • Conversation

• Neuroscience

  • Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Organisations

MY REsearch interest

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 and understand where the boundaries are. In the past my work was funded by several national funding agencies and university-internal grants. 

Currently, two major research topics for me are:

1. Human-Mediated Reality-Interactions: How do certain aspects of virtual agents influence human experiences and behavior? Can we elicit “realistic” 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?
2. 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! If you're a student: extracurricular projects and internships are possible. 

For an up-to-date look at my peer-reviewed research output please refer to GoogleScholar or ResearchGate. You can also check out my profile on the Sector Plan homepage of the Societal Transition and Behaviour Change group. 

You can also find some research projects linked here on Avatar Perception & Interaction, Emergency Escape, Video Game Performance & Experience, Safe & Pleasant Parks as well as Cognitive Warfare. Please note that these websites are updated semi-regularly and depending on when you check may be outdated. There are also many "uncatalogued" projects that do nto have their own website. In case a publication or past project sparks your interest or you think I could contribute to your ongoing project I'm always open to other work as well so just take a look at my previous work and reach out :) 

My Approach to Research 

I believe we can’t understand the behaviour of an individual or the behaviour within a society without tackling the problem from both ends: we need to understand the fundamentals that influence human actions as well as the broader context and the real-life situations in which they occur. In this increasingly interconnected and fast-changing world, researchers need to strive for interdisciplinary solutions. One of the most challenging aspects of this is maybe what you could call a "puzzling-perspectives-problem". More often than not a certain societal or behavioral problem or any investigation into human experience has been undertaken in multiple disciplines. Different disciplines look at the same subject matter through different lenses, potentially even coming to similar solutions, but rarely are those perspectives integrated. For example, in my research on self-presentation in online spaces theories from human-computer interaction and cognitive psychology needed to be combined with evidence from neuroscience and discussions in the philosophical literature.

I strongly consider mixed-method designs, combining both qualitative as well as quantitative data, to be the most effective in gaining the largest insights into the effects under investigation. I strive for effective pre-planning of studies whenever possible and clear experimental design. One of my core beliefs is that students, although usually not considered academic staff, are a core part of research: not only because they are involved in it throughout their stay at university but because they grow up to be members of society. In today’s society in general and even in the universities people are bad at judging the soundness of academic literature and have difficulties understanding the publication process. To the outside observer all journals and all papers may seem alike, but what differentiates good and bad research? How does peer-review help self-regulate the scientific community and act as a quality control process? This also leads to an increase in scepticism in science and a devaluation of fundamental research. During their studies, many students feel overwhelmed or intimidated by the prospect of independent research. I want to empower the next generation of scientific thinkers and involve them wherever possible.

Publications

Research profiles

My View On Teaching

Ever since I was a student in secondary school, I was keenly aware of how much influence a teacher can have. Back in the day, to prove my point, I wrote my Bachelor Thesis on the influence of teachers on the subject choice in secondary school. Although this a long time ago, my opinion has not changed: Although teachers are not solely responsible for learning outcomes, they can have a big impact on the learning outcomes.

In my teaching I try to follow four basic principles: (1) Curiosity: Allow yourself to be curious and to share your passion, (2) Safety: Foster an environment in which students feel secure and where they can be open with each other, as well as their teacher, about their ideas, (3) Balance: No teaching or research occurs in a vacuum. Ideally, each theoretical session is accompanied by a practical exercise that lets students see how this knowledge can be applied to the real world and (4) Authenticity: involving students in real research projects and potentially co-authoring publications with them.

Information For students

For UT-internal students: Please contact me through the normal means in case you want to write your thesis project with me or work on an internship project (also extracurricularly).  

For UT-external students: I accept external and international internships and thesis students (as second supervisor) as well. Across all fields of study; not only from psychology. 

In case you are interested in research; I run a small student club: The Research Enthusiasts Club. 

Affiliated study programs

Courses academic year 2025/2026

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 2024/2025

Address

University of Twente

Capitool 15 (building no. 78), room 120
Capitool 15
7521 PL Enschede
Netherlands

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University of Twente

Cubicus (building no. 41), room C235
De Zul 10
7522 NJ Enschede
Netherlands

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Organisations