University of Twente
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dr. M.A. Friehs (Max)

Assistant Professor

About Me

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)

Organisations

Research

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:

  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.

Publications

Recent
Markiewicz, N., Russa, M., Fokkens, A., Dechant, M. , & Friehs, M. A. (2023). You Got It in Your Hands: Stop-Signal Modality Influences on Reactive Response Inhibition with Gaming Controls. International journal of human-computer interaction. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/10447318.2023.2285624
Stein, A., Iyer, K. K., Dux, P. E. , Friehs, M., Riddle, J., Craven, M. P., Groom, M. J., & Barlow, K. M. (2023). Home based remotely supervised tDCS in children with aquired brain injury: a feasibility study protocol. Poster session presented at 5th Brain Stimulation Conference 2023, Lisbon, Portugal.
Mulvaney, P., Rooney, B. , & Friehs, M. (2023). The Influence of Environmental Context on Social Anxiety in Virtual Scenes: A Pilot Study. Poster session presented at 26th Annual CyberPsychology, CyberTherapy & Social Networking Conference, CYPSY 2023, Paris, France.
Avanesi, V., Rockstroh, J., Mildner, T., Zargham, N., Reicherts, L. , Friehs, M., Kontogiorgos, D., Wenig, N., & Malaka, R. (2023). From C-3PO to HAL: Opening The Discourse About The Dark Side of Multi-Modal Social Agents. In CUI '23: Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Conversational User Interfaces Article 62 https://doi.org/10.1145/3571884.3597441
Kirsten, H., Dechant, M., Gibbons, H. , & Friehs, M. A. (2023). Tasting inhibition: A proof-of-concept study of the food stop-signal game. In F. H. Santos (Ed.), Game-Based Learning in Education and Health Part B (pp. 57-80). (Progress in Brain Research; Vol. 279). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.pbr.2022.12.002
Friehs, M. A., Siodmiak, J., Donzallaz, M. C., Matzke, D., Numssen, O., Frings, C., & Hartwigsen, G. (2023). No effects of 1 Hz offline TMS on performance in the stop-signal game. Scientific reports, 13(1), Article 11565. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-38841-z
Delaney, T., Castillo, L. , Friehs, M. A., Buttlar, B., & Greene, C. (2023). Us Versus Them: The Role of National Identity in the Formation of False Memories for Fake News. Journal of Experimental Psychology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/t86n4
Friehs, M. A., Stegemann, M. J., Merz, S., Geißler, C., Meyerhoff, H. S., & Frings, C. (2023). The influence of tDCS on perceived bouncing/streaming. Experimental brain research, 241, 59-66. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-022-06505-5
Friehs, M. A., Klarkowski, M., Frommel, J., Phillips, C., & Mandryk, R. L. (2022). Enhanced Esports: Community Perspectives on Performance Enhancers in Competitive Gaming. Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, 6, Article 231. https://doi.org/10.1145/3549494
Friehs, M. A., Whelan, E., Güldenpenning, I., Krause, D., & Weigelt, M. (2022). Stimulating performance: A scoping review on transcranial electrical stimulation effects on olympic sports. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 59, Article 102130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2021.102130
Friehs, M. A., Dechant, M., Schäfer, S., & Mandryk, R. L. (2022). More than skin deep: about the influence of self-relevant avatars on inhibitory control. Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications, 7, Article 31. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41235-022-00384-8
Alexandrovsky, D. , Friehs, M. A., Grittner, J., Putze, S., Birk, M. V., Malaka, R., & Mandryk, R. L. (2021). Serious snacking: A survival analysis of how snacking mechanics afect atrition in a mobile serious game. In CHI 2021 - Proceedings of the 2021 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems: Making Waves, Combining Strengths Article 113 Association for Computing Machinery. https://doi.org/10.1145/3411764.3445689
Friehs, M. A., Dechant, M., Vedress, S., Frings, C., & Mandryk, R. L. (2021). Shocking advantage! Improving digital game performance using non-invasive brain stimulation. International journal of human-computer studies, 148, Article 102582. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhcs.2020.102582
Friehs, M. A., Güldenpenning, I., Frings, C., & Weigelt, M. (2020). Electrify your Game! Anodal tDCS Increases the Resistance to Head Fakes in Basketball. Journal of Cognitive Enhancement, 4, 62-70. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41465-019-00133-8
Frings, C., Domes, G. , Friehs, M. A., Geißler, C., & Schneider, K. (2020). Food for Your Mind? The Effect of Tyrosine on Selective Attention. Journal of Cognitive Enhancement, 4, 285-295. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41465-019-00146-3
Friehs, M. A., Dechant, M., Vedress, S., Frings, C., & Mandryk, R. L. (2020). Effective Gamification of the Stop-Signal Task: Two Controlled Laboratory Experiments. JMIR Serious Games, 8(3), Article e17810. https://doi.org/10.2196/17810
Friehs, M. A., Klaus, J., Singh, T., Frings, C., & Hartwigsen, G. (2020). Perturbation of the right prefrontal cortex disrupts interference control. NeuroImage, 222, Article 117279. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117279

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Affiliated Study Programmes

Bachelor

Master

Courses Academic Year  2023/2024

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  2022/2023

Contact Details

+31534893260  (secretary)
 
 

Visiting Address

University of Twente
Faculty of Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Cubicus (building no. 41), room C235
De Zul 10
7522NJ  Enschede
The Netherlands

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Mailing Address

University of Twente
Faculty of Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Cubicus  C235
P.O. Box 217
7500 AE Enschede
The Netherlands

Organisations

University of Twente Drienerlolaan 5
7522 NB Enschede
+31 (0)53 489 9111
info@utwente.nl
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