Neurosciences (MSc/PhD/MD-PhD)

Anna Ryschka

EDUCATION

College / University

Albert-Ludwigs-Universität (ALU) Freiburg

Highest Degree

Bachelor of Science

Major Subjects

Psychology, Neuropsychology
Ryschka

Germany

Lab Experience

Eye-tracking experiments, Cognitive psychological experiments, Python (basics)

Projects / Research

  • 04/2024 - 06/2024: Bachelor´s Thesis: “Effects of moderate stress on immediate and delayed recall performance and emotionality.” Prof. Dr. Monika Schönauer, Neuropsychology at ALU.
  • 10/2023 - 02/2024: Experimental Internship “No sweet dreams: Incorporation of fearful events and negative emotions in dreams”. Jessica Palmieri, Neuropsychology at ALU.
  • 04/2022 - 04/2023: Research Assistant: conducting cognitive psychological and eye-tracking experiments, processing eye-tracking data. Assistant Professor Dr. Christina Pfeuffer, Allgemeine Psychologie at ALU.
  • 10/2022 - 12/2022: Research Assistant: literature research in the field of EEG-based psycholinguistics, Prof. Dr. Roland Thomaschke, Allgemeine Psychologie at ALU.
  • 08/2022 - 10/2022: Voluntary Internship: conducting studies with children on their learning development. Dr. Daniil Serko, Max-Planck-Institute for Human Development, Berlin.

Scholarships / Awards

2025 - 2026: Stipend by the International Max Planck Research School

SCIENTIFIC INTERESTS AND GOALS

My research interests encompass the relationship between psychological processes and their underlying biological mechanisms. I am particularly intrigued by the impact of stress on memory consolidation and retrieval. My central question is whether certain circumstances exist in which memory enhancement occurs over time. This was initiated by the observations made by Schwabe et al. (2022), who describe an impaired recall in the initial phase of the stress response and no impairment in the subsequent phase. The interface between basic research and clinical research is also of interest to me. This includes reconsolidation, which might be used for treating anxiety disorders, as well as the neurobiological mechanisms underlying behavioral aspects (e.g. difficulty with eye contact, social interaction) and the development of autism.