Our research group investigates relationships between cognitive, socioemotional functions and endogenous sex steroids as well as synthetic substitutes of sex steroids (hormonal contraceptives). We focus on the evaluation of psychophysiological and behavioral parameters. We measure electrical brain activity (EEG, ERP), electrical activity of facial muscles (EMG), cardiovascular activity (ECG, HRV), and eye movements while participants perform tasks related to cognitive functions (mental rotation, verbal functions, etc.), emotions recognition and empathy, functional brain lateralization etc. Saliva serves as the source for determination of the sex steroids using ELISA method.
Methods and equipment:
• EEG recording - 64 channels ASA Lab system;
• EEG analysis – Matlab, EEGLab, Ragu, sLORETA;
• Other physiological measurements - PowerLab data acquisition hardware and LabChart software;
• Stimuli presentation - E-Prime software;
• Quantitative sex steroid hormones (estradiol, progesterone, testosterone) determination in saliva - ELISA assay.
Group members
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Group leader
PhD, Assoc. Prof. Ramunė Grikšienė
PhD sudent
Rimantė Gaižauskaitė
PhD sudent
Ingrida Zelionkaitė
PhD Rasa Mončiunskaitė
MSc student
Karolina Jakštaitė
MSc student
Karolina Čižaitė
MSc student
Indrė Pretkelytė
MSc student
Erikas Ilkevič
BSc student
Livija Šarauskytė
BSc student
Kornelija Burokaitė
BSc student
Milda Brokevičiūtė
BSc student
Mykolas Gudaitis
Projects
"The processing of highly salient and biologically relevant emotional stimuli: gender differences and relationship to sex steroids", from the 1st June 2020 to the 15th December, 2020
In collaboration with colleagues from Tübingen (Germany) and Tartu (Estonia) Universities our group is implementing a project which the main goal is knowledge sharing and collaboration in the area of emotion research and psychoneuroendocrinology between the project partners. Hence, emotion perception and regulation research will take place at the Vilnius University; we will organize project partners’ meetings, emotion research workshops and results presenatation in various conferences including one organized by the Lithuanian Neurocscience Association.
All partners will collaborate to design and conduct a reseach to evaluate how men and women recognize and regulate emotions. For this purpose both subjective and objective (brain imaging) methods will be used. Knowing that sex steroid balance has a signficant effect on emotions, women who use hormonal contraceptives will be one of the focus points.
Collaboration between partners will be maintained both through live meetings and remote work. First results and existing knowledge on the topic will be presented during two events in November 2020 – workshop “Emotion perception and regulation” and the 12th Conference of the Lithuanian Neuroscience Association.
More information about the project: http://www.hochschulkontor.lv/en/projekti/atbalstitie-projekti/the-processing-of-highly-salient-and-biologically-relevant-emotional-stimuli-gender-differences-and-relationship-to-sex-steroids/
UPCOMING EVENTS
5th November, 11 am - 3 pm.
WEBINAR From emotion perception to regulation: workshop on socio-emotional functions.
WHERE. Online (link will be sent to registered e-mail) or in Life science center, Vilnius University, Sauletekio ave. 7, R102. More information abouth this event here.
REGISTRATION to Webinar and/or Public event: https://bit.ly/2GC9mkM
EVENTS
22 – 23 June 2020. Project start meeting, was organized in Vilnius University, Life Sciences Center and online.
