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.
Graduates
2020 Graduate Aurelija Putramentaitė
2019 Graduates- Ernestas Švedas ir Rimantė Gaižauskaitė
2017 m. Graduates: Dorita Bimbirytė, Ieva Lukštatitė, Julijus Motiejūnas, Benedikta Lataitytė
Collaborators
Prof. Birgit Derntl, Tubingen University, Germany.
Dr. Helen Uusberg and Dr. Andero Uusberg, Tartu University, Estonia.
Prof. Markus Hausmann, Durham University, UK.
Thomas Koenig, Associate Proffesor at the Medical Faculty of the University of Bern
Publications
R. Griksiene, A. Arnatkeviciute, R. Monciunskaite, T. Koenig, O. Ruksenas (2019) Mental rotation of sequentially presented 3D figures: sex and sex hormones related differences in behavioural and ERP measures. // Scientific Reports, 10.1038/s41598-019-55433-y, www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-55433-y.
R. Monciunskaite, L. Malden, I. Lukstaite, O. Ruksenas, R. Griksiene (2019) Do oral contraceptives modulate an ERP response to affective pictures? // Biological Psychology, 148, 107767, doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2019.107767.
R. Griksiene, R. Monciunskaite, A. Arnatkeviciute, O. Ruksenas (2018) Does the use of hormonal contraceptives affect the mental rotation performance? // Hormones and behavior, 100, 29–38
I. Griskova-Bulanova, R. Griksiene, A. Voicikas, O. Ruksenas (2016) Go and NoGo: modulation of electrophysiological correlates by female sex steroid hormones. // Psychopharmacology, 1-9. DOI 10.1007/s00213-016-4311-0.
D. Noreika, I. Griskova-Bulanova, A. Alaburda, M. Baranauskas, R. Griksiene (2014) Progesterone and mental rotation task: is there any effect? BioMed Research International, Volume 2014, Article ID 741758, 9 pages.
I. Griskova-Bulanova, R. Griksiene, M. Korostenskaja, O. Ruksenas (2014) 40Hz auditory steady-state response in females: when is it better to entrain? Acta Neurobiologiae Experimentalis, 74(1):91-7.
Zakevicius M., Liesiene V., Griksiene R., Masaitiene R., Ruksenas O. Arousals and Macrostructure of Sleep: Importance of NREM Stage 2 Reconsidered. Sleep Sci. 2013; 6 (3): 91-97.
R. Griksiene, O. Ruksenas (2011) Effects of hormonal contraceptives on mental rotation and verbal fluency. //Psychoneuroendocrinology, 36 (8), 1239-1248.
L. Maciukaitė, R. Griksiene, O. Ruksenas (2010) Estimation of affective pictures in different phases of menstrual cycle. // Psichologija (in Lithuanian), 41, 111-122
R. Griksiene, O. Ruksenas (2009) Cognitive effects of hormone based contraception in young healthy women. // Biologija, 55(3-4), 115-124.
R. Griksiene, O. Ruksenas (2003) Reaction of cardiovascular system to stressors during different phases of menstrual cycle. Laboratory medicine (in Lithuanian), 2 (18), 17-23.
Science popularization events
5th November, 5.30 pm - 7 pm.
PUBLIC EVENT „Why does my dog understand what I feel and you don't?“ This event will be held in Lithuanian and is open to everybody.
Pakalbėkime apie emocijas ir jausmus iš neuromokslų perspektyvos. Kas tai yra emocijos? Kur jos mumyse (smegenyse, širdyje, ..)? Kodėl mes (vyrai ir moterys) emocijas jaučiame, atpažįstame ir priimame skirtingai? Ar šie skirtumai blogai? O gal tai tiesiog daugiau spalvų mūsų kasdienybėje?
Sudomino? Kviečiame į atvirą paskaitą-diskusiją “Kodėl mano šuo supranta ką jaučiu, o tu ne?"
Kada: Lapkričio 5 d. 17.30 – 19 val.
Kur: Vilniaus universiteto Gyvybės mokslų centre, Saulėtekio al. 7, R 102 a. ir Internete: https://bit.ly/30LS7V5
Daugiau informacijos čia. Registracijos anketa čia.