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About the Lab

Welcome to our "About the Lab" page, where we invite you to delve into the essence of our work. Immerse yourself in a collection of videos, interviews, and articles that provide a captivating glimpse into our research journey. Kindly be aware that most of our media materials are in German.


Aus der RUB-Redaktion

Das Ich-Bewusstsein des Federviehs

A study by researchers at the universities of Bonn and Bochum suggests that roosters may be able to recognize themselves in a mirror. Available olny in German.

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Der Wert der Neugier

Basic Research: The pursuit of knowledge without a specific application in mind occupies many in the academic world. Is that a good thing? A commentary by Onur Güntürkün. Available olny in German.

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A Small but Powerful Brain

Pigeons are hard-working learners. And quite clever. A stroke of luck for the Bochum biopsychologists, who, thanks to them, are making advances into the fundamental mechanisms of extinction learning.

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Wenn Tauben träumen

Birds exhibit sleep patterns strikingly similar to those of humans and may even dream of flying. Available olny in German.

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Wir machen Tierversuche!

110 leading German researchers publicly declare their use of animal testing. One of them is Bochum-based biopsychologist Onur Güntürkün. Available olny in German.

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Was machst du da eigentlich für Wissenschaft?

Researchers at the SFB are often asked the question "What kind of research are you actually doing?". The answer is multifaceted and can vary quite a bit from project to project. What they all have in common, however, is that they study forgetting - Onur Güntürkün explains in the video why this is so important. Available olny in German.

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Wie entsteht das Verhalten im Gehirn?

In this video, we discuss how behavior originates in the brain. Is it possible to "implant" a memory trace? Prof. Onur Güntürkün explains how cognitive abilities and hormones are connected, and whether women and men actually differ when it comes to spatial thinking. Available olny in German.

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TEDx | Cognition without cortex

This TEDx Talk explores the fascinating world of cognitive processes beyond the cortex. It deals with the question of how the brain can control complex functions even without this classic structure.

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ZEIT Akademie | 33 Fragen

In this video, Prof. Onur Güntürkün reveals which famous historical figure he would love to have dinner with, what surprised him during the filming of the seminar, and which research finding he is particularly proud of. Available olny in German.

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Lateralized sleeping positions in domestic cats

Does anyone know how many people watch cat videos? Perhaps that's not even important. What is important is the research question: Onur Güntürkün and his team analyzed more than 400 cat clips on YouTube. Enviable!

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Die leistungsstarken Gehirne von Vögeln

Why are birds so smart? Compared to humans, birds have much more powerful neurons. A single bird neuron generates six times as much intelligence as a human neuron. In his lecture, Onur Güntürkün explains the consequences this has for the relationship between humans and animals. Available olny in German.

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Fruchtfliege und freier Wille

For a long time, the question of free will was strictly the domain of philosophers. In this report by Deutschlandfunk, neuroscientists - including Onur Güntürkün and Robert Reichert - now present their perspective on the topic. Available olny in German.

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Pessimismus - Die Macht des negativen Denkens

Dive into the psychology of pessimism: even in safe environments, many people tend to react negatively to everyday experiences. This podcast explores how individuals cope differently with obstacles. Available olny in German.

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KANNSTE VERGESSEN?

A podcast about the mysteries of learning, forgetting, and remembering. Look forward to fascinating insights from the fields of psychology, biopsychology, and neuroscience, a behind-the-scenes look at everyday scientific work, and creative slam poetry. Available olny in German.

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ARTE Podcast | People of Science

In this interview, Onur Güntürkün offers an insight into his career path and his motivation for studying psychology. Brain research and psychology - a combination that was considered too exotic by many scientists in Germany. Nevertheless, the researcher refused to back down. Available olny in German.

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Ruhrpott, deine Forschung | „Motivation kann man lernen!“

Dr. Marlies Pinnow, a motivation researcher at the RUB, explains how social and biological factors influence our motivation. In doing so, she addresses both the fundamental mechanisms and typical inhibiting factors. Available olny in German.

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Left – Right Asymmetries, Lateralized Brain Functions, and Individuality

In this episode of Mark Mattson’s podcast, Professor Sebastian Ocklenburg discusses intriguing left-right brain differences. He explores how these brain asymmetries affect language, handedness, cognition, and emotion, and examines their evolutionary roots and impact on brain disorders.

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SWR1 | Tauben sind schlauer als man denkt

Pigeons can recognize human faces and compete with toddlers and monkeys in intelligence tests. But why are birds generally so intelligent, and which species even surpass pigeons? The interview addresses fascinating questions about evolution and the impressive abilities of birds. Available olny in German.

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Tagesschau | Sprachtalent von Wellensittichen entschlüsselt

Budgerigars can do more than just imitate human words. Researchers have found that their brains function similarly to the human brain when doing so. Available olny in German.

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Deutschlandfunk Kultur | Dem Denken auf der Spur

Biopsychologist Onur Güntürkün has not let himself be discouraged - neither by polio, which has left him in a wheelchair, nor by colleagues who claimed that the brain has nothing to do with psychology. He is passionately engaged in research and teaching. Available olny in German.

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Frauengehirn, Männergehirn

"Women can't parallel park and can't read maps"- often-cited stereotypes. Is there any truth to them? This article goes beyond common clichés to show how spatial perception and verbal abilities vary on an individual level. Available olny in German.

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Gedanken über das Denken

How are mind, brain, genome, and society interconnected? How do genetic and social influences shape our cognitive development? Professor Onur Güntürkün emphasizes the importance of combining biological and social perspectives to understand human thought and behavior. Available olny in German.

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How researchers look at the bird brain in action

Our researchers have uncovered the secrets of how birds make decisions, employing awake pigeons in groundbreaking fMRI experiments. This innovative approach enables the study of active cognitive processes in birds for the first time.

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Geheimnisse des Vogelhirns

Researchers discover parallels between avian brains and the mammalian neocortex, despite initial puzzles surrounding the absence of a layered cerebral cortex in birds. Available olny in German.

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Deshalb sind Umarmungen wichtig für die Gesundheit

In this interview, Sebastian Ocklenburg explains why hugs not only boost our emotional well-being, but also have positive effects on our mental and physical health - and whether hugging yourself can actually help. Available olny in German.

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Warum Kuscheln und Berührungen so wichtig für uns sind

Discover why a hug is the simplest remedy for stress. From the effects of "happy hormones" to the ideal duration - science reveals why physical closeness remains vital for our psychological well-being. Available olny in German.

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Erinnern ist das wahre Vergessen

It is all about the multifaceted complexity that controls our thinking and memory. From the finest branchings of nerve cells to the pivotal role of synapses - discover how thoughts and memories emerge and fade on a neurobiological level. Available olny in German.

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Das Denken lässt sich aus zwei Richtungen erkunden

This piece explores the bridge between psychology and brain research. Prof. Dr. Onur Güntürkün explains that thinking can be examined from various perspectives and shares how experiments with pigeons can be used to gain deeper insights into cognitive processes. Available olny in German.

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Genforschung: Wo kommen die Linkshänder her?

From the genetics behind left-handedness to the diversity of handedness variations - Sebastian Ocklenburg reveals that whether someone is left- or right-handed is influenced not only by genetics, but also by environmental factors. Available olny in German.

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Mythen über Linkshänder: mit links!

Is left-handed creativity truly often based on a misconception? Sebastian Ocklenburg takes a fascinating look at the evolution of handedness. Available olny in German.

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Linkshänder, Linksfüßer, Linksküsser?

Discover whether left-handers are also left-footed and if similar asymmetries exist in animals. Explore the mysteries behind different brain functions and whether left-handers are actually smarter or more creative than their right-handed counterparts. Available olny in German.

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Auch Tiere haben eine Lieblingsseite

It’s not just humans who are left- or right-handed: from dogs to octopuses, almost the entire animal kingdom displays clear side preferences. Find out what biology reveals about "pawedness" and how you can test your own pet. Available olny in German.

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Rubin-Sonderausgabe „Extinktionslernen“

How does our brain learn to replace old neural connections with new ones—and why does this process sometimes fail? These are the mechanisms explored by SFB 1280. A detailed overview of their findings can be found in the special issue of the science magazine Rubin, published on January 7, 2025. Available olny in German.

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Vorlesung - Johannes Gutenberg-Stiftungsprofessur 2016

Onur Güntürkün war Inhaber der Johannes Gutenberg-Stiftungsprofessur im Jahr 2016 der "Freunde der Universität Mainz e.V.". In diesem Vortrag der Veranstaltungsreihe spricht Prof. Onur Güntürkün über das Thema "Lernen und Erinnern". Was sind die neuralen Grundlagen des Denkens? Was passiert beim Lernen, was beim Erinnern? Dabei schlägt der Forscher eine Brücke von der zellulären Ebene bis hin zum Verhalten.