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Opening address
Martijn SchreuderDone
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The Neurocognition of Liveness
Dr. Guido OrgsDone
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EEG microstates as a tool to capture brain network dynamics
Prof. Dr. Christoph M. MichelDone
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Introduction
Sebastian CarstensDone
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Transcranial magnetic stimulation - mapping, targeting, and computational modeling
Prof. Dr. Thomas R. KnöscheDone
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Sensory processing during sleep and dreams
Prof. Dr. Giulio BernardiDone
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Combining Mobile Brain/Body Imaging with Virtual Reality – new prospects for ecological investigations of human brain function
Prof. Dr. Klaus GramannDone
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Transient events in single-trial EEG during photic driving
Hannes Oppermann, MScDone
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From SPACE to HEALTH and Back
Prof. Dr. Elsa KirchnerDone
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Flower electrodes for comfortable dry electroencephalography
Prof. Dr. Jens HaueisenDone
A philosopher-turned-scientist, Caspar Montgomery works on the intersection between psychedelics, cognitive science and mental health. Studying at the Berlin School of Mind & Brain, he conducts neuropsychological research at the Charité Hospital which looks at changes to the minimal self in schizophrenia, and naturalistic EEG research in Peru with Onaya Science, an independent nonprofit research organisation focused on ayahuasca and other Amazonian plant medicines. In his spare time, Caspar performs voluntary work with Heroic Hearts UK (a non-profit organisation connecting military veterans with PTSD to psychedelic therapies), and PsyCare UK (a charity providing welfare, psychedelic harm reduction and psychological first aid at music festivals).
Ayahuasca is a DMT-containing plant medicine with a long history of Indigenous use in the Amazon basin, gaining attention for its potential in treating mental health problems including PTSD. Ayahuasca retreats, which include a wide range of other plant medicine interventions, remain a subject of limited scientific knowledge, especially regarding their impacts on trauma-related brain changes. Using EEG alongside other psychological and biological measures, Onaya Science conducted a pilot study of the effects of a traditional Shipibo-style retreat on military veterans with PTSD. As well as advancing our understanding of the particular illness and treatment in question, this research demonstrates the value (and difficulties) of bringing neuroscience beyond the lab into naturalistic settings, such as the Amazon rainforest, where opportunities are ripe for translating traditional knowledge practices into conventional Western science.