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Uta Wolfensteller is a PhD student in the Cognitive Neurology
Department of Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain
Sciences.
What are your research interests?
I'm interested in cognitive functions of the human premotor cortex. Hence, some keywords describing my research interests are: attentional modulation of premotor cortex, sequencing, prediction, sensorimotor transformation, and of course fMRI.
What do you like most about what you do?
Let me put it that way: I have the great opportunity to go from: "I wonder how ..." to making up an experiment, thus potentially getting a little closer to "I know how ...". Add a little human brain and you know why I do what I do.
What is your most relevant publication?
"What" becoming "where": fMRI evidence for pragmatic relevance driving lateral premotor cortex. (submitted) Wolfensteller U, Schubotz RI & von Cramon DY.
To date what is your proudest personal or professional achievement?
This is quite difficult to answer. Regarding profession, right now, I'm proudest about finally finishing and re-submitting the paper I just mentioned above. As the question contained an OR, I will spare you with the personal achievements.
In your opinion, what are some important issues in cognitive neuroscience?
For me, one important issue in cognitive neuroscience refers to interdependencies between action and perception. Apart from that I think that research on normal and pathological ageing will become even more important than it is to date. Furthermore, network modelling is an important issue, though unfortunately I'm not very familiar with it yet.
Why are you a member of CNS
The reason for joining the Cognitive Neuroscience Society was that I wished to get into contact with other researchers in the field, to learn about their research and to discuss my own findings.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
First of all, in five years I will have received my doctorate quite some time ago. So principally, I can make up two scenarios. One is, I will be sitting somewhere in New Zealand, stroll around the amazing countryside and earn my living by selling tea. The second, and more likely, scenario is, I will be a post-doc and hopefully on my way to heading an own reseach group. In five years I hope to still have the opportunity to work with fMRI. So broadly spoken, I will have learned much more about the brain, regarding both anatomy and function - and I will still love what I do.
