Investigating Thalamocortical Processing of Perceptual and Task Uncertainty Using Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation 
Gómez Pérez, Javier; Pedroso de Faria, Joana; Reichstein, Sebastian; Condorelli, Ruggero; Grondelaers, Lena; Evans, Carys; Verhagen, Lennart; Kosciessa, Julian; Radboud University/Donders Institute

Presenter: Gómez Pérez Javier

We can sometimes be uncertain about our decisions. When making a decision, our perception may be challenged by limited or conflicting information like on a rainy day. Similarly, uncertainty increases when we may need to attend to multiple features simultaneously before forming a decision. The former lack of perceptual coherence is described in the literature as perceptual uncertainty, and the number of concurrently relevant features in an experiment is conceptualised as task uncertainty. This study aims to investigate whether thalamocortical networks distinctly process these two uncertainty types.

Neurobiological Mechanisms Underlying Alcohol Use Disorder 
Ximena Garcia de la Cruz; Universidad Miguel Hernández , NeurotechEU

Presenter: Ximena Garcia de la Cruz

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a chronic and relapsing condition characterized by compulsive alcohol consumption, loss of control over intake, and the emergence of a negative emotional state during withdrawal. It represents a major global health burden, affecting approximately 7% of the adult population worldwide. This presentation aims to explore the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the development and maintenance of AUD, focusing on the interaction between key brain systems involved in reward processing, stress regulation, and executive control. A literature-based approach was employed, reviewing key studies in the field of addiction neuroscience, particularly those examining the role of the basal ganglia, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex.

Findings from the literature indicate that AUD is associated with a transition from positive reinforcement mechanisms, driven by dopaminergic signaling in the nucleus accumbens, to negative reinforcement processes involving stress-related neuroadaptations. Increased activity in stress systems, including corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and noradrenaline, contributes to a state of negative affect, often referred to as hyperkatifeia. At the same time, impairments in prefrontal cortex function reduce executive control, promoting compulsive alcohol seeking and increasing vulnerability to relapse.In addition, current pharmacological treatments, such as naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram, target different aspects of these neurobiological pathways but show limited efficacy, highlighting the need for improved therapeutic strategies. Emerging approaches, including neuromodulation techniques and stress-targeted pharmacotherapies, offer promising avenues for intervention.

In conclusion, AUD can be understood as a disorder resulting from dysregulation across interconnected neural systems. A better understanding of these mechanisms is essential for the development of more effective and personalized treatments. 

Psilocybin in (E)motion: Dynamic Emotion Recognition Mechanism of Action? 
Petr Šupa, Hein van Schie; Tomáš Páleníček National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Prague; Radboud University 

Presenter: Petr Šupa

Psilocybin may alleviate mood disorders by reducing negativity bias, as seen in acute impaired recognition of negative emotions. Yet, subacute effects (~4.5 h post-ingestion) on dynamic emotion processing are unclear. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subject crossover trial (EudraCT 2012-004579-37), 22 healthy volunteers (9 women; mean age 38.8 ± 8.7 years) received psilocybin (0.26 mg/kg) or placebo. Subacutely, they completed a dynamic emotional morphing task assessing reaction time (RT) and accuracy for six basic emotions. Contrary to neuropsychological hypotheses, Bayesian mixed-effects models showed psilocybin did not impair recognition of negative emotions. Accuracy was unchanged (mean diff. –0.86%; 95% Credible Interval [–6.43, 4.81]), with Bayesian evidence strongly favouring the null (BF₀₁=4.35:1). Reaction time for negative emotions also showed no slowing (mean diff. –214.57 ms; 95% CI [–607.16, 169.80]; BF₀₁=1.71:1). Exploratory correlations with subjective measures were negligible. These null findings indicate preserved basic social-cognitive functions subacutely, suggesting psilocybin’s therapeutic mechanisms may bypass fundamental emotion recognition modulation. 

Uncovering Early Sleep–Wake and Circadian Rhythm Development in Preterm Infants Using Physiological Signals
Niki Tyraki, Roos Bos, Jeroen Dudink; Radboud University, University Medical Center Utrecht, Wilhelmina Kinderziekenhuis Utrecht

Presenter: Niki Tyraki

In utero, sleep-wake organisation and physiological rhythms are regulated by maternal cues. However, preterm birth disrupts this regulation, with early development unfolding in the highly variable environment of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). This study investigates the development of sleep organisation and 24-hour rhythms in very preterm infants in the NICU using machine learning-derived sleep staging from physiological signals. This approach enables the assessment of sleep-wake patterns and early circadian organisation in the absence of typical prenatal environmental cues. Ongoing analyses focus on sleep organisation over time, including group differences and emerging 24-hour patterns, to better understand early circadian maturation and its potential role as a neuroprotective mechanism in preterm development.