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Institution
Eberhard-Karls-Universität
Tübingen
Host
Institution(s)
Medical University
of South Carolina, Charleston, Center For Advanced Imaging Research
Mentor: Mark S. George MD, PhD
Many neuroimaging studies have tried to detect the brain areas involved in depression. Most of the studies used mental imagery or presentation of material such as film clips or pictures that was capable of provoking emotions. A great portion of patients with a major depression indeed complain about negative thoughts, which obsessively occupy their mind. To understand the neural basis of these ruminations we use functional magnetic resonance imaging. This is a relatively new technique, which gives a great spatial and temporal resolution and shows brain areas that are activated or deactivated during certain conditions. Our subjects are women who recently have had a breakup with their romantic partner and who are ruminating about this. That means they've got the feeling that they can't get it out of their mind. In our fMRI paradigm we ask the subjects to think the saddest thought concerning the relationship alternating with a neutral thought about an equally familiar person. Our goal is to identify the brain regions that are involved when a person ruminates about a social loss.
It is one of the greatest things for everyone's life to live in a foreign country for a period of time. All the people that you will meet, all the new places that you will see, all the new challenges, will make you grow. Of course it hasn't always been easy. But I have learned in this country to see difficulties as a part of a learning process that makes you fit for the bigger problems that you might have to cope with in your life.
Besides that, Charleston is a lovely European-like town. That means that there is a real center with old historic buildings in the Southern style: beautiful white columns and porches. We also have nice beaches not far away. At the Medical University the facilities to do research are enormous. I think that for the first time ever I've learned the scientific method due to the great support of my mentors.
America is a place that you should see. Try to think of all the prejudices that you've got in your mind and compare them with reality.
"W" and "V" are REALLY different in the English language. That still needs a lot of cognitive effort to realize all the time. Besides that I had some problems with finding a decent place to stay because I am not a friend of roaches, fleas and rooms without heating. But if you've got more financial resources than I do, this shouldn't be a problem. America is an expensive place and I am lucky not to be in New York or Boston. But money should not be an issue for your stay here. There are so many benefits that are not measurable in money.
Don't trust everything that is written in your dictionary. Americans don't say "back passage" for anus or "down below" for vagina, even though they might have a problem in expressing that their dog has to take a shit. (There is actually no bathroom on the street or in the backyard!) Also be careful when you are at the hospital on Halloween not to laugh about some severely injured patients or to take care of somebody who is just wearing a great costume.
If you are interested in Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation there is no better place to go than the Brainstimulation Laboratory at MUSC. Also, for neuroimaging in the field of psychiatry the resources are great. If you consider going to Charleston, South Carolina feel free to contact me and I'll be glad to help you the best that I can.