Sport and Neurocognition

In the Sport and Neurocognition research group, we investigate the potential of sport and physical activity in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. In addition to the effects of sport on neurocognitive and affective symptoms, we are particularly interested in researching the mechanisms of action, determining optimal training schedules, the effectiveness in specific patient groups and identifying personal characteristics that favour the effects of sport. Methods used include neurocognitive testing, functional and structural MRI, molecular markers (blood, saliva), actigraphy and outpatient assessment. Currently studied disorders include adult ADHD and borderline personality disorder.

Team

Dr. Aylin Mehren (research group leader)
Isabell Finkel (medical doctoral student)
Sarah Selman (medical doctoral student)
Lina Wanka (medical doctoral student)
Annika Maier (medical doctoral student)
Lara Felice Jentsch (medical doctoral student)
Jovana Gojkovic (medical doctoral student)
Alexander Michael Ritthaler (medical doctoral student)
Olivia Rutkowski (master student psychology)
Jil Dahmen (master student psychology)
Lukas Serrano Mundorf (student assistant)

Internship and thesis opportunities

If you would like to do a research internship or write your master's or doctoral thesis with us, please contact us at .

Contact
Dr. rer. nat. Aylin Mehren

Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie
Universitätsklinikum Bonn AöR
Venusberg Campus 1
53127 Bonn

Publications (excerpt)

Mehren A & Philipsen A (2020). Körperliche Aktivität. In Steinhausen HC, Döpfner M, Holtmann M, Philipsen A, Rothenberger A (Editors), Handbuch ADHS: Grundlagen, Klinik, Therapie und Verlauf der Aufmerksamkeitsdefizit-Hyperaktivitätsstörung (2nd Ed.). Kohlhammer.
Mehren A, Reichert M, Coghill D, Müller HHO, Braun N, Philipsen A (2020). Physical Exercise in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder – Evidence and Implications for the Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder. Borderline Personality Disorder and Emotion Dysregulation 7, 1. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40479-019-0115-2
Mehren A, Özyurt J, Thiel CM, Brandes M, Lam AP, Philipsen A (2019). Effects of Acute Aerobic Exercise on Response Inhibition in Adult Patients with ADHD. Scientific Reports 9(1), 19884. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-56332-y
Mehren A, Diaz Luque C, Brandes M, Lam AP, Thiel CM, Philipsen A, Özyurt J (2019). Intensity-dependent Effects of Acute Exercise on Executive Function. Neural Plasticity 2019. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/8608317
Mehren A, Özyurt J, Lam AP, Brandes M, Mueller HHO, Thiel CM, Philipsen A (2019). Acute Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Executive Function in Adult Patients with ADHD. Frontiers in Psychiatry 10, 132. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00132