Martin J. Dahl

Martin J. Dahl is a Research Scientist and group leader of the Lifespan Neuromodulation of Cognition (LINE) group at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development's Center for Lifespan Psychology in Berlin, where he has led independent research since 2022 following postdoctoral training at the University of Southern California.

His educational background includes:

• PhD (Dr. rer. nat.) in Psychology, Freie Universität Berlin (2020)
• M.Sc. Psychology, University of Konstanz (2014)
• B.Sc. Psychology, Justus Liebig University Gießen (2011)

Dedicated to understanding how neuromodulatory systems shape cognition across the lifespan, Dahl employs non-invasive methods to investigate dopaminergic and noradrenergic mechanisms in aging and disease. His work reveals critical links between brain integrity (particularly locus coeruleus), neural synchronization, and cognitive functions like memory and attention, with implications for neurodegenerative conditions.

His publication record demonstrates consistent focus on neuromodulation-cognition interactions, evolving from foundational lifespan attention studies (2019-2020) to cutting-edge investigations of dopaminergic/noradrenergic decline in Alzheimer's disease (2022-2023). This trajectory highlights increasing clinical relevance while maintaining rigorous cognitive neuroscience frameworks across high-impact journals.

Major recognitions include:

• Max Planck Society's Otto Hahn Medal for outstanding scientific achievement
• German Psychological Society's Margret and Paul Baltes Award
• Society for Neuropsychology's Young Investigator Award

As principal investigator of the LINE group, Dahl directs research on neuromodulatory influences on cognitive aging, securing institutional support for longitudinal studies of neural mechanisms in healthy and pathological aging. His work bridges basic cognitive neuroscience with clinical applications through collaborations with gerontology and neurology specialists.

The LINE research group operates within the Center for Lifespan Psychology, utilizing multimodal approaches including neuroimaging, psychophysiology, and behavioral paradigms to dissect neuromodulatory contributions to cognitive trajectories across adulthood.