Annette Horstmann

Annette Horstmann is a Professor of Behavioral and Brain Sciences at the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki. She leads the O'BRAIN Lab, focusing on the interaction between the modern food environment and the brain. Her teaching includes neuroplasticity, dopaminergic system impacts on behavioral control, and decision-making.

• Academic Rank: Professor
• Institution: University of Helsinki
• Research Focus: Neurosciences, Psychology, Obesity Research

Her research explores how ultra-processed foods affect brain structure, neural network dynamics in working memory, and cognitive development from adolescence to adulthood. Recent work also investigates neurocomputational mechanisms in obesity-related decision-making and binge eating.

Key trends in her publications include interdisciplinary approaches combining neuroimaging, computational modeling, and behavioral analysis to address obesity and cognitive dysfunction. Awards include the Research Prize of the German Obesity Society (2016).

• Scientific Awards: Research Prize of the German Obesity Society

She has led projects like FinnFoodPics, a database for studying eating behaviors, and participated in initiatives examining habit formation and metabolic health. Her collaborations span institutions such as the University of Leipzig and the University of Amsterdam.