David Willinger

Dr. David Willinger, MSc, is a PostDoc Research Associate at the Department of Psychological Methodology, Karl Landsteiner Private University of Health Sciences. His work bridges cognitive neuroscience, psychological methodology, and digital health technologies. He holds interdisciplinary training in Cognitive Science (University of Vienna) and Medical Informatics (Vienna University of Technology), with formative research experience at the MRI Center of the Medical University of Vienna and the Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in Zurich.

His research focuses on understanding the neural and cognitive mechanisms underlying psychological processes, particularly in clinical contexts. He specializes in using neuroimaging (fMRI), computational modeling, and digital phenotyping via smartphones and wearables to study mental health, emotion regulation, reading development, and social interaction dynamics. His work aims to translate basic and methodological research into clinically relevant tools for diagnosis and intervention.

David Willinger’s recent publications reveal a strong trend in leveraging technology for psychological assessment—such as Bluetooth sensing for social presence, real-time fMRI neurofeedback for emotion regulation, and global biogeophysical datasets for ecological analysis. His research spans developmental neuroscience (reading difficulties in children), affective science (body image and nature exposure), and digital mental health (stress and mood monitoring).

• Bluetooth-sensed social presence and emotional dynamics (2025)
• Mechanisms of reading difficulties using fMRI and reinforcement learning models (2025)
• Real-time fMRI neurofeedback for amygdala modulation (2024)
• Simulated nature exposure and body image (2024)
• Resting-state connectivity in adolescent depression (2024)

He has collaborated extensively with researchers like Stefan Stieger, Silvia Brem, and Viren Swami. His work has been featured in journals such as iScience, Journal of Neuroscience, Frontiers in Neuroscience, and Body Image, and has received media and academic attention.

Dr. Willinger is actively involved in advancing research methodology and teaching, contributing to the development of the Neuroscience and Mental Health PhD program. He emphasizes interdisciplinary perspectives, clinical translation, and methodological rigor in psychological science.