Marco K. Wittmann

Marco K. Wittmann is an MRC Career Development Fellow and Group Leader at the Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, based in the Department of Experimental Psychology at University College London (UCL). His research focuses on the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying social cognition and adaptive behavior in complex social environments.

His educational background includes:

• BSc and MSc in Psychology (Diplom in Psychologie) from the Universities of Constance and Freiburg, Germany (2011)
• MSc in Neuroscience from the University of Oxford, UK (2012), funded by a Wellcome Trust scholarship
• DPhil in Neuroscience from the University of Oxford, UK (2017)

Dr. Wittmann's research integrates computational modelling, neuroimaging, and brain stimulation techniques to investigate the neural basis of social cognition. His work particularly examines how the brain represents self and others, navigates social interactions, and adapts mental strategies in diverse social contexts. A key focus is on the causal role of specific brain regions, such as the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, in social decision-making.

His recent publications span high-impact journals including Nature Communications, Neuron, and Annual Review of Neuroscience, reflecting a strong emphasis on computational psychiatry, social neuroscience, and causal brain-behavior relationships. His work often involves primate models and human studies, bridging basic and clinical research.

Scientific awards and fellowships include:

• MRC Career Development Fellowship
• Wellcome Trust Scholarship for MSc and DPhil

As a group leader, Dr. Wittmann supervises a dynamic team and secures competitive research grants. His lab, the Metacognition and Computational Psychiatry Group, is part of the Max Planck-UCL Centre and focuses on cutting-edge research using non-invasive transcranial ultrasound stimulation to establish causal links between brain activity and social behavior.