معرفی
Dr. Matthias F. J. Sperl is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Psychology at the University of Siegen, specializing in Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy. His research focuses on the neural and cognitive mechanisms underlying fear and anxiety disorders, with particular expertise in fear conditioning paradigms, EEG and multimodal neuroimaging approaches, and pharmacological modulation of fear processes. He is also a licensed psychological psychotherapist specializing in cognitive behavioral therapy.
Dr. Sperl completed his doctoral degree summa cum laude at the University of Marburg (2016-2021) and served as a Post-Doctoral Researcher at the University of Giessen (2021-2023). His international research experience includes 14 months at McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School's Center for Depression, Anxiety and Stress Research and a recent research visit at UCLA's Anxiety and Depression Research Center. His academic journey includes a Master's and Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Giessen, both earned with distinction.
His research program investigates how fear and anxiety develop and persist, with specific focus on noradrenergic mechanisms, expectation violations in fear extinction, and the role of personality traits in conditioning processes. Dr. Sperl employs a multimodal approach combining behavioral experiments, electrophysiology (EEG), and neuroimaging (fMRI) to uncover the neural correlates of fear processing. His recent work has examined EEG microstates in affective neuroscience, pharmacological modulation of fear conditioning, and the development of frameworks for understanding expectation violations in psychological treatments.
Dr. Sperl has published extensively in high-impact journals including Cerebral Cortex, NeuroImage, Psychological Science, and eLife, with recent publications demonstrating his continued innovation in the field. His research shows a consistent trajectory of methodological rigor and theoretical advancement, with increasing collaborative scope reflected in multi-institutional and international projects.
- Commendation Award of the Society for the Improvement of Psychological Science (SIPS) (2025)
- Full Member in Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society (2025)
- Teaching Awards for 'Best Teaching' and 'Best Engagement' from Student Council of Psychology (2025)
- Early Career Award of the German Society for Psychophysiology (2024)
- Dissertation Award (2nd Prize) from German Psychological Society (2023)
- Brain Products Young Scientist Award for EEG Research (2018)
Dr. Sperl is actively engaged in improving research practices and mentorship in psychological science, as evidenced by his recent publications on doctoral training culture and open science. He serves in leadership roles within professional societies, including as a Representative of Young Members in the Executive Committee of the German Psychological Society. His dual expertise as both a researcher and clinical practitioner provides a valuable bridge between basic science and clinical applications in the field of anxiety disorders.
