CV

Prof. Dr. Thilo Hinterberger (Dr. rer. nat, Dipl. Phys.)

Date of birth: Juli 10th, 1968 Nationality: German

Current positions

  • Professor for Applied Consciousness Sciences at the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, University Medical Center Regensburg, Germany.

    • President of the Society of Consciousness Sciences and Culture of Consciousness (1. Vorsitzender der Gesellschaft für Bewusstseinswissenschaften und Bewusstseinskultur e.V., GBB)

Academic degrees:

  • 1996: Diploma thesis at the Dept. of Experimental Physics at the University of Ulm, Germany (equivalent to M.Sc.), “sehr gut” equivalent to “grade A”. Title: "Optical Measurements at Sub-Picosecond Time Resolution" (supervisor: Prof. Dr. O. Marti).

  • 1999: Dr. rer. nat. (Ph.D.), Dissertation project on "Communication via Electrocortical Activity" at the Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Tübingen, Germany in cooperation with the Department of Physics of the University of Tübingen. Title “Entwicklung und Optimierung eines Gehirn-Computer-Interfaces mit langsamen Hirnpotentialen“, (magna cum laude).

  • 2007: Habilitation (Venia Legendi) in Behavioral Neurobiology and Neuro-Computer Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tübingen, Thesis: 'Development and Applications of the Thought-Translation-Device (TTD): A general-purpose Brain-Computer Communication System'.

  • since 2011: Professor of Applied Consciousness Sciences at the University Hospital Regensburg

Scientific career:

Oct. ´90 – Aug. ´96 Studies in Physics at the University of Ulm. Further specialisation in Physical Electronics, Biophysics, and Laser Optics.

Diploma thesis at the Dept. of Experimental Physics. Title: "Optical Measurements at Sub-Picosecond Time Resolution" (supervisor: Prof. Dr. O. Marti)

Sept. - Dec. ´96 Research assistant at the University of Ulm, Dept. of Experimental Physics

Jan. - April ´97 Employee at Robert-Bosch GmbH, Reutlingen with Steinbeis Transfer Center Ulm

May ´97 – Dec. ´99 Research fellow and Ph.D. studies in Physics at the Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Neurobiology (head of department: Prof. Dr. Niels Birbaumer) Dissertation project on "Communication via Electrocortical Activity" (supervisor: Prof. Dr. Hanns Ruder).

Jan. ´00 – Dec. ´05 Postdoctoral fellow at the University of Tübingen, Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Neurobiology: Research, programming and technical responsibility for various EEG-feedback studies.

Jan. ´06 – Jan. ´08 Senior research fellow at the University of Northampton, School of Social Sciences, UK, department chairman: Harald Walach; funded by the German Research Society (DFG)

Feb. 2008 – Feb.‘11 Research fellow at the Institut für Umweltmedizin und Krankenhaushygiene, Freiburg i. Br., Germany. Funded by the Samueli Institute of Information Biology (SIIB), CA, USA, and the Beckley Foundation, Oxford, UK.

Since Mar. ’11 Professor for Applied Consciousness Sciences at the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, University Medical Center Regensburg, Germany. Funded by the Heiligenfeld-Kliniken Bad Kissingen, Germany.

Research projects:

  • Investigating neurophysiological correlates of mental self-boundary experiences

  • Neurophysiology of states of consciousness during spiritual practice; psychophysiological analysis in spiritual practitioners from various traditions

  • Classification and real time monitoring of neuronal markers of states of consciousness and cognitive processing

  • Sonification of brain signals (orchestral brain music)

  • Development and evaluation of the “Sensorium”. Design and testing of a therapeutic feedback environment for self-perception and awareness of physiological signals.

  • A closer look at meditation: Challenging the attentional network on different types of meditative procedures

  • Studies on complementarity and entanglement with special respect on a generalized quantum theory.

  • Design and testing of a tool for the analysis of conscious and cognitive processing in comatose and locked-in patients

  • Development and programming of the brain computer interface “Thought Translation Device”

  • Various neurofeedback studies for training the self-regulation of slow cortical potentials and brain rhythms of the EEG, ECoG and MEG

  • Brain-computer-communication in locked-in patients

  • EEG-feedback studies in combination with fMRI

  • Neurofeedback studies in epilepsy therapy and attention deficit syndrom (ADS)

  • Transpersonal EEG studies and studies of anomalistic phenomena such as telepathic interaction, extrasensory perception, and direct mind-machine interaction

Projects were mainly supported by the German Research Society (DFG; SFB 550), the Samueli Institute of Information Biology (SIIB), and the BIAL Foundation.

Grants and funding:

  • 1997-2006: Research grants of the German Research Society in the SFB 550 / TP B5 on Brain Computer Interfaces

  • January – July 2006: Stipendium from the DFG (German Research Society) (GZ HI 1254/2-1) “Entwicklung eines Brain-Computer-Interfaces für den Einsatz in der Rehabilitation unilateraler Paresen“

  • 2006-2007: Grant from BIAL Foundation on „EEG Correlations between Distant Participants“

  • 2006 ongoing: Fellow of the Samueli Institute of Information Biology (CA, USA)

  • 2008-2009: Grant from the Beckley Foundation, Oxford, UK on the development for monitoring of brain state changes during meditation

  • 2009 -2010: 2 grants from BIAL Foundation, Portugal on “Design and Testing of a Wearable Device for Neurofeedback of Physiological Correlates to States of Consciousness” and “Measurement and Analysis of Interindividual Psychophysiological Differences in Experienced Meditators”.

  • 2010 ongoing: BIAL Foundation: “A closer look at meditation: Challenging the attentional network on different types of meditative procedures”

  • 2011: BIAL Foundation: “Conscious Induction of Theta EEG Patterns by a Healing Procedure”

  • 2012: Samueli Institute of Information Biology (VA, USA): “Investigating Neurophysiological Correlates of Mental Self Boundary Experiences”

  • 2014: BIAL Foundation: “Skin Conductance Feedback Meditation (SCFM) – exploring the role of skin conductance in meditative practice”

  • 2015: BKK advita and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Biofeedback DGBfb: “Modellprojekt Biofeedback bei Kopfschmerz“

  • 2016: BIAL Foundation: „ Synchonizing Brain and Heart through Decelerated Respiration – an EEG-ECG Study Investigating the Effects of Paced Breathing “

  • ... and further more

Membership in professional associations:

  • Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft (DPG)

  • Gesellschaft für Anomalistik (GfA)

  • Wissenschaftliche Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Parapsychologie (WGfP)

  • Deutscher Hochschulverband (DHV)

  • Deutsches Kollegium für Psychosomatische Medizin (DKPM)

  • Gesellschaft für Bewusstseinswissenschaften und Bewusstseinskultur (GBB)

  • Stiftung Bewusstseinswissenschaften

Editorial board member of

  • APA journal Psychology of Consciousness: Theory, Research, and Practice

  • Zeitschrift für Bewusstseinswissenschaften, Transpersonale Psychologie und Psychotherapie

Research Awards:

  • Research award for Neuromuscular Diseases 2000 of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Muskelkranke e.V. funded by Aventis Pharma Germany GmbH for the development of a psychophysiological system and its implementation and validation in patients diagnosed with advanced amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (N. Birbaumer, A. Kübler, T. Hinterberger).

  • Dr. Förster-Preis 2000. Research Award of the department of physics in Tübingen for interdisciplinary research and biophysical development funded by Dr. Friedrich Förster.

  • DigiGlobe – Multimedia award of the Deutsche Telekom and Fokus, section research and technology, 1999. Received for the project "Gedanken steuern Computer" (thought controlled computer) (N. Birbaumer, T. Hinterberger, B. Kotchoubey, A. Kübler, N. Neumann, J. Perelmouter).

  • Karlsruher Hörspielpreis 2004 received for Brainmusic sonified with the POSER system

  • Kramer-Pollnow-Sonderpreis 2005 der Arbeitsgruppe von Dr. Ute Strehl über „Klinische Wirksamkeit und Wirkmechanismen von Neurofeedback bei Kindern mit Aufmerksamkeitsdefizit-Hyperaktivitätsstörung (ADHS)“

Activities on Art and Science / Aktivitäten zu Kunst und Naturwissenschaft

Braindance Performances / Aufführungen zum neuromusikalischen Projekt Braindance:

  • "Preisverleihung des Internationalen Medienkunstpreis 2004" organized by ZKM Karlsruhe, Showparts in the ARD TV-Show, Baden-Baden. In cooperation with the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst, Frankfurt am Main.

  • "Erlanger Hörkunstfestival 2004", Lecture Performance

  • International Symposium "Science on Stage", Grenoble 2007, Lecture Performance

  • "Brainspotting Festival 2007" 8.-10. Dec. 2007 in Amsterdam, Lecture Performance

Exhibitions / Ausstellungen:

  • Brainmusic-Installation at the Exhibition "Kunst in der Medizin" in June 2006 in Graz.