Key Publications:
Observational pain & learning
Madeleine Mueller, Oded Cohen, Tomer Shechner & Jan Haaker : Observational threat learning influences costly avoidance behaviour in healthy humans. Scientific Reports volume 14, Article number: 17346 (2024) open access
Haaker J*, Diaz-Mataix L*, Guillazo-Blanch G, Stark SA, Kern L, LeDoux JE & Olsson A: Observation of others' threat reactions recovers memories previously shaped by firsthand experiences. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2021 Jul 27;118(30):e2101290118. *=equal contributions open access
Tinnermann A, Büchel C & Haaker J : Observation of others’ painful heat stimulation involves responses in the spinal cord Science Advances Vol. 7, no. 14, eabe8444 10.1126/sciadv.abe8444 open access
Lindström B*, Haaker J* & Olsson A: A common neural network differentially mediates direct and social fear learning NeuroImage 167, 121-129 *=equal contributions PDF
Haaker J*, Golkar A*, Selbing I*, Olsson A: Assessing social transmission of threats in humans using the observational fear conditioning procedure. Nature Prototocols 2017; 12, 1378–1386 *=equal contributions PDF
Neuropharmacology of social learning
Esser RW, Fuss J & Haaker J: Initial evidence for pharmacological modulation of observational threat learning by the GABAergic, but not the noradrenergic system in humans Behav Res Ther 2020 Jun;129:103605
Haaker J, Yi J, Petrovic P, Olsson A.: Endogenous opioids regulate social threat learning in humans. Nature Communications 2017; 8, 15495 open access
Neuropharmacology of emotional learning (threat & safety)
Weisser S*, Mueller M*, Rauh J, Esser R, Fuss J, Lutz B, Haaker J: Acquisition of threat responses are associated with elevated plasma concentration of endocannabinoids in male humans. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2022 May 13. *=equal contributions
Esser R, Korn CW, Ganzer F, Haaker J:L-DOPA modulates activity in the vmPFC, nucleus accumbens, and VTA during threat extinction learning in humans. Elife. 2021;open access
Sep 2;10:e65280. (preprint: bioRxiv 2020.12.07.414771; open access)
Haaker J, Gaburro S, Sah A, Gartmann N, Lonsdorf TB, Meier K, Singewald N, Pape HC, Morellini F*, Kalisch R*: Single dose of L-dopa makes extinction memories context-independent and prevents the return of fear. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013 Jun 25;110(26):E2428-36 *=equal contributions open access