Dr. Helena Hartmann (she/her)
@helenahartmann.com
Neuroscientist, psychologist & science communicator β¨
www.helenahartmann.com
Pain & expectations in the (social) π§
Postdoc @ulrikebingel.bsky.social's lab & @SFB-TRR-289.bsky.social π
Explaining science with fictional stories π @scienceandfiction.net
www.helenahartmann.com
Pain & expectations in the (social) π§
Postdoc @ulrikebingel.bsky.social's lab & @SFB-TRR-289.bsky.social π
Explaining science with fictional stories π @scienceandfiction.net
Pinned
What to expect on this account:
- #Postdoclife on painβ‘, expectations π, & the (social) brain π§ π§²
- #ECR at @biodgps-dgpa.bsky.social
- #SciComm/#WissKomm at @nawik.de & @scienceandfiction.net π£οΈ
- #OpenScience at @forrt.bsky.social & @igor-dgps.bsky.social π©βπ»
- Team #Knitting π§Ά
- #TeamGIF β¨
- #Postdoclife on painβ‘, expectations π, & the (social) brain π§ π§²
- #ECR at @biodgps-dgpa.bsky.social
- #SciComm/#WissKomm at @nawik.de & @scienceandfiction.net π£οΈ
- #OpenScience at @forrt.bsky.social & @igor-dgps.bsky.social π©βπ»
- Team #Knitting π§Ά
- #TeamGIF β¨
This was a joint effort of @markusruetgen.bsky.social (@ki.se and @scanunit.bsky.social), @ulrikebingel.bsky.social, Philipp Dahmen (a talented medical doctoral student), and me! πͺ
The work was funded by the @dfg.de (@sfb-trr-289.bsky.social) and @fwf-at.bsky.social! π
The work was funded by the @dfg.de (@sfb-trr-289.bsky.social) and @fwf-at.bsky.social! π
two men sitting next to each other with the words " teamwork makes the dream work " on the bottom
ALT: two men sitting next to each other with the words " teamwork makes the dream work " on the bottom
media.tenor.com
January 13, 2026 at 9:54 AM
This was a joint effort of @markusruetgen.bsky.social (@ki.se and @scanunit.bsky.social), @ulrikebingel.bsky.social, Philipp Dahmen (a talented medical doctoral student), and me! πͺ
The work was funded by the @dfg.de (@sfb-trr-289.bsky.social) and @fwf-at.bsky.social! π
The work was funded by the @dfg.de (@sfb-trr-289.bsky.social) and @fwf-at.bsky.social! π
However, the studies were very different from each other, often had small sample sizes, and investigated very specific outcomes ...
So, as science often concludes: It's a start, but there's lots more to do to understand how our own pain influences social emotions and behavior.
So, as science often concludes: It's a start, but there's lots more to do to understand how our own pain influences social emotions and behavior.
a man wearing a beanie and a black jacket is smiling and holding a piece of food .
ALT: a man wearing a beanie and a black jacket is smiling and holding a piece of food .
media.tenor.com
January 13, 2026 at 9:54 AM
However, the studies were very different from each other, often had small sample sizes, and investigated very specific outcomes ...
So, as science often concludes: It's a start, but there's lots more to do to understand how our own pain influences social emotions and behavior.
So, as science often concludes: It's a start, but there's lots more to do to understand how our own pain influences social emotions and behavior.
What did we find? Mainly mixed and inconsistent effects, meaning some types of pain modulation sometimes increased or decreased social cognition abilities, with the most consistent and replicated result being that placebo analgesia reduces empathy for othersβ pain.
January 13, 2026 at 9:54 AM
What did we find? Mainly mixed and inconsistent effects, meaning some types of pain modulation sometimes increased or decreased social cognition abilities, with the most consistent and replicated result being that placebo analgesia reduces empathy for othersβ pain.
The paper also features an absolutely insane table of all the different ways researchers have operationalized social emotions and behaviors in these studies - from emotional face processing over empathy to prosocial behavior! π±
We hope this overview is helpful to many social cognition researchers!
We hope this overview is helpful to many social cognition researchers!
January 13, 2026 at 9:54 AM
The paper also features an absolutely insane table of all the different ways researchers have operationalized social emotions and behaviors in these studies - from emotional face processing over empathy to prosocial behavior! π±
We hope this overview is helpful to many social cognition researchers!
We hope this overview is helpful to many social cognition researchers!
What manipulations did we investigate? π€
Previous studies used substances like opioids, acetaminophen, cannabinoids, placebos, alcohol, or hypnosis to directly or indirectly change participants' pain processing and then look at its social consequences.
Previous studies used substances like opioids, acetaminophen, cannabinoids, placebos, alcohol, or hypnosis to directly or indirectly change participants' pain processing and then look at its social consequences.
January 13, 2026 at 9:54 AM
What manipulations did we investigate? π€
Previous studies used substances like opioids, acetaminophen, cannabinoids, placebos, alcohol, or hypnosis to directly or indirectly change participants' pain processing and then look at its social consequences.
Previous studies used substances like opioids, acetaminophen, cannabinoids, placebos, alcohol, or hypnosis to directly or indirectly change participants' pain processing and then look at its social consequences.
It's about time somebody did this ‡οΈ
We systematically reviewed 50/2060 screened studies that looked at how changing someone's own pain experience also affects how people feel and respond to othersβ emotions and pain. β‘
Read it now in @painthejournal.bsky.social: journals.lww.com/pain/fulltex...
We systematically reviewed 50/2060 screened studies that looked at how changing someone's own pain experience also affects how people feel and respond to othersβ emotions and pain. β‘
Read it now in @painthejournal.bsky.social: journals.lww.com/pain/fulltex...
journals.lww.com
January 13, 2026 at 9:54 AM
It's about time somebody did this ‡οΈ
We systematically reviewed 50/2060 screened studies that looked at how changing someone's own pain experience also affects how people feel and respond to othersβ emotions and pain. β‘
Read it now in @painthejournal.bsky.social: journals.lww.com/pain/fulltex...
We systematically reviewed 50/2060 screened studies that looked at how changing someone's own pain experience also affects how people feel and respond to othersβ emotions and pain. β‘
Read it now in @painthejournal.bsky.social: journals.lww.com/pain/fulltex...
Omg so you can basically just go and... enjoy the talks?! π€―
January 12, 2026 at 1:28 PM
Omg so you can basically just go and... enjoy the talks?! π€―
Reposted by Dr. Helena Hartmann (she/her)
Our science communication PI @helenahartmann.com will present her project @scienceandfiction.net next Friday! π€©
Mark your calendars if you're into #scicomm, #storytelling, and #sciencefiction #shortstories! π
Mark your calendars if you're into #scicomm, #storytelling, and #sciencefiction #shortstories! π
In genau einer Woche findet unser nΓ€chstes Kolloquium statt! Am 16.1. um 12 Uhr nimmt uns @helenahartmann.com mit in die Welt von "Science and Fiction - WissKomm mit fiktionalen Kurzgeschichten".
NΓ€here Infos und die Anmeldung findet ihr im Bild.
Wir freuen uns auf euch!
@scienceandfiction.net
NΓ€here Infos und die Anmeldung findet ihr im Bild.
Wir freuen uns auf euch!
@scienceandfiction.net
January 9, 2026 at 1:07 PM
Our science communication PI @helenahartmann.com will present her project @scienceandfiction.net next Friday! π€©
Mark your calendars if you're into #scicomm, #storytelling, and #sciencefiction #shortstories! π
Mark your calendars if you're into #scicomm, #storytelling, and #sciencefiction #shortstories! π
This month's #ScienceandFiction short story is a comic! π
π¦ New #ScienceandFiction short story π¦
This time, a team from @uni.lu created a comic about all our helpful gut bacteria! Do you recognise some?
π¬π§ scienceandfiction.net/stories/37_a...
π©πͺ scienceandfiction.net/de/stories/3...
#scicomm #wisskomm #comic
This time, a team from @uni.lu created a comic about all our helpful gut bacteria! Do you recognise some?
π¬π§ scienceandfiction.net/stories/37_a...
π©πͺ scienceandfiction.net/de/stories/3...
#scicomm #wisskomm #comic
January 11, 2026 at 6:58 PM
This month's #ScienceandFiction short story is a comic! π
Reposted by Dr. Helena Hartmann (she/her)
In genau einer Woche findet unser nΓ€chstes Kolloquium statt! Am 16.1. um 12 Uhr nimmt uns @helenahartmann.com mit in die Welt von "Science and Fiction - WissKomm mit fiktionalen Kurzgeschichten".
NΓ€here Infos und die Anmeldung findet ihr im Bild.
Wir freuen uns auf euch!
@scienceandfiction.net
NΓ€here Infos und die Anmeldung findet ihr im Bild.
Wir freuen uns auf euch!
@scienceandfiction.net
January 9, 2026 at 9:57 AM
In genau einer Woche findet unser nΓ€chstes Kolloquium statt! Am 16.1. um 12 Uhr nimmt uns @helenahartmann.com mit in die Welt von "Science and Fiction - WissKomm mit fiktionalen Kurzgeschichten".
NΓ€here Infos und die Anmeldung findet ihr im Bild.
Wir freuen uns auf euch!
@scienceandfiction.net
NΓ€here Infos und die Anmeldung findet ihr im Bild.
Wir freuen uns auf euch!
@scienceandfiction.net
Reposted by Dr. Helena Hartmann (she/her)
And another publication from our A04 project!
This time, Milena Pertz and colleagues investigated empathy for different pain modalities! π€·ββοΈ
Read it here: doi.org/10.1016/j.jp...
This time, Milena Pertz and colleagues investigated empathy for different pain modalities! π€·ββοΈ
Read it here: doi.org/10.1016/j.jp...
January 8, 2026 at 9:10 AM
And another publication from our A04 project!
This time, Milena Pertz and colleagues investigated empathy for different pain modalities! π€·ββοΈ
Read it here: doi.org/10.1016/j.jp...
This time, Milena Pertz and colleagues investigated empathy for different pain modalities! π€·ββοΈ
Read it here: doi.org/10.1016/j.jp...
True bliss is paying for a butter croissant but getting a chocolate croissant by accident π₯
a croissant next to a chocolate fountain and banana
ALT: a croissant next to a chocolate fountain and banana
media.tenor.com
January 7, 2026 at 3:07 PM
True bliss is paying for a butter croissant but getting a chocolate croissant by accident π₯
Reposted by Dr. Helena Hartmann (she/her)
Der Vortrag von @helenahartmann.com von der @nawik.de Konferenz #Wisskon25 ΓΌber das Projekt ist nun auf YouTube verfΓΌgbar! π
Schaut mal rein (ab 6:32:00): www.youtube.com/live/qBieeNI...
Schaut mal rein (ab 6:32:00): www.youtube.com/live/qBieeNI...
January 2, 2026 at 1:38 PM
Der Vortrag von @helenahartmann.com von der @nawik.de Konferenz #Wisskon25 ΓΌber das Projekt ist nun auf YouTube verfΓΌgbar! π
Schaut mal rein (ab 6:32:00): www.youtube.com/live/qBieeNI...
Schaut mal rein (ab 6:32:00): www.youtube.com/live/qBieeNI...
It could haha but I meant "of course" π
December 31, 2025 at 7:16 PM
It could haha but I meant "of course" π
Today I went to the Corpus museum in Leiden where you (literally) travel through the human body. Favourite location? Ofc the brain π§
December 31, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Today I went to the Corpus museum in Leiden where you (literally) travel through the human body. Favourite location? Ofc the brain π§
Reposted by Dr. Helena Hartmann (she/her)
π New #ScienceandFiction short story π
This time, @stinaborchers.bsky.social wrote about how evolution reacts when food runs out. Utopia or dystopia?
π¬π§ scienceandfiction.net/stories/36_t...
π©πͺ scienceandfiction.net/de/stories/3...
#scicomm #wisskomm #sciencefiction #shortstories #writing
This time, @stinaborchers.bsky.social wrote about how evolution reacts when food runs out. Utopia or dystopia?
π¬π§ scienceandfiction.net/stories/36_t...
π©πͺ scienceandfiction.net/de/stories/3...
#scicomm #wisskomm #sciencefiction #shortstories #writing
| Science and Fiction
The food ran out and evolution answeredβnot with strength, but with instinct. CW: Hunger.
scienceandfiction.net
December 30, 2025 at 10:39 AM
π New #ScienceandFiction short story π
This time, @stinaborchers.bsky.social wrote about how evolution reacts when food runs out. Utopia or dystopia?
π¬π§ scienceandfiction.net/stories/36_t...
π©πͺ scienceandfiction.net/de/stories/3...
#scicomm #wisskomm #sciencefiction #shortstories #writing
This time, @stinaborchers.bsky.social wrote about how evolution reacts when food runs out. Utopia or dystopia?
π¬π§ scienceandfiction.net/stories/36_t...
π©πͺ scienceandfiction.net/de/stories/3...
#scicomm #wisskomm #sciencefiction #shortstories #writing
One of hopefully many future projects with @jonaspotthoff.bsky.social - it was an absolute pleasure to work in tandem on this! π₯°
@helenahartmann.com and me just published our study on #nocebo, deceptive #placebo and open-label placebo effects on performance in a virtual bird feeding game: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Direct comparison of nocebo, deceptive placebo and open-label placebo effects on sustained visual attention
Positive and negative expectations crucially shape how we perceive our surroundings, including our emotional and cognitive abilities. Prior work showsβ¦
www.sciencedirect.com
December 23, 2025 at 10:14 AM
One of hopefully many future projects with @jonaspotthoff.bsky.social - it was an absolute pleasure to work in tandem on this! π₯°
Reposted by Dr. Helena Hartmann (she/her)
Das Lab von @ulrikebingel.bsky.social war dieses Jahr wirklich nicht faul, und hat mit Kollegen von der UniversitΓ€tsmedizin Essen mal eben noch an einem Buch zum Placebo-Effekt mitgearbeitet. @helenahartmann.com ππΎ
link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
December 19, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Das Lab von @ulrikebingel.bsky.social war dieses Jahr wirklich nicht faul, und hat mit Kollegen von der UniversitΓ€tsmedizin Essen mal eben noch an einem Buch zum Placebo-Effekt mitgearbeitet. @helenahartmann.com ππΎ
link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
Reposted by Dr. Helena Hartmann (she/her)
Have you read this month's short story yet? It's about a decision as old as time... the red or the blue pill? πββοΈ
December 9, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Have you read this month's short story yet? It's about a decision as old as time... the red or the blue pill? πββοΈ
I dreamt that someone was willing to borrow me their Bahncard 100 for my commute π @amreibahr.bsky.social?
a train is pulling into a station with a sign that says h
ALT: a train is pulling into a station with a sign that says h
media.tenor.com
December 4, 2025 at 8:48 AM
I dreamt that someone was willing to borrow me their Bahncard 100 for my commute π @amreibahr.bsky.social?
Love this and definitely guilty π₯² on the other hand, arrows are just so versatile haha
Arrows are tricky. For us, as the designer of the visual, it will be super clear what it means. But for someone looking at our visual for the first time, it can be highly ambiguous. Depending on the reader, the same arrow can mean sequence, zoom, range, label, movement,...
1/2
1/2
December 4, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Love this and definitely guilty π₯² on the other hand, arrows are just so versatile haha
Reposted by Dr. Helena Hartmann (she/her)
New #openscience work from one of our PIs, @helenahartmann.com β¨
Super important topic and great resource to track replications!
Super important topic and great resource to track replications!
Now we wrote a piece about many things we always wanted to say about replications.
How they are used, tracked and valued by the science community. And how we can evaluate their results, whatever those may be π€
Read the preprint π osf.io/preprints/me...
Browse the Hub π forrt.org/replication-...
How they are used, tracked and valued by the science community. And how we can evaluate their results, whatever those may be π€
Read the preprint π osf.io/preprints/me...
Browse the Hub π forrt.org/replication-...
December 4, 2025 at 7:27 AM
New #openscience work from one of our PIs, @helenahartmann.com β¨
Super important topic and great resource to track replications!
Super important topic and great resource to track replications!