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Author |
|
| Name | Stevens, Laura |
| Research field | Social Neuroscience |
| Career stage | doctoral researcher |
| Home university/institution | Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB) |
| Department/Research unit at home university/institution | Medicine |
| Chair/Working group at home institution | Center of Medical Psychology and Translational Neuroscience |
International activity |
|
| Country | United States |
| Location | San Diego |
| University | University of California San Diego |
| Fund Research School | PR.INT |
| Type of activity | research stay |
| Period |
starts 27-10-2025 ends 21-11-2025 |
| Keywords | Social Neuroscience Social Touch Trauma Nerve Block |
| Report |
During my funded research stay at Prof. Laura Case’s lab at the University of California, San Diego, I gained valuable methodological training and scientific input that directly supported the aims of my doctoral project on social touch, trauma, and affective neuroscience. The stay provided me with hands-on experience in cutting-edge techniques, deepened my theoretical understanding of tactile processing, and connected me with an active international research environment. A major focus of my visit was learning anaesthetic and compression nerve block techniques, which are central to Prof. Case’s research on fibre-specific contributions to affective touch. I observed the application of both anaesthetic and compression nerve blocks in the context of an ongoing study and received structured training from the research team. This allowed me to develop a clear understanding of how A- and C-fibres can be selectively modulated and how these manipulations affect tactile perception. Through supervised practice, I gained practical competency in administering compression nerve blocks—an expertise I can now transfer to my research group at Ruhr University Bochum. In addition, I learned about safety considerations, participant monitoring, and the procedural aspects required for ethical approval, all of which will be essential when preparing similar studies in my own lab. Beyond the methodological training, I benefitted greatly from being embedded in Prof. Case’s research environment. Regular discussions with team members gave me insight into study design, data collection logistics, and practical challenges associated with tactile stimulation paradigms, particularly within neuroimaging contexts.. As part of the funded project, I also presented my doctoral research on the anxiolytic effects of social touch at the Society for Neuroscience (SfN) annual meeting. Presenting at this major international conference allowed me to share my work with a global audience, receive valuable expert feedback, and build professional connections with researchers in related areas. This experience increased the visibility of my dissertation project and supported my integration into the international social neuroscience community. Overall, the research stay significantly advanced my doctoral training. I acquired specialized methodological skills, deepened my theoretical foundation, and broadened my academic network. The techniques and insights gained during this period will directly enhance the quality and scope of my dissertation and will continue to inform future research collaborations and career development. |