CliPsLab: The Clinical Psychophysiology Lab

The Clinical Psychophysiology Lab ( CliPsLab ) is part of the research axis Clinical Health Psychology (Director: Prof. Claus Vögele ) within INSIDE’s research domain Psychosocial Stress and Health (Head: Prof. Fernand Anton ). CliPsLab  is designed for the experimental investigation of risk factors and psychophysiological processes that are important for the development or maintenance of chronic physical and mental disorders, such as cardiovascular disorders, obesity, anxiety disorders and disordered eating to develop strategies for better intervention and prevention. It comprises a suite of custom-built rooms for the non-invasive monitoring of psychophysiological responses to a wide range of psychologically relevant stimuli and situations, including pictures, videos and complex social-interactive paradigms. The equipment includes polyphysiographs for the monitoring of central-nervous-system (64-channel EEG), cardiovascular (continuous blood pressure, ECG, impedance cardiography), electrodermal (skin conductance), respiratory (respiration frequency) and electromyographical activity. In addition, CliPsLab  comprises facilities for the investigation of behavioural (facial expression, reaction times) and endocrine and immunological responses to mental stress. For field research there is a range of ambulatory testing equipment.

Research in CliPsLab  is carried out by staff and students, under appropriate supervision by staff experienced in psychophysiological techniques.