We invite scientists, lecturers, students and everyone interested in research on stress, emotion regulation, the autonomic nervous system and the application of pupil parameters in scientific research to participate in the free event. The event "Minds in the Eyes" will be held on October 2 from 9:45 to 17:00, at the VU Life Sciences Center, auditorium R401 (Saulėtekio al. 7).
During this event, we will share the latest research results in the fields of stress, emotion regulation and the autonomic nervous system with colleagues from University of Tartu (Estonia) and Ruhr University Bochum (Germany). Some of the presentations will be methodological, dedicated to the application of pupillometry. Pupillometry is a relatively cheap and easily applicable method that allows to assess the activity of the autonomic nervous system by monitoring changes in pupil diameter. This event will focus on the analysis of pupil parameters. This is a great opportunity to get acquainted with the latest research in this field, methodological solutions and to participate in discussions with international experts. The event program is attached.
Those who are unable to attend the entire session are especially invited to visit Prof. Dr. Oliver Wolf’s lecture “Stress and Fear Extinction” at 3 p.m., where he will present the results of his research group on the effects of stress on memory. More information about Prof. Dr. Oliver Wolf and the abstract of his presentation can be found in the attachment.
This event is one of the activities of the project “Feelings in the Eyes: Toward Standardized Pupillometric Analysis in Emotion Regulation Research”. This project of the Baltic-German University Liaison Office is supported by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) with funds from the Foreign Office of the Federal Republic Germany.
A Workshop “Minds in the Eyes” is organized during the implementation of the project “Feelings in the Eyes: Toward Standardized Pupillometric Analysis in Emotion Regulation Research”. This project of the Baltic-German University Liaison Office is supported by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) with funds from the Foreign Office of the Federal Republic Germany.
Workshop “Minds in the Eyes”
2nd of October 2026, Vilnius University, Life Sciences Center, Sauletekio ave. 7
Program
R401 auditorium and online*.
9.40 – 9.55 Registration
9.55 – 10 Opening. Erik Ilkevič (Vilnius University).
10 – 11 Lecture. Turning away from predefined time windows: pupillary dynamics during emotion regulation. Erik Ilkevič (Vilnius University)
11 - 12 Lecture. A model-based decomposition of pupillary response dynamics. Richard Naar (University of Tartu)
12 - 13 Lecture. Pupil size as an index of sympathetic activity. Martin Kolnes (University of Tartu)
13 - 14 Lunch.
14 - 15 Lecture. Stress effects on emotion regulation and pupillary findings. Katja Langer (Ruhr-University Bochum)
15 - 16 Lecture. Stress and Fear Extinction. Oliver Wolf (Ruhr-University Bochum)
16 - 17. Discussion.
* Please use the link below to join the workshop online via MS Teams:
https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/359125561246579?p=hL2jOaC1ACGxaIamjp
Participation in the Workshop is free, but registration is required if a certificate of attendance is needed: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/qkxzmmJynL
