Student Researchers' Society Topics

Co-supervisor: Dr. CSABA, Gergely József

The so-called psychological defence system (fear and disgust), like the immune system, protects the body against physical injury (fear) and infection (disgust). However, in many cases, it is precisely because of these feelings that patients do not go to the doctor or forego certain treatment options. For example, the fear of needles has made it difficult or even impossible for many people to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, while the pandemic has made the other person a potential threat or source of infection.

In these studies, we will use questionnaires to explore the factors that influence the intensity of these reactions. On the other hand, through the use of emotion eliciting images, we identify factors that strengthen and weaken emotional control.

Keywords: fear and disgust; avoidant behaviour; medical fears; early life history

Co-supervisor: Dr. FAUBL, Nóra

The mental health of university students is an area of increasing worldwide concern as medical school is recognized as a stressful environment that often has a negative effect on students’ academic performance, physical health, and emotional well-being. This population has been shown to be particularly prone to depression, anxiety, and stress due to factors that include academic pressures, obstacles to their goal achievement, environmental changes, and life challenges such as transition from school to university and the change in role from student to knowledgeable physician. The purpose of the research is to compare the prevalence of anxiety, depression, and stress in medical students from all semesters and assess their respective associated factors, such as burnout, academic challanges and coping strategies.

Various higher-order neural processes control our everyday behavior and cognitive abilities. These processes have crucial role in the adaptation of behavior to actual environment and behavioral aims. The proposed project is addressed to an experimental neuropsychological investigation of the cognitive control processes. The applied methods can potentially involve electrophysiological, psychophysical, and survey-based data collections.

keywords: neuropsychology, cognitive control

Placebo effect is a well-known phenomenon attracting the interest of both physicians and non-physicians. The number of evidence-based studies examining the magnitude of placebo effects and the mechanisms responsible for placebo effects has steadily increased over recent decades. Currently available evidence shows that many diseases such as heart failure, gastric ulcer, Crohn-disease, asthma, Parkinson-disease, depression and the common cold respond well to placebo therapies. In spite of all of these facts the conventional understanding of placebo effect and of the role of placebo effect in medical treatment is based on confused and contradictory ideas. The research program focuses primarily on these questions, and the ethical considerations raised by them.

Keywords: placebo effect, meaning response, contextual effect 

Co-supervisor: Dr. GÁCS, Boróka

Physiological immune responses are costly, can be taxing on the body, and are conditioned by exposure to the pathogen. The behavioral immune system (BIS), on the other hand, is an independent motivational system, which provides prophylactic protection against pathogen infection. According to some studies, various infectious diseases are responsible for more human deaths than all other causes of death combined, which data supports the importance of studies on the functioning of the BIS. The Sars-Cov2 pandemic, and the challenges it posed to society and health care, refocused attention on the importance of interdisciplinary research about infectious diseases. Individual differences in BIS sensitivity are related to the quality of the early environment. Adverse, threatening environmental influences (e.g., parental neglect, abuse) sensitize stress reactions and develop stronger avoidance reactions. They can also be related to the development of specific cognitive schemes, behavioral and coping mechanisms. The aim of our research is to verify the role of the listed variables in shaping the sensitivity of the behavioral immune system to gain a deeper understanding of the functioning of the first line defense in the fight against infectious diseases.

Methodologically, the research is based on questionnaire surveys and evaluation of reactions to emotional images (IAPS).

Keywords: behavioural immune system; early life circumstances; pathogen resistance; disgust

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is an umbrella term that covers epidemic-like diseases such as: cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and chronic respiratory disease. Research shows that health behaviour is a major determinant of these diseases and will therefore be the focus of the studies. 

Human evolution has taken place under very different environmental conditions, and it is only in the last two hundred years that major changes have occurred which have altered our way of life, but to which we have not yet adapted at the psychophysiological level. In this research, we test hypotheses concerning the impact on health of differences between early adaptation and current lifestyle.

Keywords: non-communicable diseases; early life circusmtances; psychosocial risks; darwinian medicine

Co-supervisors: Dr. CSATHÓ, Árpád and Dr. GÁCS, Boróka

The research is mainly based on questionnaire survey method to explore how patients' fears influence their pain experience. Specifically, fears related to medical treatments, interventions and, in general, to the medical situation will be captured by a validated questionnaire, the results of which will be compared with the results of other methods (questionnaires, image assessment, etc.) that investigate the subjective elements of pain. Our aim is to develop effective methods that can be used to address patients' fears in clinical settings.

Keywords: medical fears; pain; pain sensitivity; psychosocial stress

Co-supervisor: Dr. GÁCS, Boróka

The well-being of students and staff in higher education institutions is of paramount importance. While interpretations of well-being vary widely and there is no single definition, there can be a number of components that all contribute to our well-being. These dimensions can be physical, psychological, social, environmental, etc. The study of this issue is key to ensure balanced and sustainable educational processes. The results of this research can help the institutions to understand the impact of well-being factors on organisational culture, student well-being and academic performance. This information can be used to develop intervention programmes that increase student satisfaction, reduce stress and promote a healthy teaching and learning environment.

The research will use a combined methodology to gain a deeper understanding, including both quantitative and qualitative tools. In addition to questionnaire data collection, we plan to conduct in-depth interviews and focus group discussions.

Keywords: well-being, organizational well-being, individual well-being, learning environment