Institute of Cognitive Science

This week, we are welcoming nine CogSci students from  Linköping University to UOS for the first time. After a relaxed welcome breakfast, our guests are now fully immersed in everyday university life: the program ranges from attending lectures together and academic discussions to social activities in the city. A return visit to Sweden is already in the works—we are thrilled to have these new members join our international community!

Caught in a cycle of negative thoughts: What actually happens in the brain when we get stuck in a spiral of negative thoughts? A major international project led by  Oxford University is searching for answers. Among the participants is Prof. Dr. Lilian Weber, who leads the  Cognitive Modeling research group. She translates the mechanisms of so-called rumination into mathematical models and validates them empirically using transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS). Initial results demonstrating the potential of TUS for researching affective processes in the brain were recently published in the  Journal Neuron.

 Prof. Dr. Sebastian Musslick and  Prof. Dr. Pascal Nieters present AI research at the Hannover Messe - as part of the  "AI for Science" initiative. The focus is on the "AI Scientist" exhibit, which shows how artificial intelligence can act as an active researcher in future: independently designing experiments and generating new knowledge. There is a lot of interest: visitors to the stand included Falko Mohrs, Lower Saxony's Minister for Science and Culture, and Melanie Walter, Minister for Europe and Regional Development.

 Prof. Dr. Rainer Mühlhoff has been awarded the  Friedrich Ebert Foundation’s “The Political Book” prize for his work “Artificial Intelligence and the New Fascism.” The award ceremony will take place on May 21, 2026, in Berlin, and includes a cash prize of 10,000 euros. The jury praised Mühlhoff’s in-depth analysis of how “tech ideologies” spin quasi-religious narratives of salvation around AI while obscuring real harms such as data misuse, surveillance, economic exploitation, and the weakening of democracy. The book demonstrates how unchecked AI development undermines democratic institutions and erodes legal norms. The prize thus honors critical, clearly presented contributions to current socio-political issues.