Doctoral studies
OBN offers the possibility of doctoral studies in several programmes, particularly in the interdisciplinary program Medical Neurosciences. If you are interested or want to learn more, do not hesitate to contact the head or other OBN staff.
Open PhD positions
For the academic year 2026/2027.
| Topic | The role of inhibitory control in the regulation of long-term memory encoding and retrieval |
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| Supervisor | Martin Marko |
| Programme | Medical neurosciences |
| Faculty | Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava |
| Study format | Internal |
| Annotation | Inhibitory control belongs to a class of higher-order cognitive functions important for behavioral flexibility and is impaired in many neuropsychiatric conditions. Recent research has provided converging evidence that inhibition modulates fundamental memory processes, yet the underlying cognitive and neurobiological mechanisms of such involvement remain poorly understood. The aim of this dissertation is to systematically investigate the role of inhibitory control in the encoding and retrieval of information to/from long-term memory, and to elucidate the mechanisms through which this form of adaptive control is implemented in human cognition. The dissertation will be structured into two complementary parts. In the first part, we will implement a modified Associative–Dissociative Retrieval Task to determine whether and to what extent executive inhibition influences the depth of information encoding into long-term memory and the regulation of subsequent retrieval processes. In the second part of the dissertation, we plan to causally manipulate the neurocognitive processes underlying memory encoding and retrieval using non-invasive stimulation of peripheral nerves with weak electrical currents. The findings of this dissertation are expected to advance current understanding of the mechanisms through which inhibitory control shapes human declarative memory. |
| Topic | Effects of postural threat on sensory control of human balance |
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| Supervisor | Jana Kimijanová |
| Programme | Medical neurosciences |
| Faculty | Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava |
| Study format | Internal |
| Annotation | The most common postural threat is exposure to height, for example when standing on an elevated platform. Exposure to height is associated not only with unpleasant sensations and increased stress levels, but may also significantly affect balance control and the involvement of individual sensory systems, thereby increasing the risk of falls. The aim of the PhD. thesis will be to analyze and evaluate postural and physiological responses of individuals exposed to postural threat in a virtual reality environment. It will also examine the role of sensory inputs, particularly proprioception and vision, in maintaining postural stability, as well as how these responses change when stimulated at different heights. |
