Prof. Dr. Dirk Scheele leitet den Bereich Social Neuroscience an der Medizinischen Fakultät der Ruhr-Universität Bochum. Seine Forschung konzentriert sich auf die neurobiologischen Mechanismen sozialer Bindung und Interaktion. Er untersucht, wie das Gehirn soziale Prozesse reguliert als Grundlage für bessere Therapieansätze bei Störungen sozialer Interaktion.
Seit 2023 Professor für Social Neuroscience, Fakultät für Medizin, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, und Research Center One Health Ruhr der Universitätsallianz Ruhr
2022-2023 Professor für Social Neuroscience, Fakultät für Psychologie, Ruhr-Universität Bochum
2022-2023 Assoziierter Junior Fellow des Hanse-Wissenschaftskolleg (HWK), Institute for Advanced Study, Delmenhorst
2020-2022 Stellvertretender Forschungsleiter, Universitätsklinik für Psychiatrie & Psychotherapie, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg
2019-2020 Stellvertretender Forschungsleiter, Abteilung für Medizinische Psychologie, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn
2018 Gastwissenschaftler, California Institute of Technology, USA
2014-2018 Postdoc, Division of Medical Psychology, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn
2011-2014 Dr. rer. nat. in der Forschungsgruppe “Neuromodulation of Emotion”, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn
2007-2010 M.Sc. Psychologie mit Schwerpunkt kognitive Neurowissenschaften, Ruhr-Universität Bochum
Prof. Dr. Dirk Scheele erforscht die neurobiologischen Grundlagen sozialer Bindung. Seine Arbeitsgruppe untersucht kognitive und sensorische Veränderungen bei sozialer Isolation und Einsamkeit sowie den Einfluss sozialer Bindung auf die Verarbeitung von Traumata. Die Forschung umfasst visuelle, auditive, taktile und olfaktorische Reize.
Methodisch kombiniert das Team behaviorale und hormonelle Messungen mit nicht-invasiven Hirnstimulationsverfahren (transkranielle Gleichstromstimulation), psychophysiologischen Erhebungen (EDA, EKG, Respiration bei sozialen Dyaden) und bildgebenden Verfahren (fMRT 1,5 bis 7 Tesla, fNIRS, mobiles EEG).
Aktuelle Publikationen
Packheiser J, Scheele D, Hube V, Langer K, Wolf OT, Maymon C, Ocklenburg S, Berretz G (2026). Regulating intense fear: Does cognitive reappraisal attenuate physiological and subjective fear responses in an immersive VR environment?. Horm Behav, 184, 105978. doi: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2026.105978
Mueller C, Onken M, Hildebrandt A, Cash R FH, Kiebs M, Zalesky A, Scheele D, Hurlemann R (2026).
Connectivity-guided accelerated theta burst stimulation as augmentation for inpatient treatment-resistant depression: a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial. medRxiv, 2026.06. 25.26356553.
Azaad S, Scheele D, Shteynberg G, Echterhoff G (2026). Are co-attention effects on memory limited to group members? A registered conceptual replication and extension of Shteynberg (2010). Psychol Res, 90(3). doi: 10.1007/s00426-026-02329-y
Ocklenburg S, Fohrmann D, Breuer K J, Thomas G, Merklein SA, Reinke P, Packheiser J, Scheele D, Hidalgo-Gadea G, Schlenstedt C, Hollander K (2025). Three-Dimensional Movement Analysis of Hugging in Romantic Couples and Platonic Friends Using Markerless Motion Capture Journal of Nonverbal Behavior (2025) 49:443–465(3).
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10919-025-00495-y
Bregulla M, Packheiser J, Merz CJ, Echterhoff G, Scheele D (2026). Affective touch and face recognition: effects on memory and metacognitive performance. Sci Rep, 16(1). doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-43969-9
Piejka A, Elsenbruch S, Icenhour A, Okruszek L, Scheele D, Packheiser J (2026). A multivariate meta-analysis on the relationship between social
connectedness and pain. medRxiv, doi.org/10.64898/2026.03.24.26349176
Wiśniewska M, Piejka A, Wolak T, Scheele D, Okruszek Ł (2025). Loneliness - not for the faint of heart? Effects of transient loneliness induction on neural and parasympathetic responses to affective stimuli. Soc Neurosci, 20(6), 319-332. doi: 10.1080/17470919.2025.2498384
Barton S, Pruin A, Schulze J, Kiebs M, Scheele D, Hurlemann R (2025). Dose-response effects of exogenous oxytocin on social cognition: A systematic review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev, 178, 106350. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106350
Packheiser J, Ocklenburg S, Hurlemann R, Scheele D (2025). Embracing the void: exploring the relationship between
chronic loneliness and social touch.Curr Opin Behav Sc 2025, doi.org/10.1016/j.cobeha.2025.101590 .
Haihambo N, Layiwola DM, Blank H, Hurlemann R, Scheele D (2025). Loneliness and social conformity: A predictive processing perspective. Ann N Y Acad Sci, 1547(1), 5-17. doi: 10.1111/nyas.15324
Voelter J, Postin D, Croy I, Hurlemann R, Scheele D (2025). A Neural Signature of Touch Aversion and Interpersonal Problems in Borderline Personality Disorder. Psychother Psychosom, 94(5), 358-372. doi: 10.1159/000545973
Stevens L, Bregulla M, Scheele D (2024). Out of touch? How trauma shapes the experience of social touch - Neural and endocrine pathways. Neurosci Biobehav Rev, 159, 105595. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105595
Berger R, Hurlemann R, Shamay-Tsoory S, Kanterman A, Brauser M, Gorni J, Luhmann M, Schramm E, Schultz J, Philipsen A, Lieberz J, Scheele D (2024). Oxytocin-Augmented Modular-Based Group Intervention for Loneliness: A Proof-Of-Concept Randomized Controlled Trial. Psychother Psychosom, 93(3), 169-180. doi: 10.1159/000538752
Mielacher C, Scheele D, Kiebs M, Schmitt L, Dellert T, Philipsen A, Lamm C, Hurlemann R (2024). Altered reward network responses to social touch in major depression. Psychol Med, 54(2), 308-316. doi: 10.1017/S0033291723001617
Coenjaerts M, Adrovic B, Trimborn I, Philipsen A, Hurlemann R, Scheele D (2023). Effects of exogenous oxytocin and estradiol on resting-state functional connectivity in women and men. Sci Rep, 13(1), 3113. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-29754-y
Sailer U, Riva F, Lieberz J, Campbell-Meiklejohn D, Scheele D, Pfabigan DM (2023). Hungry for compliments? Ghrelin is not associated with neural responses to social rewards or their pleasantness. Front Psychiatry, 14, 1104305. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1104305
Saporta N, Scheele D, Lieberz J, Nevat M, Kanterman A, Hurlemann R, Shamay-Tsoory SG (2022). Altered activation in the action observation system during synchronization in high loneliness individuals. Cereb Cortex, 33(2), 385-402. doi: 10.1093/cercor/bhac073
Coenjaerts M, Trimborn I, Adrovic B, Stoffel-Wagner B, Cahill L, Philipsen A, Hurlemann R, Scheele D (2022). Exogenous estradiol and oxytocin modulate sex differences in hippocampal reactivity during the encoding of episodic memories. Neuroimage, 264, 119689. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119689
Lan C, Liu C, Li K, Zhao Z, Yang J, Ma Y, Scheele D, Yao S, Kendrick KM, Becker B (2022). Oxytocinergic Modulation of Stress-Associated Amygdala-Hippocampus Pathways in Humans Is Mediated by Serotonergic Mechanisms. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol, 25(10), 807-817. doi: 10.1093/ijnp/pyac037
Hopf D, Schneider E, Aguilar-Raab C, Scheele D, Morr M, Klein T, Ditzen B, Eckstein M (2022). Loneliness and diurnal cortisol levels during COVID-19 lockdown: the roles of living situation, relationship status and relationship quality. Sci Rep, 12(1), 15076. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-19224-2
Morr M, Noell J, Sassin D, Daniels J, Philipsen A, Becker B, Stoffel-Wagner B, Hurlemann R, Scheele D (2022). Lonely in the Dark: Trauma Memory and Sex-Specific Dysregulation of Amygdala Reactivity to Fear Signals. Adv Sci (Weinh), 9(15), e2105336. doi: 10.1002/advs.202105336
Lieberz J, Shamay-Tsoory SG, Saporta N, Kanterman A, Gorni J, Esser T, Kuskova E, Schultz J, Hurlemann R, Scheele D (2022). Behavioral and Neural Dissociation of Social Anxiety and Loneliness. J Neurosci, 42(12), 2570-2583. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2029-21.2022
Lieberz J, Shamay-Tsoory SG, Saporta N, Esser T, Kuskova E, Stoffel-Wagner B, Hurlemann R, Scheele D (2021). Loneliness and the Social Brain: How Perceived Social Isolation Impairs Human Interactions. Adv Sci (Weinh), 8(21), e2102076. doi: 10.1002/advs.202102076
Liu C, Lan C, Li K, Zhou F, Yao S, Xu L, Yang N, Zhou X, Yang J, Yong X, Ma Y, Scheele D, Kendrick KM, Becker B (2021). Oxytocinergic Modulation of Threat-Specific Amygdala Sensitization in Humans Is Critically Mediated by Serotonergic Mechanisms. Biol Psychiatry Cogn Neurosci Neuroimaging, 6(11), 1081-1089. doi: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2021.04.009
Liu C, Xu L, Li J, Zhou F, Yang X, Zheng X, Fu M, Li K, Sindermann C, Montag C, Ma Y, Scheele D, Ebstein RP, Yao S, Kendrick KM, Becker B (2021). Serotonin and early life stress interact to shape brain architecture and anxious avoidant behavior - a TPH2 imaging genetics approach. Psychol Med, 51(14), 2476-2484. doi: 10.1017/S0033291720002809
Coenjaerts M, Pape F, Santoso V, Grau F, Stoffel-Wagner B, Philipsen A, Schultz J, Hurlemann R, Scheele D (2021). Sex differences in economic decision-making: Exogenous estradiol has opposing effects on fairness framing in women and men. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol, 50, 46-54. doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2021.04.006
Morr M, Lieberz J, Dobbelstein M, Philipsen A, Hurlemann R, Scheele D (2021). Insula reactivity mediates subjective isolation stress in alexithymia. Sci Rep, 11(1), 15326. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-94799-w
Marsh N, Scheele D, Postin D, Onken M, Hurlemann R (2021). Eye-Tracking Reveals a Role of Oxytocin in Attention Allocation Towards Familiar Faces. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne), 12, 629760. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2021.629760
Quintana DS, Lischke A, Grace S, Scheele D, Ma Y, Becker B (2021). Advances in the field of intranasal oxytocin research: lessons learned and future directions for clinical research. Mol Psychiatry, 26(1), 80-91. doi: 10.1038/s41380-020-00864-7
Kreuder AK, Scheele D, Schultz J, Hennig J, Marsh N, Dellert T, Ettinger U, Philipsen A, Babasiz M, Herscheid A, Remmersmann L, Stirnberg R, Stöcker T, Hurlemann R (2020). Common and dissociable effects of oxytocin and lorazepam on the neurocircuitry of fear. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 117(21), 11781-11787. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1920147117
Zhao W, Zimmermann K, Zhou X, Zhou F, Fu M, Dernbach C, Scheele D, Weber B, Eckstein M, Hurlemann R, Kendrick KM, Becker B (2020). Impaired cognitive performance under psychosocial stress in cannabis-dependent men is associated with attenuated precuneus activity. J Psychiatry Neurosci, 45(2), 88-97. doi: 10.1503/jpn.190039
Maier A, Heinen-Ludwig L, Güntürkün O, Hurlemann R, Scheele D (2020). Childhood Maltreatment Alters the Neural Processing of Chemosensory Stress Signals. Front Psychiatry, 11, 783. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00783
Maier A, Gieling C, Heinen-Ludwig L, Stefan V, Schultz J, Güntürkün O, Becker B, Hurlemann R, Scheele D (2020). Association of Childhood Maltreatment With Interpersonal Distance and Social Touch Preferences in Adulthood. Am J Psychiatry, 177(1), 37-46. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2019.19020212
Scheele D, Zimbal S, Feinstein JS, Delis A, Neumann C, Mielacher C, Philipsen A, Hurlemann R (2019). Treatment-Resistant Depression and Ketamine Response in a Patient With Bilateral Amygdala Damage. Am J Psychiatry, 176(12), 982-986. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2019.18101219
Spengler FB, Scheele D, Kaiser S, Heinrichs M, Hurlemann R (2019). A Protective Mechanism against Illusory Perceptions Is Amygdala-Dependent. J Neurosci, 39(17), 3301-3308. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2577-18.2019
Zimmermann K, Kendrick KM, Scheele D, Dau W, Banger M, Maier W, Weber B, Ma Y, Hurlemann R, Becker B (2019). Altered striatal reward processing in abstinent dependent cannabis users: Social context matters. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol, 29(3), 356-364. doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2019.01.106
Eckstein M, Almeida de Minas AC, Scheele D, Kreuder AK, Hurlemann R, Grinevich V, Ditzen B (2019). Oxytocin for learning calm and safety. Int J Psychophysiol, 136, 5-14. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2018.06.004
Kreuder AK, Wassermann L, Wollseifer M, Ditzen B, Eckstein M, Stoffel-Wagner B, Hennig J, Hurlemann R, Scheele D (2019). Oxytocin enhances the pain-relieving effects of social support in romantic couples. Hum Brain Mapp, 40(1), 242-251. doi: 10.1002/hbm.24368
Zhou F, Zimmermann K, Xin F, Scheele D, Dau W, Banger M, Weber B, Hurlemann R, Kendrick KM, Becker B (2018). Shifted balance of dorsal versus ventral striatal communication with frontal reward and regulatory regions in cannabis-dependent males. Hum Brain Mapp, 39(12), 5062-5073. doi: 10.1002/hbm.24345
Lendvai IS, Maier A, Scheele D, Hurlemann R, Kinfe TM (2018). Spotlight on cervical vagus nerve stimulation for the treatment of primary headache disorders: a review. J Pain Res, 11, 1613-1625. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S129202
Hurlemann R, Marsh N, Schultz J, Scheele D (2017). Oxytocin shapes the priorities and neural representations of attitudes and values. Behav Brain Sci, 40, e241. doi: 10.1017/S0140525X16000807
Eckstein M, Scheele D, Patin A, Preckel K, Becker B, Walter A, Domschke K, Grinevich V, Maier W, Hurlemann R (2016). Oxytocin Facilitates Pavlovian Fear Learning in Males. Neuropsychopharmacology, 41(4), 932-9. doi: 10.1038/npp.2015.245
Hu Y, Scheele D, Becker B, Voos G, David B, Hurlemann R, Weber B (2016). The Effect of Oxytocin on Third-Party Altruistic Decisions in Unfair Situations: An fMRI Study. Sci Rep, 6, 20236. doi: 10.1038/srep20236
Hurlemann R, Scheele D (2016). Dissecting the Role of Oxytocin in the Formation and Loss of Social Relationships. Biol Psychiatry, 79(3), 185-93. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2015.05.013
Hurlemann R, Maier W, Scheele D (2016). Interactions of noradrenaline and cortisol and the induction of indelible memories. Behav Brain Sci, 39, e213. doi: 10.1017/S0140525X15001843
Scheele D, Schwering C, Elison JT, Spunt R, Maier W, Hurlemann R (2015). A human tendency to anthropomorphize is enhanced by oxytocin. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol, 25(10), 1817-23. doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2015.05.009
Preckel K, Scheele D, Eckstein M, Maier W, Hurlemann R (2015). The influence of oxytocin on volitional and emotional ambivalence. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci, 10(7), 987-93. doi: 10.1093/scan/nsu147
Scheele D, Striepens N, Kendrick KM, Schwering C, Noelle J, Wille A, Schläpfer TE, Maier W, Hurlemann R (2014). Opposing effects of oxytocin on moral judgment in males and females. Hum Brain Mapp, 35(12), 6067-76. doi: 10.1002/hbm.22605
Scheele D, Kendrick KM, Khouri C, Kretzer E, Schläpfer TE, Stoffel-Wagner B, Güntürkün O, Maier W, Hurlemann R (2014). An oxytocin-induced facilitation of neural and emotional responses to social touch correlates inversely with autism traits. Neuropsychopharmacology, 39(9), 2078-85. doi: 10.1038/npp.2014.78
Preckel K, Scheele D, Kendrick KM, Maier W, Hurlemann R (2014). Oxytocin facilitates social approach behavior in women. Front Behav Neurosci, 8, 191. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2014.00191
Scheele D, Wille A, Kendrick KM, Stoffel-Wagner B, Becker B, Güntürkün O, Maier W, Hurlemann R (2013). Oxytocin enhances brain reward system responses in men viewing the face of their female partner. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 110(50), 20308-13. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1314190110
Scheele D, Mihov Y, Schwederski O, Maier W, Hurlemann R (2013). A negative emotional and economic judgment bias in major depression. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci, 263(8), 675-83. doi: 10.1007/s00406-013-0392-5
Scheele D, Striepens N, Güntürkün O, Deutschländer S, Maier W, Kendrick KM, Hurlemann R (2012). Oxytocin modulates social distance between males and females. J Neurosci, 32(46), 16074-9. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2755-12.2012
Striepens N, Scheele D, Kendrick KM, Becker B, Schäfer L, Schwalba K, Reul J, Maier W, Hurlemann R (2012). Oxytocin facilitates protective responses to aversive social stimuli in males. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 109(44), 18144-9. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1208852109
Becker B, Mihov Y, Scheele D, Kendrick KM, Feinstein JS, Matusch A, Aydin M, Reich H, Urbach H, Oros-Peusquens AM, Shah NJ, Kunz WS, Schlaepfer TE, Zilles K, Maier W, Hurlemann R (2012). Fear processing and social networking in the absence of a functional amygdala. Biol Psychiatry, 72(1), 70-7. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2011.11.024
Brüne M, Scheele D, Heinisch C, Tas C, Wischniewski J, Güntürkün O (2012). Empathy moderates the effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex on costly punishment. PLoS One, 7(9), e44747. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0044747