A photo of Mara Mather standing in the institute's lobby.

Mara Mather Appointed Director at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development

On September 1, Neuroscientist Mara Mather is starting as director of the newly established Center for Affective and Autonomic Neuroscience (CAAN) at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Berlin. As Scientific Member of the Max Planck Society, she will investigate how emotions, physiological regulation processes, and brain aging are connected—and what role these interactions play in the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, and in their prevention.
Graphic: A robotic hand transmits ideas represented by light bulbs to five human silhouettes in a row, indicating knowledge sharing.

How AI can contribute to human cultural evolution?

New study shows the conditions under which AI can not only solve problems but also create a lasting expansion of human knowledge.
The silhouette of a person against a forest of yellow-green and dark-green trees.

When nature not only restores, but fortifies

Previous research may have underestimated the capacity of natural environments to promote concentration and well-being, even in the absence of prior stressors, a review by the Center for Environmental Neuroscience at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development shows. 
-

Our Institute in the media

Here you can find links to selected articles, radio- and TV reports about the activities of the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in 2025.
-

Join our research – become part of our studies

The Max Planck Institute for Human Development is always looking for adults and children of all ages, who would like to take part in studies.
-

About our Institute

Get to know us – our Research Center and Groups, our service structure, and what drives us in our scientific work.




Journal Article
Sander, M. C., Shoushtari, S. S. Z., Düzel, S., & Fandakova, Y. (2026). Memory specificity in aging: Detrimental and beneficial effects of item similarity. Psychology and Aging. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/pag0001010
Journal Article
Koch, J., Buchinger, L., Brady, B., Drewelies, J., Duezel, S., Lindenberger, U., Ghisletta, P., Ram, N., Demuth, I., Vetter, V., Anstey, K. J., & Gerstorf, D. (2026). Health, cognitive, and psychosocial trajectories over nearly a decade as distal antecedents of awareness of age-related change in old age. The Journals of Gerontology: B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbag170
Journal Article
Brinkmann, L., Eisenmann, T. F., Nussberger, A.-M., Derex, M., Bonati, S., Chirkov, V., & Rahwan, I. (2026). Propagation and preservation of AI-discovered problem-solving strategies in human culture. Nature Communications, 17, Article 8255. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-76113-2
[These authors contributed equally: Levin Brinkmann, Thomas F. Eisenmann, Anne-Marie Nussberger.].

LIP External Colloquium: Satoshi Usami, The University of Tokyo, Japan - "Longitudinal Data Analysis for Inferring Within-Person Relations: Recent Methodological Issues in Model Selection and Estimation"

Satoshi Usami, The University of Tokyo, Japan
Sep 2, 2026 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM (Local Time Germany)
Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Lentzeallee 94, 14195 Berlin, Room: Room 299

Paul-B.-Baltes Lecture 2026

Oct 14, 2026 06:00 PM - 08:00 PM (Local Time Germany)
Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften (BBAW) Leibniz-Saal Markgrafenstraße 38, 10117 Berlin



We are looking for qualified and motivated professionals to join our Research Center and Services. Here you can find all open positions along with details about responsibilities and requirements.



 
The Max Planck Institute for Human Development is committed to promoting equal opportunities for all genders. We take both organizational and personnel measures to facilitate the reconciliation of work and family life and to promote women’s careers. Our aim is to ensure a positive environment that promotes and supports excellence.
The Max Planck Institute for Human Development provides many opportunities for predocs. Among others, the two International Max Planck Research Schools at the Institute as well as the Max Planck School of Cognition provide an excellent training context.

 
Go to Editor View