Hi Uffe, what is your background and job role at AU?

HOMEBREW! I was born and raised in Aarhus. Bachelor at the Study of Religion. MA in Religion and psychology. PhD at the Study of Religion. The project included a series of neuroimaging studies on prayer. Since then, I have claimed expertise in experimental approaches to religion:-)

Associate Professor at the dept. of the Study of Religion.  

What are your main areas of research?

I am still interested in the link between brain function and religious cognition and behavior. I am especially curious about religious experiences, what it takes to have extraordinary experiences, e.g. of God's presence and reciprocity. 

How does that work in the brain?No research without collaboration. My area of research requires extensive collaboration with experts from other fields as well as PhD students and student helpers.

Are you involved with any teaching at the moment?

I teach basic and advanced psychology of religion classes. I also teach methods courses and more specialized courses on various religious phenomena.

How did you hear about Cognition and Behavior Lab?

I remember attending the opening of the lab some years ago.  

Have you used the Lab? If so, what are the benefits for researchers?

Yes, I have used the lab a couple of times to examine religious cognition with the lab's eye-tracking systems. I don't know of other places in the world where scholars of religion can go test their hypotheses directly in a lab. The ease by which creative ideas can materialize into concrete experiments is amazing! all thanks to the COBE lab:-) Thanks for that!  

Is there a particular recommendation you would like to pass on to other researchers? Something you wish you had known before you started, or just a useful trick.

Can't say I do.. well, curb your enthusiasm, and accept that the first study is only a pilot study to the next..

uhm.. good manners are important too.  

Could you recommend one academic book to fellow colleagues that you think is of great interest?

I rarely read academic books. They are so overrated. I take my info in liquid form or in journal articles.

.. but hard pressed, I would recommend 'Vehicles - Experiments in Synthetic Psychology' by Valentino von Braitenberg. Good friend and COBE co-affiliate, Kristoffer L. Nielbo gave it to me many years ago. It is awesome, something about it really touches the spirit of COBE lab.   

Away from your research, what do you enjoy doing?

I love to eat, drink, play, sleep. I am a sucker for soccer, and recently attracted to mind-expanding technologies. I also like my kids.

Finally, which Associated Researcher would you like to see under 'Spotlight' next time?