Rate My Professor Maximilian Friehs

Dr. Maximilian A. Friehs serves as Assistant Professor in the Psychology of Conflict, Risk and Safety section within the Faculty of Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences at the University of Twente. He obtained his PhD from Trier University in Germany. His career includes previous appointments at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Germany, the University of Saskatchewan in Canada, University College Dublin in Ireland, and Trier University. Friehs bridges psychology, neuroscience, and human-computer interaction, fostering collaborations across these domains and beyond, including video game design. He is part of the Sector Plan Team for Societal Transitions and Behaviour Change and contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals such as Good Health and Well-being, Sustainable Cities and Communities, and Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.

Friehs' research centers on changing human behavior and enhancing performance in critical situations. His interests encompass Human-Mediated Reality Interactions, examining the influence of virtual agents on user experiences, game-design features for motivation and immersion in virtual environments, and co-design in mediated reality. He also investigates Shaping Cognitive Control, which involves optimizing stimulus processing and reaction times, translating laboratory research to real-world applications, performance enhancement, and the impact of altered neurophysiological states through acute stress or non-invasive brain stimulation like transcranial direct current stimulation. Key projects include Avatar Perception and Interaction, Emergency Escape, Video Game Performance and Experience, Safe and Pleasant Parks, and Cognitive Warfare. His publications include 'Effects of single-session transcranial direct current stimulation on reactive response inhibition' (Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 2021), 'Shocking advantage! Improving digital game performance using non-invasive brain stimulation' (International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 2021), 'Pimping inhibition: Anodal tDCS enhances stop-signal reaction time' (Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 2018), 'Offline beats online: transcranial direct current stimulation timing influences on working memory' (Neuroreport, 2019), and 'Dynamic defence: Dynamic guardianship for enhanced neighbourhood security' (Journal of Experimental Criminology, 2026). With over 1,100 citations on Google Scholar, his work impacts cognitive neuroscience, response inhibition, and human-computer interaction. Friehs teaches courses such as Advanced Research Methods for CRS, Foundation of Neuroscience, and Masterthesis CRS, supervises internships and theses, and founded the Research Enthusiasts Club.