Publications & Press – Dr. Vera Ludwig

If you do not have access to the articles, please email me for a personal copy. For the most up-to-date list of my publications, visit my google scholar profile.

In press

Ludwig, V.U., Pawelski, J.O., Lewis, A. (in press). Positive sexuality: Reclaiming a vital dimension of human flourishing. In J. Mangelsdorf (Ed.), Textbook of Positive Psychology. Beltz Juventa.

Ludwig, V.U., Pawelski, J.O., Lewis, A. (in press). Positive Sexualität: Eine essentielle Dimension des menschlichen Wohlbefindens [Positive sexuality: An essential dimension of human flourishing]. In J. Mangelsdorf (Hrsg.), Lehrbuch Positive Psychologie. Beltz Juventa.

2026

Ludwig, V.U., Wey, J., Sudad, M., Bornemann, B., Lin, E., Rennie, S.M., de Wilde, M., Platt, M.L. (2026, September 23). In-person contemplative dyad meditation to increase mindfulness, connection, and well-being in young adults: A small randomized controlled trial. PsyArXiv [Preprint].

Ali, A., Ludwig, V.U. (2026). Finding the happy medium: A practice-oriented framework for navigating faith and non-heterosexuality based on qualitative interviews. International Journal of Sexual Health. 1-21. Free Accepted Manuscript PDF

Ludwig, V.U., Lewis, A., Pawelski, J., Crone, D. (2026). Sexuality in positive psychology: Toward the integration of a neglected component of human flourishing. The Journal of Positive Psychology. 1-12. Free full text available through PubMed Central.

2025

Ludwig, V.U., Platt, M.L. (2025). Look them in the eye: Strengthen teams and trust. Wharton @ Work.

Ludwig, V.U., Prieur, L., Rennie, S.M., Beswerchij, A., Weintraub, D., Berry, B., Wey, J., Candido, K., Platt, M.L. (2025). Synchronous smiles and hearts: Dyadic meditations enhance closeness and prosocial behavior in virtual and in-person settings. Mindfulness. 16, 1719–1744.

2024

Barack*, D.L., Ludwig*, V.U., Parodi, F., Ahmed, N., Brannon, E. M , Ramakrishnan, A., Platt, M.L. (2024). Attention deficits linked with proclivity to explore while foraging. Proceedings B 291:2017.

Ludwig, V.U., Platt, M.L. (2024). Create authentic connections with virtual team members. Wharton @ Work.

2023

Barack, D.L., Parodi, F., Ludwig, V.U., Platt, M.L. (2023). Information gathering explains dynamics during human and monkey reward foraging. BioRxiv [Preprint].

Ludwig, V.U., Hugander, P., Johnson, E.J., Platt, M.L. (2023). The Meeting Style that Generates Breakthrough Solutions. Wharton @ Work.

Ludwig, V.U., Johnson, E.J., Platt, M.L., Hugander, P. (2023). How Jazz Can Unlock Your Team’s Next Breakthrough. Knowledge @ Wharton.

Cai, J., Ludwig, V.U., Platt, M.L., (2023). Creating Authentic Connections in Virtual Teams. Knowledge @ Wharton.

2022

Ludwig, V.U., Berry, B.*, Cai, J.Y.*, Chen, N.M.*, Crone, D.L., Platt, M.L. (2022). The impact of disclosing emotions on ratings of interpersonal closeness, warmth, competence, and leadership ability. Frontiers in Psychology, 13. [*equal contributions]

Barack*, D.L., Ludwig*, V.U., Parodi, F., Ahmed, N., Brannon, E. M , Ramakrishnan, A., Platt, M.L. (2022) Attention deficits linked with proclivity to explore while foraging [Preprint]. [*equal contributions]

Ludwig, V.U.*, Crone, D.L.*, Clifton, J.D.W., Rebele, R., Schor, J., Platt, M.L. (2022). Resilience of primal world beliefs to the initial shock of the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Personality. [*equal contributions; for free preprint, click here]

Ludwig, V.U., Pickenbrock, H., Döppner, D.A. (2022). Factors facilitating and hindering the use of newly acquired positioning skills in clinical practice: a longitudinal survey. Frontiers in Medicine. 9:863257.

2021

Beccia, A.L., Ruf, A., Druker, S., Ludwig, V.U., Brewer, J.A. (2021). Women’s experiences with a mindful eating program for binge and emotional eating: a qualitative investigation into the process of change. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.

Ludwig, V.U., Hugander, P., Johnson, E., Platt, M.L. (2021). Real Brain Training: Five minutes to better decisions. Wharton @ Work.

Magrabi, A., Ludwig, V.U., Stoppel, C.M., Paschke, L.M., Wisniewski, D., Heekeren, H.R., Walter, H. (2021). Dynamic computation of value signals via a common neural network in multi-attribute decision-making. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience.

Platt, M.L., Ludwig, V.U., Johnson, E., Hugander, P. (2021) Perspective Taking: A brain hack that can help you make better decisions. Knowledge @ Wharton.

Taylor, V.A.*, Moseley, I.*, Sun, S., Smith, R., Roy, A., Ludwig, V.U., Brewer, J.A. (2021). Awareness drives changes in reward value which predict eating behavior change: Probing reinforcement learning using experience sampling from mobile mindfulness training for maladaptive eating. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 10(3), 482–497. [*equal contributions]

2020

Ludwig, V.U. (2020). Positive Sexualität: Unser Liebesleben aus der Sicht der Wissenschaft [Positive Sexuality: A scientific perspective on our love lives]. Helmut Fink & Rainer Rosenzweig (Eds.). Chapter in Hirn im Glück – Freude, Liebe, Hoffnung im Spiegel der Neurowissenschaft, Tagungsband zum Kortizes Symposium 2019.

Ludwig, V.U., Brown, K.W., Brewer, J.A. (2020). Self-regulation without force: can awareness leverage reward to drive behavior change? [PDF] Perspectives on Psychological Science. 1-18.

2018
Bruening, J., Ludwig, V.U., Paschke, L.M., Walter, H. (2018). Motivational effects on the processing of delayed intentions in the anterior prefrontal cortex. NeuroImage, 172, 517-526.

Davis, O.C., Ludwig, V.U. (2018). The differences among mindfulness, flow, and hypnosis. Positive Psychology News.

Kruschwitz, J.D.*, Ludwig, V.U.*, Waller, L., List, D., Wisniewski, D., Wolfensteller, U., . . . Walter, H. (2018). Regulating craving by anticipating positive and negative outcomes: a multivariate pattern analysis and network connectivity approach. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 12(297). [*equal contributions]

Kruschwitz, J.D., Waller, L., List, D., Wisniewski, D., Ludwig, V.U., Korb, F., Wolfensteller, U., Goschke, T., Walter, H. (2018). Anticipating the good and the bad: a study on the neural correlates of bivalent emotion anticipation and their malleability via attentional deployment. NeuroImage, 183, 553-564.

2017
Pickenbrock, H., Ludwig, V.U., & Zapf, A. (2017). Support pressure distribution for positioning in neutral versus conventional positioning in the prevention of decubitus ulcers: a pilot study in healthy participants. BMC Nursing, 16, 60.

Wiers, C.E., Gladwin, T.E., Ludwig, V.U., Gröpper, S., Stuke, H., Wiers, R.W., Walter, H.*, & Bermpohl, F.* (2017). Comparing three cognitive biases for alcohol cues in alcohol dependence. Alcohol & Alcoholism, 52(2), 242-248. [*equal contributions]

2016
Paschke, L.M., Dörfel, D., Steimke, R., Trempler, I., Magrabi, A., Ludwig, V.U., Schubert, T., Stelzel, C.*, & Walter, H.* (2016). Individual differences in self-reported self-control predict successful emotion regulation. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 11(8),1193-1204. [*equal contributions]

Steimke, R., Stelzel, C., Gaschler, R., Rothkirch, M., Ludwig, V.U., Paschke, L.M., Trempler, I., Kathmann, N., Goschke, T., & Walter, H. (2016). Decomposing self-control: individual differences in goal pursuit despite interfering aversion, temptation, and distraction. Frontiers in Psychology, 7(382).

2015
Ludwig, V.U.*, Nüsser, C.*, Goschke, T., Wittfoth-Schardt, D., Wiers, C.E., Erk, S., Schott, B.*, & Walter, H.* (2015). Delay discounting without decision-making: Medial prefrontal cortex and amygdala activations reflect immediacy processing and correlate with impulsivity and anxious-depressive traits. Frontiers in Behavioural Neuroscience, 9(280). [*equal contributions]

Ludwig, V.U.*, Seitz, J.*, Schönfeldt-Lecuona, C., Höse, A., Abler, B., Hole, G., Goebel, R., & Walter, H. (2015). The neural correlates of movement intentions: A pilot study comparing hypnotic and simulated paralysis. Consciousness & Cognition, 35, 158–170. [*equal contributions]

Paschke*, L.M., Walter*, H., Steimke, R., Ludwig, V.U., Gaschler, R., Schubert, T., & Stelzel, C. (2015). Motivation by potential gains and losses affects control processes via different mechanisms in the attentional network. NeuroImage, 111, 549-561. [*equal contributions]

Pickenbrock, H., Ludwig, V.U., Zapf, A., & Dressler, D. (2015). Conventional versus neutral positioning in central neurological disease—a multicenter randomized controlled trial. Deutsches Ärzteblatt International, 112, 35–42.

Wiers, C.E., Ludwig, V.U., Gladwin, T. E., Park, S. Q., Heinz, A., Wiers, R.W., Rinck, M., Lindenmeyer, J., Walter, H.,* & Bermpohl, F.* (2015). Neural effects of cognitive bias modification training on alcohol approach tendencies in male alcohol-dependent patients. Addiction Biology, 20(5), 990-999. [*equal contributions]

2014
Ludwig, V.U., Stelzel, C., Krutiak, H., Magrabi, A., Steimke, R., Paschke, L.M., Kathmann, N., & Walter, H. (2014). The suggestible brain: posthypnotic effects on value-based decision-making. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 9(9), 1281-1288.

Ludwig, V.U., Stelzel, C., Krutiak, H., Paschke, L.M., Magrabi, A., Steimke, R., Kathmann, N., & Walter, H. (2014). Die Effekte von posthypnotischen Suggestionen und Autosuggestionen auf die Bewertung ungesunder Lebensmittel: Eine Untersuchung mittels funktioneller Magnetresonanztomographie. Hypnose – Zeitschrift für Hypnose und Hypnotherapie. 9 (1+2), 117-146.

Wiers, C.E., Stelzel, C., Park, S.Q., Gawron, C. K., Ludwig, V.U., Gutwinski, S., Heinz, A., Lindenmeyer, J., Wiers, R.W., Walter, H.*, & Bermpohl, F.* (2014). Neural correlates of alcohol approach bias in alcohol addiction: The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak for spirits. Neuropsychopharmacology, 39(3), 688-697. [*equal contributions]

2013
Ludwig, V.U., Stelzel, C., Krutiak, H., Prunkl, C.E., Steimke, R., Paschke, L.M., Kathmann, N., & Walter, H. (2013). Impulsivity, self-control, and hypnotic suggestibility. Consciousness and Cognition, 22(2), 637-653.

Ludwig, V.U., & Simner, J. (2013). What colour does that feel? Tactile-visual mapping and the development of cross-modality. Cortex, 49(4), 1089-1099.

2012
Simner, J., & Ludwig, V.U. (2012). The color of touch: a case of tactile-visual synaesthesia. Neurocase 18(2), 167-180.

2011
Ludwig, V.U.*, Adachi, I.*, & Matsuzawa, T. (2011). Visuoauditory mappings between high luminance and high pitch are shared by chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and humans. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 108(51), 20661-20665. [*equal contributions]