My name is Alexandra Hoffmann and I am currently working as a postdoc researcher at the University of Innsbruck. I completed my PhD at the UMIT in Hall in Tyrol. My scientific focus during this time was on the psychophysiological basis of cognitive deficits in major depression. In the process, I acquired a lot of methodological knowledge, especially in physiology, but also in eye-tracking. Although I enjoyed clinical research, I wanted to broaden my spectrum again after completing my doctorate. Therefore, I applied for a postdoctoral position in general psychology. In the last four years, I focused more on eye-tracking and physiology. In general, I wanted to understand which physiological indicators can predict human perception and cognitive performance. I have mainly used the electrocardiogram, but also started to do electrodermal measurements, and dived deeper into eye-tracking by studying blink rate and pupil size in different paradigms. I am currently working on my habilitation.

My research currently focuses on human gaze behaviour in social contexts, for example in natural environments or during social interactions. Mobile eye tracking is used here, which offers a good opportunity to measure natural gaze behaviour in real social situations. Thus, new knowledge about perception and attention can be obtained. 

 

Research Interests

• Mobile Eyetracking
• Psychophysiology
• Social Attention

 

Current & Ongoing Projects

1. Mutual eye-contact and blink synchronization as predictors for successful cooperation - In cooperation with the Free University of Bolzano, funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)

https://www.ugaze.de/projects/mutual-eye-contact-and-blink-synchronization-as-predictors-for-successful-cooperation/

        2. Psychophysiological response to charismatic leadership as a predictor of individual performance differences in opportunity recognition - In cooperation with the Free University of Bolzano and the University of Liechtenstein, funded by the Tyrolean Research Funding

        3. Mobile eye tracking in eating disorders - how gaze behavior in social environments and during eating are related to symptoms and therapy success - In cooperation with the Child- and Youth Psychiatry of the Medical University of Innsbruck

Publications

2025

Ritter, M., Hoffmann, A., Rauch, N., Sachse, P., Djamshidian, A., Harders, M., & Ellmerer, P. (2025). SPBView: An extendable data analysis and combined visualization tool for saccadic eye-movement, pupil size, and blink detection. SoftwareX, 30, 102171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.softx.2025.102171

Hoffmann, A., Stork, P., Madysa, M., & Borgianni, Y. (2025). How attractive is sustainability in products: A Systematic Review about eye-tracking studies on sustainability labels. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 101, 102519. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2025.102519

Hoffmann, A. (11.09.2025). Eye-Tracking Labor erhält För­de­rung von der DFG. Newsroom UIBK. https://www.uibk.ac.at/de/newsroom/2025/eye-tracking-labor-erhalt-forderung-von-der-dfg/

Hoffmann, A. (27.05.2025). Die Psychologie des Augenblicks. Dolomiten – Tagblatt der Südtiroler (S. 6).

Hoffmann, A. (27.05.2025). Die Psychologie des Augenblicks. Zukunft Forschung (S. 30–31). https://ulb-dok.uibk.ac.at/ZuFo/periodical/pageview/11916999

2024

Hoffmann, A., Schellhorn, A. M., Ritter, M., Sachse, P., & Maran, T. (2024). Blink synchronization increases over time and predicts problem-solving performance in virtual teams. Small Group Research, 55(5), 706-728. https://doi.org/10.1177/10464964231195618 

Hoffmann, A., Schiestl, S., Sinske, P., Gondan, M., Sachse, P., & Maran, T. (2024). Sharing and Receiving Eye-Contact Predicts Mate Choice After a 5-Minute Conversation: Evidence from a Speed-Dating Study. Archives of Sexual Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-023-02806-0

Hoffmann, A. (26.10.2024). Schau mich an! Tiroler Tageszeitung Magazin (S. 12-13). 

Hoffmann, A. (25.06.2024). Mit Blicken Entscheidungen und Verhalten voraussagen. Dolomiten – Tagblatt der Südtiroler (S. 6).

Hoffmann, A. (16.06.2024). Mit Blicken Verhalten voraussagen. wissenswert - Magazin der Universität Innsbruck (S. 6-7). 

Hoffmann, A. (16.05.2024). Partner-Vorhersage mit Brille. Kronen Zeitung (S. 25).

Hoffmann, A. (07.05.2025). Erstes Eyetracking-Symposium. Newsroom UIBK.  https://www.uibk.ac.at/de/newsroom/2024/erstes-eyetracking-symposium/

2023

Sidoroff, V., Carbone, F., Ellmerer, P., Bair, S., Hoffmann, A., Maran, T., Krismer, F., Mahlknecht, P., Mair, K., Raccagni, C., Ndayisaba, J.-P., Seppi, K., Wenning, G. K., & Djamshidian, A. (2023). Emotion Recognition in Multiple System Atrophy - An exploratory Eye-Tracking Study. Journal of Movement Disorders. https://doi.org/10.14802/jmd.23090

Hoffmann, A., Marin, M., & Maran, T. (2023). The perspective makes the leader: The camera perspective in a leader photograph shapes their charismatic effect and observers’ approval. Journal of Leadership and Organizational Studies, 15480518231191979. https://doi.org/10.1177/15480518231191979 

Büsel, C., Seiz, C. M., Hoffmann, A., Sachse, P., & Ansorge, U. (2023). EXPRESS: Swift Attenuation of Irrelevant Features Through Feature Consistency–Evidence From a Capture-Probe Version of the Contingent-Capture Protocol. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 17470218231186045. https://doi.org/10.1177/17470218231186045

Hoffmann, A. (01.10.2023). Im richtigen Winkel zum Erfolg. wissenswert - Magazin der Universität Innsbruck (S. 18). https://www.uibk.ac.at/media/filer_public/ad/39/ad39731b-f66b-4f71-8f91-4dec8806832f/wissenswert_gesamt-klein_03102023.pdf

2022

Hoffmann, A., Nolte, J. P., & Sachse, P. (2022). Variation in Antisaccadic Response Latencies Investigated with the Hierarchical LATER Process Model. Brain and Cognition, 158, 105850. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bandc.2022.105850 

Hoffmann, A., Maran, T., Grünbaum, T., Liegl, S., Lobis, U., & Sachse, P. (2022). A psychophysiological investigation of Mourning: There are two sides to the story. Motivation & Emotion, 46, 276–290. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-022-09928-3 

Maran, T., Hoffmann, A., & Sachse, P. (2022). Early lifetime experience of urban living predicts social attention in real world crowds. Cognition, 225, 105099. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2022.105099

Hoffmann, A., Ellmerer, P., Maran, T., & Sachse, p. (2022). Cardiovascular reactivity during sadness induction predicts inhibitory control performance. Physiology & Behavior, 113869. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2022.113869 

2021

Hoffmann, A., Büsel, C., Ritter, M., & Sachse, P. (2021). Do emotional stimuli interfere with response inhibition? Evidence from the antisaccade paradigm. Cognition & Emotion, 35(8), 1626 – 1633. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2022.105099

Hoffmann, A., Marhenke, R., & Sachse, P. (2021). Sensory processing sensitivity predicts performance in an emotional antisaccade paradigm. Acta Psychologica, 222, 103463. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2021.103463 

Sachse, P., Beermann, U., Goller, P., Huber, S. E., Furtner, M. R., Maran, T., Marhenke, R., Tabuchi, H., Hoffmann, A., Büsel, C., & Martini, M. (2021). We see the modern psychologist rather in the laboratory than in the study room – The alley experiments by Franz Hillebrand (1863-1926). Psychology of Everyday activity, 14(1), 45-55. https://www.uibk.ac.at/media/filer_public/29/c0/29c0aa9b-efa9-4d72-b363-4d5407695cf2/sachse-et-al-2021-we-see-the-modern-psychologist-rather-in-the-laboratory.pdf

2020

Duschek, S., Hoffmann, A., Reyes del Paso, G. A., & Montoro, C. I. (2020). Short-term Cerebral Blood Flow Variability in Major Depressive Disorder. Journal of Affective Disorders, 281, 1120-1124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.12.136 

Duschek, S., Bair, A., Hoffmann, A., Marksteiner, J., Montoro, C. I., Reyes del Paso, G. A. (2020). Cardiovascular Variability and Reactivity in Major Depressive Disorder. Journal of Psychophysiology. https://doi.org/10.1027/0269-8803/a000277

Hoffmann, A., Maran, T., & Sachse, P. (2020). How we perceive others resembling us. I-Perception, 11(6), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1177/2041669520966623

2018

Hoffmann, A., Montoro, C. I., Reyes del Paso, G. A., & Duschek, S. (2018). Cerebral blood flow modulations during cognitive control in major depressive disorder. Journal of Affective Disorders, 273, 118-125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2018.05.011 

Hoffmann, A., Montoro, C. I., Reyes del Paso, G. A., & Duschek, S. (2018). Cerebral blood flow modulations during proactive control in major depressive disorder. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 133, 175-181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2018.07.003

Hoffmann, A., Ettinger, U., Montoro, C., Reyes del Paso, G. A., & Duschek, S. (2018). Cerebral Blood Flow Responses during Prosaccade and Antisaccade Preparation in Major Depression. European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, 269, 813-822. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-018-0956-5 

Duschek, S., Hoffmann, A., Montoro, C. I., Reyes del Paso, G. A. R., Schuepbach, D., & Ettinger, U. (2018). Cerebral blood flow modulations during preparatory attention and proactive inhibition. Biological Psychology, 137, 65-72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2018.07.003 

Duschek, S., Hoffmann, A., Bair, A., Reyes del Paso, G. A., & Montoro, C. I. (2018). Cerebral blood flow modulations during proactive control in chronic hypotension. Brain and Cognition, 125, 135-141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bandc.2018.06.008

Duschek, S., Hoffmann, A., Montoro, C. I., Bair, A., Reyes del Paso, G. A., & Ettinger, U. (2018). Cerebral blood flow modulations during antisaccade preparation in chronic hypotension. Psychophysiology, e13305. https://doi.org/10.1111/psyp.13305

2017

Duschek, S., Hoffmann, A., & Reyes del Paso, G.A. (2017). Affective impairment in chronically low blood pressure. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 93, 33-40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2016.12.008 

Duschek, S., Hoffmann, A., Reyes del Paso, G.A., & Ettinger, U. (2017). Autonomic cardiovascular control and executive function in chronic Hypotension. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 51, 442-453. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-016-9868-7

Duschek, S., Hoffmann, A., Montoro, C., & Reyes del Paso, G.A. (2017). Autonomic Cardiovascular Dysregulation at Rest and During Stress in Chronically Low Blood Pressure. Journal of Psychophysiology, 33, 39-53. https://doi.org/10.1027/0269-8803/a000204 

Hoffmann, A., Ettinger, U., Reyes del Paso, G.A., & Duschek, S. (2017). Executive function and cardiac autonomic regulation in depressive disorders. Brain and Cognition, 118, 108-117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bandc.2017.08.003

Presentations

2025

Hoffmann, A. (2025). Blickverhalten in zwischenmenschlichen Interaktionen. 38. Endokrinologie Symposium, Weimar, Germany, September 11–13.

2024

Hoffmann, A., Schiestl, S., Sinske, P., Gondan, M., Sachse, P., & Maran, T. (2024). Sharing and Receiving Eye-Contact Predicts Mate Choice after a 5-Minute Conversation: Evidence from a Speed-Dating Study. 53rd DGPs congress / 15th ÖGP conference, Vienna, Austria, September 16–19.

Hoffmann, A. (2024). Dual mobile eye-tracking during social interactions to predict problem-solving performance & decision-making behaviour. 22nd European Conference on Eye Movements, Maynooth, Ireland, August 25–29.

2023

Talamini, F., Hoffmann, A., Martini, M., & Zentner, M. (2023). A behavioral and objective assessment of music-evoked emotions: the potential of mood-congruency tasks. 17th International Conference on Music Perception and Cognition, Tokio, Japan, August 24–28.

Hoffmann, A., Schellhorn, A.-M., & Sachse, P. (2023). Blink Synchronization Increases Over Time and Predicts Problem-solving Performance in Virtual Teams. 23rd conference of the European Society for Cognitive Psychology, Porto, Portugal, September 06-09.

2022

Hoffmann, A., Maran, T., Grünbaum, T., Liegl, S., Lobis, U., & Sachse, P. (2022). A Psychophysiological Investigation of Mourning. Tagung experimentell arbeitender Psychologen, Köln, Germany, March 20-23.

Sidoroff, V., Carbone, F., Ellmerer, P., Bair, S., Hoffmann, A., Maran, T., Raccagni, C., Seppi, K., Wenning, G., & Djamshidian, A. (2022). Emotion recognition in multiple system atrophy: an eye-tracking study. 19. Jahrestagung der Österreichischen Gesellschaft für Neurologie, Graz, Austria, May 18-20.

Sidoroff, V., Carbone, F., Ellmerer, P., Bair, S., Hoffmann, A., Maran, T., Raccagni, C., Seppi, K., Wenning, G., & Djamshidian, A. (2022). Emotion Recognition in Multiple System Atrophy-an Eye-Tracking Study. European Journal of Neurology, 29, 615.

2021

Hoffmann, A., Marhenke, R., & Sachse, P. (2021). Sensory processing sensitivity predicts performance in an emotional antisaccade paradigm. The 32nd International Congress of Psychology, Prague, Czech Republic, July 18-23.

2020

Hoffmann, A., Büsel, C., & Sachse, P. (2020). LATER modelling of emotional antisaccades. Tagung experimentell arbeitender Psychologen, Jena, Germany, March 22-25.

2019

Bair, A., Hoffmann, A., Montoro, C. I. & Duschek, S. (2019). Cerebral Blood Flow Modulations During Proactive Control in Chronical Low Blood Pressure. Tagung experimentell arbeitender Psychologen, London, United Kingdom, April 15-17.

Duschek, S., Bair, A., Hoffmann, A., Montoro, C. I. & Ettinger, U. (2019). Cerebral Blood Flow Modulations during Precued Antisaccades in Chronic low Blood Pressure. Tagung experimentell arbeitender Psychologen, London, UK, April 15-17.

2018

Hoffmann, A., Montoro, C., Reyes del Paso, G. A., & Duschek, S. (2018). Cerebral blood flow modulations during cognitive control in major depressive disorder. 30th APS Annual Convention, San Francisco, USA, May 24-27.

2017

Duschek, S., Hoffmann, A., & Reyes del Paso, G.A. (2017). Affective impairment in chronic low blood pressure. Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Psychosomatic Society, Sevilla, Spain, March 15-18.

Hoffmann, A., Bair, A., Ettinger, U., Reyes del Paso, A., & Duschek S. (2017). Mood impairment and depressive symptoms in chronic low blood pressure. International Convention of Psychological Science, Vienna, Austria, March 23-25.

Hoffmann, A., Ettinger, U., Reyes del Paso, A. & Duschek S. (2017). Cardiac regulation and executive functioning in unipolar affective disorders. Tagung experimentell arbeitender Psychologen, Dresden, Germany, March 26-29.

Duschek S., Hoffmann A., Montoro C., Reyes del Paso G.A., Ettinger U (2017). Cerebral blood flow modulations during response preparation and proactive inhibition. The 17th Annual Meeting of the Society for Psychophysiological Research. Psychophysiology; 54 (Supplement 1): S69.

Awards

2025

Best Paper Award Small Group Research https://journals.sagepub.com/page/sgr/collections/awards