News | Research Group of Social Neurosciences

44th Goldegg Dialogues

June 5-6, 2026 – Tania Singer presents a keynote and teaches a workshop at the 44 Goldegger Dialogues.

SLOW Festival

May, 30 2026 – Tania Singer presents a talk at the SLOW Festival at Elmau Castle and shares a panel with Johannes Mikenda and Hugo Ticciati.

Top 40 Ranking research.com

May, 20th 2026 - According to the renowned scientific platform Research.com, Tania Singer ranks 39th in Germany in the field of psychology in 2025. The ranking includes only prominent researchers and is based on international citation indices that reflect the impact of their research publications.

Salzburger Nachrichten (Newspaper)

May, 09 2026 - In a special feature of the Salzburg Newspaper Tania Singer is interviewed on how compassion needs to be made socially acceptable again. The special issue was published in the run-up to the Goldegger Dialogues.

Talk at OEGO

March 13, 2026 – Tania Singer presents her research on the neurobiology of compassion and it’s training at the 6th Annual Conference of the Austrian Society for Osteopathy in Vienna.

Edu:Social Healthcare at FIZ Salzburg

November 12, 2025 - In this talk at the FIZ Tania Singer introduces the Edu:Social Health Care Project, a joint cooperation with the Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Austria.

Inner Peace Festival

October 29, 2025 - At the Inner Peace Festival Tania Singer talks about the peace from within and how to train the social brain.

Love in Action

September 05, 2025 - At the Love in Action Festival of teh Zariya Foundation in Zurich, Switzerland, Tania Singer talks about the scientific foundations of empathy and compassion and how to train the social brain.

Ars Electronica 2025

September 03, 2025 - In her talk at the Ars Electronica in Linz, Austria, Tania Singer introduces mental training methods to strengthen resilience.

Interview SIGU Plattform

August 18, 2025 - In an interview with Demian Göpfer of SIGU Plattform, Tania Singer talks about the Dyad program as innovative approach against loneliness. (German only)

Mind and Life Podcast

May 15, 2025 – In this episode, Wendy from Mind and Life speaks with social neuroscientist and contemplative researcher Tania Singer about her research on empathy and compassion, and her pioneering work on the interpersonal aspects of the brain and contemplative practice.

Mindshift Festival

May 15, 2025 - In her keynote at the Mindshift Festival Tania Singer talks about mental training and how especially the dyad work can support societal change.

NYAS Review

April 04, 2024 - 25+ Years of Tania Singer's Social Neuroscience research including the ReSource, CovSocial and Edu:Social School Project and her recent Dyad-work are reviewed in this NYAS review article.

ISCTH Podcast

February 24, 2025 - Tania Singer and ISCTH President Kaivalya Kashyap explore the science of compassion, the role of heart intelligence in systemic transformation, and new pathways toward a more balanced world. This time recorded in a podcast bus. (German only)

Tania Singer at the Berlin Science Week 2024

November 01, 2024 - Tania Singer is guest at the Panel on “Rethinking Communication”, which took part at the Berlin Science Week 2024.

Tania Singer at Opera Frankfurt/Main

October, 08, 2024 - In the context of the BMBF project “In the name of freedom”, Tania Singer presents a keynote on “The Sound of Freedom and Compassion” at the opera house in Frankfurt/Main.

Keynote at Graz Opera (Austria)

September 29, 2024 - Tania Singer gives a keynote at the Leadership Seminar of the International Academy of Transformational Leadership at Graz Opera.

Edu:Social School Welcome Days

July 11, 2024 - In our Welcome Days, we provide an overview of the goals and processes of the Edu:Social School project. You can find more information and how to register on the Edu:Social project page.

Talk at re:publica 24

May 27, 2024 - At re:publica 24 Tania Singer talks about the impact of mental dyad training and why it is important to transfer it to different areas of society. (German only)

MeTAzeit Podcast

March 8, 2024 - In this podcast with Tina Schultze-Fulton, Tania Singer reports on her research findings, the effects of meditation and we learn that different mediations have different effects on our brain. (German only)

On Dyads and Mental Practices

August 2023 - This documentation with comments by Maria Kluge, Tania Singer, Gert Scobel, Dirk Bräuninger und Mike Sandbothe shows how the combination of mental practices (mindfulness, dyads and social presencing theater) affects mental well being. (German only)

Essay for Mind and Life Institute Series “Insights”

January 12, 2024 - Contemplative dyads training the mind and deepening our connection through relational practices.

The Mindfulness Podcast

December 12, 2023 - In this podcast Tania Singer and David Black talk about the CovSocial project and specifically explore results comparing mindfulness training against a dyad interventions regarding thought and affect patterns.

World’s Meeting of Values

October 27, 2023 - Tania Singer presents a keynote and workshop at the Worlds Meeting of Values in Monterrey, Mexico. (Spanish)

Talk at Entrepreneur Summit 2023

October 21, 2023 - In her keynote at the Entrepreneur Summit in Berlin, Tania Singer talks about how increasing empathy and compassion enhance the workplace environment.

Interview in the ZDF Morning Show

October 19, 2023 - In this Interview Tania Singer talks about strategies how to cope with current negative news and pictures. (German only)

Interview in zeit online

October 17, 2023 - In this interview Tania Sinegr talks about the differences in consuming terrible news and which stategies are helpful to cope with them. (German only)

Podcast Let‘s Staat

August 11, 2023 - In this podcast, Tania Singer and Dorit Bosch talk about how empathy and changing perspectives are existential skills for sustaining democracy. (German only)

rebelPodcast

July 19, 2023 - In this Podcast Tania Singer and Jonas Höhn talk about how increasing empathy and compassion may change the workplace environment for the better. (German only)

Scobel - The dark side of empathy

May 11, 2023 - In the TV series Scobel, Gert Scobel, Hartmut Rosa and Tania Singer talk about empathy, compassion and resonance and how they can be strengthend. (German only)

Research.com Scientist’s Ranking

May 10, 2023 - According to the renowned science platform Research.com, Tania Singer is ranked 38th in Germany in the field of psychology in 2023. The ranking only includes prominent scientists and is based on international citation indices that refer to the influence of their research publications.

Interview Global Compassion Coalition

May 03, 2023 - Tania Singer talks about what her research into the cultivation of compassion has taught her and how we can use it to build a world that's based on compassion.

Creating a Compassionate World Interview Series

March 13, 2023 - In this Interview with Paul Gilbert, Tania Singer talks about her research on compassion.

Article in moment by moment

March 10, 2023 - Tania Singer reports on the latest findings from dyad research.

Global Joy Summit with His Holiness the Dalai Lama

November 17, 2022 - Tania Singer together with Richard Davidson took part in the Special Session Discussion on Altruism as a Source of Inner Strength as part of the Global Joy Summit, Nov. 13 – 16.

TUP Special Issue 2022

September 14, 2022 - In the current TUP special issue of AWO, in her article Hannah Matthäus suggests ways out of the loneliness pandemic.

Interview with IMD

August 03, 2022 - In an IMD interview Tania Singer talks about compassionate leadership.

Talk at CCARE Lab in Stanford

May 25, 2022 - As part of the Meng-Wu Lecture Series Tania Singer talks about the Neuroscience of Motivation, Care and Compassion.

Interview and report in rbb Praxis

May 25, 2022 - The special edition of the programme rbb Praxis by Angelika Wörthmüller contains an interview with Tania Singer on the topic of how positive emotions make us healthier. (German)

Workshop at the International Boston Trauma Conference

May 18, 2022 - Tania Singer and Ron Siegel present a joint workshop focussing on the topic: From Empathic Distress to Compassion: Building Resilience in the Face of Trauma.

Research.com Scientist Ranking

May 06, 2022 - According to the prominent academic science platform Research.com, Tania Singer has been ranked in 2022 among the top 1000 Scientists worldwide and top 30 in Germany in the area of Psychology. The ranking includes only prominet scientists and is based on international citations indices refering to the impact of her research publications.

Interview for tk aktuell

April 27, 2022 - In this interview with Wiebke Knoche for tk aktuell, Tania Singer talks about the difference between empathy and compassion and their trainability. (German only)

Two CovSocial Publications

April 20, 2022 - The Berlin University Alliance reports on two new publications within the CovSocial project. (German only)

Interview in taz

April 02, 2022 - In this interview with Antje Lang-Lendorff from taz Tania Singer talks about limits and chances of empathy. (German only)

Interview in tip Berlin

March 30, 2022 - In an interview with Erik Heier of tip Berlin, Tania Singer talks about the CovSocial project and the impact of pandemic lockdowns on the mental health of Berlin's population. (German)

Podcast World of Wisdom

March 24, 2022 - In the Podcast World of Wisdom Tania Singer and Amit Paul talk about Neuroscience, Caring Economics and the Brain Plasticity of Human beings.

BBC Interview

March 22, 2022 - In this interview featured by the BBC, Tania Singer talks about the difference between empathy and compassion.

Interview at LAS

March 14, 2022 - Tania Singer in conversation with Gesine Bocherd as part of the LAS exhibition of Robert Irwin Light and Space. (German only)

Interview Pioneers of Change Summit

March 14, 2022 - As part of the Pioneers of Change Summit, Tania Singer talks in an interview with Hemma Rueggen about the increasing loneliness among young people and the need to strengthen caring and love as a motivation for action on the big issues of our time. (German only)

Interview in FURIOS, the campus magazine of the Free University Berlin

February 15, 2022 - In an Interview with Elisa Starck, Tania Singer talks about the CovSocial project and how the Berliners' state of mind changed from Lockdown to Lockdown. (German only)

Interview for radioeins

February 12, 2022 - Tania Singer reports in a live interview with Stephan Karkowsky at the radioeins scientific magazine on the current results of the CovSocial project. (German only)

Interview in ZDF heute

February 04, 2022 - In an interview by Susanne Gindorf-Litz for ZDF heute Tania Singer talks abour the Covsocial project and the effects of the lockdowns on mental health. (German only)

Interview in rbb Abendschau

February 02, 2022 - Tania Singer in the studio of the rbb Abendschau talks with Sarah Oswald about the effects of the past lockdowns on the mental health of the Berlin population. (German only)

Five Questions to Tania Singer

January 31, 2022 - In an interview by Valerie Zöllner and Barbara Abrell for Max Planck Forschung magazine, Tania Singer answers Five Questions about mental health in times of Corona and the CovSocial project. (German only)

Report in Bonner Generalanzeiger

January 30, 2022 - A report in the Bonner Generalanzeiger by Johanna Lübke cites Tania Singer on the effects that the pandemic shows on mental health. (German only)

Interview in ZEIT ONLINE

January 23, 2022 - In an interview with Nora Burgard-Arp from ZEIT ONLINE, Tania Singer talks about the CovSocial project and how empathic listening makes us more resilient to crises. (German only)

Interview in moment by moment

December 08, 2021 - In this interview with Norbert Classen, Tania Singer talks about how the results of the Resource Project can be transferred into business and society. (German only)

We have moved!

December 7, 2021 - The Social Neuroscience Lab has moved into new rooms. Please be aware of our new address and phone number.

Mental health during Covid-19

November 24, 2021 - This MPG announcement reports on the CovSocial project, which examines the consequences of pandemic-related restrictions for Berlin's population.

CovSocial feature in Berliner Morgenpost

November 22, 2021 - The Berliner Morgenpost reports on the CovSocial Project and how the pandemic situation affects mental health. (German only)

Podcast "Forschungsquartett" (Research Quartet)

November 18, 2021 - In this Podcast, Tania Singer talks about the CovSocial Project and the influences of pandemic restrictions and alleviation on mental health and social cohesion. The interview was done by Valerie Zöllner. (German)

CovSocial Brochure Release

November 15, 2021 - Release for the first edition of the CovSocial Broshure. It summarizes initial descriptive results of the CovSocial Project focussing on mental health and social cohesion in Berlin during Covid pandemics.

11th Empathy Conference

October 22, 2021 - Tania Singer and Sarita Silveira present on resilience and social cohesion during the 11th Empathy Conference, organized by the German American Institute (DAI), Heidelberg.

Lecture for How to Academy

October 20, 2021 - In this livestream talk, Tania Singer shares accessible, evidence-based tools to reduce stress and improve your mental health.

Hair analysis shows: Meditation training reduces long-term stress

07 October 2021 - Mental training that promotes skills such as mindfulness, gratitude or compassion reduces the concentration of the stress hormone cortisol in hair. This is what scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig and the Social Neuroscience Research Group of the Max Planck Society in Berlin have found out.

Report in LaVie

September 30, 2021 - An article in LaVie reports on the research of Tania Singer, in which Matthieu Ricard participated. It was shown that empathy, the ability to feel the emotions of others, can also be painful. They explain how to prevent this. (French)

Article in Zeit Magazin (zeitonline)

August 18, 2021 - War, Flooding, Wirldfires: from a distance, we feel empathy. Neuroscientist Tania Singer explains how empathy develops and why we need to train it. Interview: Sara Tomšić. Image by Tim Marshall/unsplash.com (German)

Empty Thoughts

July 23, 2021 - In an article in the online edition of Science Notes on the topic of "Nothingness," Tania Singer reports on the importance of continuous mental training in the search for silence in the mind. (German only)

Tania Singer is awarded the "Danke-Skulptur"

July 20, 2021 - The awarding of the "Danke-Skulptur" to Tania Singer highlights the appreciation and recognition for her commitment to the community. The following link lists the worldwide reactions of the people/institutions that have already received the "Danke-Skulptur".

Lecture at SWR Teleakademie

July 11, 2021 - Tania Singer gives a lecture on the neurobiology of empathy and compassion at the SWR Teleakademie. (German only)

Workshop betterplace co:lab

June 09, 2021 - In a workshop for the betterplace co:lab X, Tania Singer sheds light on how empathy, compassion and a change of perspective can revolutionize our work culture. Three main bullet points are summarized in a blog. (German only)

Mindful in May

June 01, 2021 – Tania Singer and Elise Bialylew have a conversation on the research background of Tania Singer and how mental training can improve empathy and compassion.

Keynote Boston International Trauma Conference

May 28, 2021 - Tania Singer gives a keynote lecture at the Boston Internationa Trauma Conference and talks about the results of the ReSource project.

New Publication with NeuroImage

May 02, 2021 - Online release of a new publication on meditation-based mental training interventions that show physical and mental health benefits.

Talk European Commission

April 27, 2021 - In a presentation invited by the European Commission, Tania Singer talks about the different impact of mental training and the results of the ReSource project. She also reports on the CovSocial project and the according research on social cohesion within the Berlin population.

Pioneers of Education

March 24, 2021 - In a dialogue moderated by Silke Weiss at the Pioneers of Education Summit 21, she talks with Tania Singer about mindfulness, compassion, and empathy in education.

Podcast TABULARASA

March 03, 2021 - In the tabularasa podcast, Tania Singer talks about the results of the ReSource project. She also discusses the social and psychological effects that a week-long lockdown could have in times of COVID-19. The challenges and necessary measures to make digitization socially acceptable. (German only)

Burnout in times of pandemics

January 25, 2021 - In this interview with Miray Caliskan of the Berliner Zeitung, Tania Singer suggests ways to prevent health care worker’s burnout in the pandemic. (German only)

Podcast SWR Wissen

January 17, 2021 – This podcast is based on a recording of Tania Singer's keynote talk at the 10th Empathy Conference in December 2020. In this podcast, Tania Singer provides an overview on the difference between compassion and empathy and the important role of compassion in economics. (German only)

Upper Story

January 19, 2021 - This movie shows three decades of collaboration between Western scientists and Buddhist scholars including interviews with and features of Tania Singer’s research. This long-term collaboration has revealed techniques that allow us to develop our mental well-being and improve the impact we have on our planet. (A German version is planned to be released in February 2021.)

Article in anders handeln – Nächstenliebe

January 2021 – This article in the January issue of anders handeln - Nächstenliebe reports on the ReSource project and how to train compassion and other social skills. The interview with Tania Singer was conducted by Sven Rhode. (German only)

Keynote: The Neurobiology of Empathy and Compassion

December 19, 2020 - The 10th Empathy Conference of the DAI Heidelberg in the framework of Geist Heidelberg took place with the title: "Empathy under pressure? How we experience empathy in crises and conflicts". In her presentation Tania Singer talks about empathy and compassion. Can mindfulness and social skills be trained? How do empathy and compassion differ? (German)

Participating in the CovSocial Project

November 27, 2020 - Reporter Norbert Koch-Klauke reports on the CovSocial project, which is researching how the Corona crisis affects the well-being, behavior, stress experience and social cohesion of Berlin's population. (German)

OWP Keynote talk

November 19, 2020 - Tania Singer gives a keynote on how to reduce burnout, stress, and depression by mental training. She emphasizes how this is even more important during turbulent times and how it relates to business leaders and organizations. (English)

Radio Interview rbb88.8

October 27, 2020 - In this interview Tania Singer talks about the CovSocial Project on experiencing stress, social cohesion and resilience during the Corona crisis. The project launched in September 2020. (German only)

Expedition 2025

September 25, 2020 - In an article by Barbara Esser on the subject of "When values become deeds", Tania Singer's research on increasing social cohesion and resilience is mentioned. (German)

Launch of the CovSocial research project

September 10, 2020 - A Berlin research project on experiencing stress, social cohesion and resilience during the Corona crisis in cooperation with the Charite, the Humboldt University of Berlin and the MPI for Psychiatry, funded by the Max Planck Society and the Berlin University Alliance (BUA).

Cuba Platform Interview with john a. powell and Tania Singer (Podcast)

July 22, 2020 - In this podcast, Sarah Stephens (Cuba Platform) continues a conversation with john a. powell (Othering and Belonging Institute) and Tania Singer on othering, brain science, and pathways to belonging, compassion, and care.

Interview in Mindful Doctor Newsletter

July 22, 2020 - Prior to the Mindful Doctor Conference (September 04-06 in Berlin, Germany) an interview with Tania Singer has been released by the Mindful Doctor Newsletter. (German)

H.H. the Dalai Lama's legacy on science to mark his 85th birthday

July 05, 2020 - Tania Singer was interviewed by the radio station RFATibetan on the occasion of the 85th birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. A compilation of her and other contributions has been published on Youtube. (Tibetan)

Online Keynote at IMD's Orchestrating Winning Performance

June 25, 2020 - Tania Singer talks about the growing importance of mental health and what research has shown how mental training can help increase resilience and cooperation in teams.

Successful Fund Raising

May, 08th 2020 - Tania Singer and Mazda Adli from the Charite Berlin together with a consortium of five other Professors Christine Heim (Charité), Sonja Entringer (Charité), Elisabeth Binder (MPI), Felix Balnkenburg (FU) und Manuel Völkle (HU) have successfully raised funds in the CoVid-19 Pandemic Special Call for Proposals of the Berlin University Alliance (BUA). More details and news on the “CovSocial” project will follow shortly.

Interview with Ilios Kotsou

April, 14th 2020 - Tania Singer was interviewed by Ilios Kotsou from Emergence about the relevance of compassion and care in times of Covid-19 pandemics and how to apply her findings to help healthcare workers with everyday workplace challenges. (French)

Understanding Empathy and Compassion

March, 11th 2020 - Tania Singer and Edwin Rutsch discuss on the benefits in people empathically listening to each other.

TOP 100 Paper in Scientific Reports 2019

March, 11th 2020 - The research article Voluntary upregulation of heart rate variability through biofeedback is improved by mental contemplative training is placed as one of the top 100 downloaded neuroscience papers for Scientific Reports in 2019.

The brain has two systems for thinking about others’ thoughts

March, 9th 2020 - In order to understand what another person thinks and how he or she will behave we must take someone else’s perspective. This ability is referred to as Theory of Mind. Until recently, researchers were at odds concerning the age at which children are able to do such perspective taking. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, University College London, and the Social Neuroscience Lab Berlin shed new light on this question. Only 4-year-olds seem to be able to understand what others think.

A courageous leadership team needs an awakened organizational heart

March 4th 2020 - Ahead of her keynote address at IMD’s LIVE-Orchestrating Winning Performance (online) on 25 June 2020 in Lausanne, neuroscientist Tania Singer outlines some of her research insights on building resilient and collaborative organizational teams.

Podcast Sidewalk Talks

December 3rd 2019 - In this Podcast Tania Singer and Traci Ruble talk about the ReSource Project and how heart-centered listening makes us more compassionate than mindfulness alone.

Bienestar Docente y Neurociencias

November 28th 2019 - Tania Singer presents her research on this conference hosted by the Goethe Schule in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Self-protection or selfishness? About the pros and cons of mindfulness practice

November 18th 2019 - In this report, broadcasted by rbbkultur (German only), Vera Block explores the question of whether the new social trend of mindfulness practice entails risks and interviews Tania Singer on her research and the ReSource Project.

Contemplative Science Symposium

October 25th 2019 - Tania Singer presents her research at the Contemplative Science Symposium hosted by Mind and Life Europe.

Science, Art & Meditation 2019 (SAM)

October 18th-19th 2019 - Tania Singer particpates in a panel discussion together with Thierry Janssen, Rose, Aurélie Godefroy und Frédéric Lopez. SAM 2019 took place in Strasbourg, France.

Tania Singer presents research at the LEAD for GOOD Symposium

October 17th 2019 - The IFLP (Institut Francais du Leadership Positif) appoints executives who reinvent their leadership, accelerate their transformation and positively influence society. Theevent took place in Lyon, France.

The Digital Table

October 14th 2019 - Online interview on the exploration of wellbeing in the digital age - over lunch.

What is good for what? - Different forms of meditation: Mindfulness, Mindfulness and Compassion - Existential Consciousness Research Institute

May 18th 2019 - Tania Singer's interview at the Congress which took place at Akademie Heiligenfeld. (German only)

Tania Singer in a report by Tagesspiegel online

August 29th 2019 - Tagesspiegel online reports on Tania Singers contribution at the Symposium „Online Psychotherapy – How? When? For whom?“. The symposium was hostet by the Berlin Fliedner clinic on 28. August 2019.

Podcast of the Alfred Herrenhausen Society

August 16th 2019 - As part of this Podcast series, hosted by Lisa Rauschenberger, Tania Singer, Jamila Tressel and Alan Posener discuss whether the schoolsystem nowadays is able to face current challenges of the changing society. They further discuss possible directions of knowledge transfer that may include the communication of values such as responsibility, empathy and courage. The Podcast is available in German, only.