The developmental psychologist Ulman Lindenberger is one of the world's leading researchers in cognitive gerontology. He has redefined the potential and limits of cognitive aging in an impressive number of studies, in which he successfully combined approaches from neuroscience, gerontology and developmental psychology. Lindenberger was able to prove, for instance, that the mental ability of older people is determined to a large extent by their own behaviour, rather than natural factors such as age, and can therefore be improved. According to his results, perception, thought and memory in old-age are largely dependent on physical, emotional-motivational and social factors. The results of this basic research have been swiftly incorporated into practical programmes and, in view of the current demographic changes, they are of great socio-political importance.
Having completed his degree in Berkeley and Berlin, Ulman Lindenberger received his doctoral degree and habilitation for psychology from the Free University of Berlin. He then held a professorship in Saarbrucken, at the FU Berlin and at the Humboldt University of Berlin, before becoming a director at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development. Thanks to several guest professorships and research visits abroad, Lindenberger also has many international contacts. (Quelle: Berlin School of Mind and Brain)