Department Cognitive Neuroscience

Focus: Investigation of the role of serotonin in neurodevelopment and how it is additionally modulated by environmental factors in the context of individual differences in behaviour and risk for psychiatric disorders like anxiety, depression, autism and drug addiction. Techniques involve behaviour and in vivo brain measures and manipulations, as well as ex vivo molecular and neuroanatomical assessments.
Contact: Prof. dr. Judith Homberg
Email: Judith.Homberg@Radboudumc.nl
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Focus: Investigation of the effects of stress and emotional arousal on rodent models of brain activity and learning and memory and possible consequences for neuropsychiatric disorders.
Contact: Prof. Dr. Benno Roozendaal
Email: benno.roozendaal@radboudumc.nl
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Focus: Investigations of structural/functional (re)organization of excitatory/inhibitory neuronal networks in health and disease. Methods encompass cell culture, in vitro electrophysiological, immunohistochemical and neuroanatomical techniques in the rodent brain or human iPSP derived neuronal cultures. Research focuses on models for neurodevelopmental distortions including schizophrenia and intellectual disability.
Contact: Dr. Dirk Schubert
Email: d.schubert@donders.ru.nl
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Focus: Gain insight into the molecular and mechanistic underpinnings of neurodevelopmental disorders such as intellectual disability and autism, using in vitro and in vivo research approaches.
Contact: Prof. Dr. Hans van Bokhoven.
Email: Hans.vanbokhoven@radboudumc.nl
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Focus: molecular mechanisms of synaptic plasticity in the context of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and intellectual disability. We use animal and cellular human (IPS) models combined with molecular and electrophysiological methods to study the function of genes in learning and memory processes.
Contact: Dr. Nael Nadif Kasri
Email: n.nadif@donders.ru.nl
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Focus: We develop and apply neuroimaging technologies in animal models to identify the distributed neuronal networks implicated in mental health disorders. We combined non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging with genetically targetted neuromodulatory tools to examine the causal mechanisms supporting brain organization and function, and its dynamical adaptations to stressors.
Contact: Dr. Joanes Grandjean
Email: joanes.grandjean@radboudumc.nl
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Focus: Investigation of how stress exposure can lastingly affect brain function, and how this is different between distinct individuals, using animal models that allow for controlled study of the mechanistic underpinnings. The focus is on relating behavioral outcomes to brain function at the neural circuit level, combined with molecular studies to provide detailed mechanistic insight in the causes of altered neuronal circuit structure and function.
Contact: Dr. Marloes Henckens
Email: Marloes.Henckens@radboudumc.nl
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Focus: Estimating the electric activity of the heart and the brain from recorded signals at the body surface, and computing the currents inside the brain from electric or magnetic stimulation outside the head.
Contact: Dr. Thom Oostendorp
Email: T.Oostendorp@donders.ru.nl

Focus: Research using human brain imaging, psychophysiology, and psychopharmacology on the neural basis of cognitive and affective processes, with the ultimate goal to advance treatment of stress-related psychopathology.
Contact: Dr. Erno Hermans
E-mail: erno.hermans@donders.ru.nl 
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Focus: Environmental factors and mechanisms that shape early and long-term human development, using psychological and biological perspectives. Interdisciplinary methods and areas of interest that include stress, caregiving, health, intestinal microbiota, behavior, breast milk, and interventions. (6-month internship)
Contact: Prof. Dr. Carolina de Weerth
E-mail: Carolina.deWeerth@radboudumc.nl
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Focus: In the Lifespan Cognitive Dynamics lab we are interested how, and why, cognitive abilities change across the lifespan. To study these questions, we use a range of multivariate methods and Big Data approaches to examine how cognitive abilities change, fluctuate, affect each other, how brain structure and function supports changes in cognitive abilities, and how cognitive functioning interfaces with lifestyle factors such as physical and mental health, social and intellectual engagement and environmental factors in childhood and old age. 

Contact: Prof. Rogier Kievit

E-mail: Rogier.Kievit@radboudumc.nl
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Focus: Human cognitive neuroscience studying the brain basis of memory, emotion, and their interactions. An interdisciplinary approach is applied integrating cognitive neuroimaging, genetics, pharmacology and diverse clinical disciplines.
Contact: Nils Kohn
Email: nils.kohn@donders.ru.nl
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Focus: Cognitive, neural and genetic mechanisms involved in neurodevelopmental disorders (ADHD, autism, Conduct Disorder/Psychopathy) over the lifespan; including identifying new molecular targets for treatment, and developing and testing effective non-pharma (diet and mindfulness) and biological/pharma interventions.
Contact: Prof. Dr. Jan Buitelaar
Email: Jan.Buitelaar@radboudumc.nl
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Focus: Our research group studies Sensory Processing Sensitivity, a personality trait also referred to as Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), aiming to uncover its fundamental mechanisms and its connections to mental health outcomes, including stress-related and neurodevelopmental conditions such as ADHD and autism. We also explore how these topics intersect with research on mindfulness and mindfulnessbased interventions. Methods include: epidemiological samples, RCT designs, qualitative research, (neuro)cognitive research, twin design, neuroimaging.
Contact: Prof. Corina Greven
E-mail: corina.greven@donders.ru.nl
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Focus: To develop statistical and machine learning techniques for making predictions relevant to brain disorders and to understand their underlying neurobiology on the basis of neuroimaging data.
Contact: Dr. Andre Marquand
E-mail: a.marquand@donders.ru.nl
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Focus: Understanding the link between genetic liability for different neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders, the brain structure, and long-term functional outcomes using neuroimaging, genome-wide statistics, longitudinal data and multivariate statistics.
Contact: Emma Sprooten
E-mail e.sprooten@donders.ru.nl
 

Focus: Memory enhancement by sleep and other interventions, such as mnemonic strategies and memory training. Neural basis of cognitive processes during sleep, including dreaming. Healthy subjects and patients with affective disorders.
Contact: Dr. Martin Dresler
E-Mail:  martin.dresler@donders.ru.nl
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Group: Molecular Psychiatry

Focus: unravelling the biology of multifactorial neurodevelopmental and stress-related psychiatric conditions. My lab employs novel approaches to gene finding, such as combining analyses of common and rare genetic variation. Downstream of risk factor identification, we aim to understand the pathways from gene to behavior/disorder. For this, we use complementary approaches, including epigenetics and other molecular omics, bioinformatics, induced pluripotent stem cell-based neurons, small animal models, and neuroimaging genetics.

Contact: Prof Barbara Franke

Email : barbara.franke@radboudumc.nl

More information; https://www.ru.nl/personen/franke-b

Focus: Investigate the primate brain from neuron to behaviour using advanced psychophysics, neuroimaging and (single-unit) electrophysiology. The focus is on visual perception, visuomotor behaviour and cognitive control in health and disease. Modeling links the levels of research.
Contact: Dr. Jeroen Goossens
E-mail: j.goossens@donders.ru.nl
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