Ellen de Bruijn - Professor of Neurocognitive Clinical Psychology, Leiden University, NLD
After obtaining my PhD in 2005, I obtained a grant from the Niels Stensen Foundation, which allowed me to work as a post-doctoral fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive Brain Sciences (Leipzig, Germany). While my PhD research had focused entirely on electrophysiological correlates of non-social performance monitoring, my research project in Leipzig enabled me to venture into the interesting domain of social performance monitoring by investigating the neural correlates of error observation during cooperation and competition using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). With the help of grants from NWO, FWO, KNAW, and the EU, I have been investigating social modulations of adaptive behavior in healthy volunteers and in psychiatric patients from a novel social cognitive neuropsychiatric perspective. To provide an integrated view of the different processes, I make use of various approaches and methods, such as behavioral experiments, EEG, and fMRI techniques, as well as psychopharmacological manipulations. Besides the investigation of performance-monitoring processes, I also study other relevant processes that enable social action control, e.g., self-other integration, social decision-making, empathy, and reinforcement learning. Finally, I examine possible disturbances of these processes in different psychiatric disorders with evident social dysfunctions, e.g., psychopathy, depression, and schizophrenia, but also sex-hormone induced alterations of these processes across the female lifespan. See the FLIRT tab for more info.
After obtaining my PhD in 2005, I obtained a grant from the Niels Stensen Foundation, which allowed me to work as a post-doctoral fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive Brain Sciences (Leipzig, Germany). While my PhD research had focused entirely on electrophysiological correlates of non-social performance monitoring, my research project in Leipzig enabled me to venture into the interesting domain of social performance monitoring by investigating the neural correlates of error observation during cooperation and competition using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). With the help of grants from NWO, FWO, KNAW, and the EU, I have been investigating social modulations of adaptive behavior in healthy volunteers and in psychiatric patients from a novel social cognitive neuropsychiatric perspective. To provide an integrated view of the different processes, I make use of various approaches and methods, such as behavioral experiments, EEG, and fMRI techniques, as well as psychopharmacological manipulations. Besides the investigation of performance-monitoring processes, I also study other relevant processes that enable social action control, e.g., self-other integration, social decision-making, empathy, and reinforcement learning. Finally, I examine possible disturbances of these processes in different psychiatric disorders with evident social dysfunctions, e.g., psychopathy, depression, and schizophrenia, but also sex-hormone induced alterations of these processes across the female lifespan. See the FLIRT tab for more info.
Sandy Overgaauw - Assistant professor, Leiden University, NLD
Sandy received her PhD in February 2015 for her thesis entitled 'Social reorientation in adolescence: Neurobiological changes and individual differences in empathic concern' and worked as a postdoc on the VIDI project, where she, amongst other things, worked on the fMRI research line on social performance monitoring. In 2018, she obtained a KNAW Sara van Dam research grant together with Dr. Einat Levi-Gigi (Bar-Ilan university in Israel). In this project, we are investigating the development of social performance monitoring processes in adolescents and the impact of growing up in a stressful environment.
Sandy received her PhD in February 2015 for her thesis entitled 'Social reorientation in adolescence: Neurobiological changes and individual differences in empathic concern' and worked as a postdoc on the VIDI project, where she, amongst other things, worked on the fMRI research line on social performance monitoring. In 2018, she obtained a KNAW Sara van Dam research grant together with Dr. Einat Levi-Gigi (Bar-Ilan university in Israel). In this project, we are investigating the development of social performance monitoring processes in adolescents and the impact of growing up in a stressful environment.
Selin Topel - PhD student, Leiden University, NLD
Selin is a PhD candidate on a joint project of the departments of Clinical Psychology, Developmental Psychology (Dr. Anna van Duijvenvoorde), and Cognitive Psychology (Dr. Henk van Steenbergen). The project focuses on the relationship between resilience, uncertainty, and cognitive flexibility as part of the interdisciplinary Social Resilience and Security Program. Selin graduated from the Research Master’s program in Developmental Psychology in 2020. During her studies, she conducted research at the Cognitive Developmental & Affective Physiology Lab at Leiden University and the Developmental Electrophysiology Lab at Yale Child Study Center where she investigated electrophysiological responses to social evaluative feedback in relation to social anxiety.
Selin is a PhD candidate on a joint project of the departments of Clinical Psychology, Developmental Psychology (Dr. Anna van Duijvenvoorde), and Cognitive Psychology (Dr. Henk van Steenbergen). The project focuses on the relationship between resilience, uncertainty, and cognitive flexibility as part of the interdisciplinary Social Resilience and Security Program. Selin graduated from the Research Master’s program in Developmental Psychology in 2020. During her studies, she conducted research at the Cognitive Developmental & Affective Physiology Lab at Leiden University and the Developmental Electrophysiology Lab at Yale Child Study Center where she investigated electrophysiological responses to social evaluative feedback in relation to social anxiety.
Former Lab members
Myrthe Jansen - PhD student, Leiden University, NLD
Myrthe initially joined our lab for her research internship and thesis as part of the research master in Clinical and Health Psychology, which she successfully completed in 2018. After that she started as a PhD student on the project "A neurocognitive investigation of altered social performance monitoring in obsessive compulsive disorder". She combines EEG, psychopharmacological, and fMRI methodology, as well as novel paradigms to investigate the role of perceived responsibility for others' harm in various aspects of social performance monitoring. Myrthe graduated in November 2023 and is currently working as a data scientist at CBS in the Hague.
Myrthe initially joined our lab for her research internship and thesis as part of the research master in Clinical and Health Psychology, which she successfully completed in 2018. After that she started as a PhD student on the project "A neurocognitive investigation of altered social performance monitoring in obsessive compulsive disorder". She combines EEG, psychopharmacological, and fMRI methodology, as well as novel paradigms to investigate the role of perceived responsibility for others' harm in various aspects of social performance monitoring. Myrthe graduated in November 2023 and is currently working as a data scientist at CBS in the Hague.
Serafino Mansueto - Research Internship trainee, Leiden University, NLD
Serafino graduated in Clinical Psychology at the University of Padua, Italy and is currently a research internship trainee in our lab, where he's working on resting-state fMRI data analyses, as well as assisting in fMRI and EEG data collection. For his postgraduate internship research he focused on investigating the influence of personality traits on prosocial behaviour in probabilistic contexts.
Serafino graduated in Clinical Psychology at the University of Padua, Italy and is currently a research internship trainee in our lab, where he's working on resting-state fMRI data analyses, as well as assisting in fMRI and EEG data collection. For his postgraduate internship research he focused on investigating the influence of personality traits on prosocial behaviour in probabilistic contexts.
Desiree Spronk - Researcher Trimbos Institute, Utrecht, NL
Desiree received her PhD in May 2016 for her thesis entitled 'Individual differences in the acute effects of cannabis and cocaine on cognitive control'. For her PhD project she used behavioral and EEG measures to investigate performance monitoring, inhibitory as well social cognitive processes. After her PhD, she worked as a postdoc in the lab of Elaine Fox at the University of Oxford in the UK. Desiree is currently working as a researcher at Trimbos Institute in Utrecht, NL where she investigates drug and alcohol use amongst students.
Desiree received her PhD in May 2016 for her thesis entitled 'Individual differences in the acute effects of cannabis and cocaine on cognitive control'. For her PhD project she used behavioral and EEG measures to investigate performance monitoring, inhibitory as well social cognitive processes. After her PhD, she worked as a postdoc in the lab of Elaine Fox at the University of Oxford in the UK. Desiree is currently working as a researcher at Trimbos Institute in Utrecht, NL where she investigates drug and alcohol use amongst students.
Javier de la Ascuncion - Clinical Psychologist, Ghent, Belgium
Javier received his PhD in January 2016 for his thesis entitled 'Every cloud has a silver lining: Social cognitive skills and deficits in schizophrenia". His PhD research was aimed at gaining more knowledge about possible disturbances in the different sub processes of social cognition on a behavioral and neurophysiological level in a psychiatric population that suffers tremendously from social cognitive deficits. He is currently working as a self-employd clinical psychologist in different clinical settings and institutes.
Javier received his PhD in January 2016 for his thesis entitled 'Every cloud has a silver lining: Social cognitive skills and deficits in schizophrenia". His PhD research was aimed at gaining more knowledge about possible disturbances in the different sub processes of social cognition on a behavioral and neurophysiological level in a psychiatric population that suffers tremendously from social cognitive deficits. He is currently working as a self-employd clinical psychologist in different clinical settings and institutes.
Sina Radke - Postdoc, Translational Neuroscience in Psychiatry, Universitatsklinikum Aachen, GER
Sina received her PhD in February 2014 for her thesis entitled 'Acting Social: Neuroendocrine and clinical modulations of approach and decision behavior'. In her PhD project she investigated the role of the hormone oxytocin in social action control, using behavioral, neuroimaging (EEG and fMRI), and psychopharmacological methods. She focused on social adaptive behavior in healthy and clinical populations (e.g., pscyhopathy and major depression) using approach-avoidance and social decision making paradigms, such as the Ultimatum Game. Sina is currently working as a postdcotoral researcher at the Universitatsklinikum in Aachen, Germany.
Sina received her PhD in February 2014 for her thesis entitled 'Acting Social: Neuroendocrine and clinical modulations of approach and decision behavior'. In her PhD project she investigated the role of the hormone oxytocin in social action control, using behavioral, neuroimaging (EEG and fMRI), and psychopharmacological methods. She focused on social adaptive behavior in healthy and clinical populations (e.g., pscyhopathy and major depression) using approach-avoidance and social decision making paradigms, such as the Ultimatum Game. Sina is currently working as a postdcotoral researcher at the Universitatsklinikum in Aachen, Germany.
Inti Brazil - Associcate professor in Neuropsychology, Radboud University Nijmegen, NLD
Inti received his PhD in November 2013 for his thesis entitled 'Change doesn't come easy: dynamics of adaptive behavior in psychopathy'. His main interest is studying adaptive behavior and social decision-making and how these relate to psychopathic tendencies in both community and offender samples. This is done by applying behavioral paradigms, electrophysiology and more recently computational modelling. Inti is currently working as an assistant professor at the Neuropsychology department of the Radboud University in Nijmegen and as a researcher at the Pompestichting. More information about Inti's research can be found on his personal website.
Inti received his PhD in November 2013 for his thesis entitled 'Change doesn't come easy: dynamics of adaptive behavior in psychopathy'. His main interest is studying adaptive behavior and social decision-making and how these relate to psychopathic tendencies in both community and offender samples. This is done by applying behavioral paradigms, electrophysiology and more recently computational modelling. Inti is currently working as an assistant professor at the Neuropsychology department of the Radboud University in Nijmegen and as a researcher at the Pompestichting. More information about Inti's research can be found on his personal website.
Sofie Houthoofd - Psychiatrist, Nivovi, Ghent, BEL
Sofie received her PhD in June 2013 for her theis entitled 'Beyond Delusions and Hallucinations: Cognition, Psychomotor Functioning and Performance Monitoring in Schizophrenia'. She's currently working as a Psychiatrist at Nivovi in Ghent, Belgium.
Sofie received her PhD in June 2013 for her theis entitled 'Beyond Delusions and Hallucinations: Cognition, Psychomotor Functioning and Performance Monitoring in Schizophrenia'. She's currently working as a Psychiatrist at Nivovi in Ghent, Belgium.
Marianne Destoop - Psychiatrist, Senior Researcher, CAPRI, University of Antwerp, BEL
Marianne received her PhD in May 2013 for her thesis entitled ' Multimodal Perspectives on Affective Disorders, from Clinics to Imaging.' She's currently working as a psychiatrist specializing in addiction and personality disorders at Multiversum, Antwerp, Belgium.
Marianne received her PhD in May 2013 for her thesis entitled ' Multimodal Perspectives on Affective Disorders, from Clinics to Imaging.' She's currently working as a psychiatrist specializing in addiction and personality disorders at Multiversum, Antwerp, Belgium.
Katinka von Borries - Psychotherapist, Gelsenkirchen, GER
Katinka received her PhD in 2012 for her thesis entitled: 'Carrots and Sticks: a neurobehavioral investigation of affective outcome processing in psychopathy'. She's currently working as a psychotherapist at the "Institut für Stressmedizin Rhein Ruhr" in Germany.
Katinka received her PhD in 2012 for her thesis entitled: 'Carrots and Sticks: a neurobehavioral investigation of affective outcome processing in psychopathy'. She's currently working as a psychotherapist at the "Institut für Stressmedizin Rhein Ruhr" in Germany.
Didier Schrijvers - Associate professor, CAPRI, University of Antwerp, BEL
Didier received his PhD in May 2009 for his thesis entitled ' Monitoring slow motions: Action disturbances in major depressive disorder'. He's currently working as a psychiatrist at UPC Duffel and as an associate professor at the University of Antwerp in Belgium.
Didier received his PhD in May 2009 for his thesis entitled ' Monitoring slow motions: Action disturbances in major depressive disorder'. He's currently working as a psychiatrist at UPC Duffel and as an associate professor at the University of Antwerp in Belgium.
Francesca Casetta - Research assistant, Leiden University, NLD
Francesca joined our lab in the context of the Erasmus traineeship program. She earned her MA degree in Neuroscience and Neuropsychological Rehabilitation at the University of Padua, Italy in 2019. She's involved in (almost) all our ongoing EEG and fMRI studies and uses her technical skills to help us out with any programming issues we might encounter.
Francesca joined our lab in the context of the Erasmus traineeship program. She earned her MA degree in Neuroscience and Neuropsychological Rehabilitation at the University of Padua, Italy in 2019. She's involved in (almost) all our ongoing EEG and fMRI studies and uses her technical skills to help us out with any programming issues we might encounter.
Sandor de Munck - Research Assistant, Leiden University, NLD
After finishing his internship for his honours bachelor project on social performance monitoring in socially anxious individuals, Sandor joined the lab as a research assistant on the VIDI project. His tasks included, participant screening and inclusion, collecting EEG and fMRI data, and organizing the ongoing questionnaire data collection. Sandor is currently working as a clinical psychologist.
After finishing his internship for his honours bachelor project on social performance monitoring in socially anxious individuals, Sandor joined the lab as a research assistant on the VIDI project. His tasks included, participant screening and inclusion, collecting EEG and fMRI data, and organizing the ongoing questionnaire data collection. Sandor is currently working as a clinical psychologist.
