Our first line of research focuses on the etiology, assessment and treatment (pharmacological and psychosocial) of attentional and behavioral difficulties in children, including children with inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, non-compliant and/or aggressive behavior (Luman, Oosterlaan, Noordermeer, van der Plas, Staff, van Boven, de Jong, van Houdt). The research group is affiliated with the PAINT Consortium, a collaboration of researchers and clinicians who study psychosocial interventions for children with attentional and behavioral difficulties, including parent and teacher training. The research group is also part of the Academic Workplace ADHD and hyperactive behavior, where practice and science collaborate. We also host a large cohort of adults who received an ADHD (attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder) diagnosis in childhood, their family members, and a group without an ADHD diagnosis, the longitudinal neuroIMAGE project. This study focusses on a wide range of outcome measures including socio-emotional and adaptive functioning, and predictors of functioning, including brain (fMRI, DTI) and neurocognitive functions, ranging from motor skills to higher order cognitive control processes.
A second line of research focusses on stimulating self-regulation, among others in young students in primary school. For this project a knowledge-platform is constructed on what self-regulation is and how it can be supported (Slaats, Ebbes, van Houdt and Luman). Related to this self-regulation research are studies on the impact of music on executive functioning in regular school children (Janson, Scherder, Luman, Noordermeer) and in children with cerebral paresis (Zuiderbaan, Scherder).
A third line of research focusses on neurocognitive functioning in relation to behavioral outcomes, among others in toddlers and preschoolers (Urbanus, Van Houdt) as well as in children (development of COTAPP tool, www.cotapp.nl). In these studies, different methods are used, including the use of (neuro)cognitive tasks, observations, questionnaires, and eye-tracking to study both typically developing children (e.g., CARES study) and children with vulnerable development (e.g., children with chromosomal variations).
The research group is renowned for the development of advanced computerized paradigms (see for example www.cotapp.nl) as well as using new methods, including ecologically momentary assessments. The relation between neurocognitive measures and central nervous system structure and function is studied using psychophysiological measures and imaging techniques including EEG, (f)MRI, fNIRS and DTI.
Prof. dr. Jaap Oosterlaan is also affiliated with the Emma Neuroscience Group of the Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam UMC. Together with dr. Marsh Königs, he is responsible for research into the effects of disease and treatment on the central nervous system in children, including research into the effects of premature birth and traumatic brain injury and studies into the impact of motor activity on behavioral and cognitive functioning (Vermeulen).
EMPLOYEES
Barbara Haverkamp, PhD student
Suzanne de Jong, PhD student
Anna Meijer, PhD student
Anouck Staff, PhD student
Gerben Vermeulen, PhD student
Noa van der Plas, PhD student
Marlijn Janson, PhD student
Jule Zuiderbaan, PhD student
Emmy van Boven, PhD student
Karen Vertessen, MD, Child Psychiatrist
Rutmer Ebbes, Post-doc
Dr. Daina Crafa, Assistant Professor
Dr. Siri Noordermeer, Assistant Professor
Dr. Evelien Urbanus, Assistant Professor
Dr. Marjolein Luman, Associate Professor
Prof. dr. Jaap Oosterlaan, Full Professor
Prof. dr. Dorine Slaats-Willemse, Full Professor