Our Mission

To study, prevent and retrain maladaptive cognitive processes, related to drug use and other developmental psychological problems.

Research Topics

We study the adaptive mind/brain in relation to the development of addictive behaviors and other forms of psychopathology. Studies focus both on children (e.g. ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders), adolescents (e.g., studies on the development of addictive behaviors and anxiety disorders and novel ways to counter the maladaptive effects of processes in these disorders), and adults (e.g. re-training of maladaptive neurocognitive processes in addicted patients).

Methods

We use a variety of methods, including experimental tests on relatively automatic (“implicit”) processes and executive control processes, imaging, genetics, and psychophysiological measures, in addition to more standard questionnaire methods. We also do a lot of research through novel internet-based assessment techniques.

New Interventions

Based on this research, we develop new ways to directly interfere with the neurocognitive processes involved in the development of different disorders. This is either done in patients (e.g. children with ADHD or alcoholic patients) or in individuals at risk to develop problems (targeted intervention, e.g., heavy drinkers). These new techniques can supplement existing treatment or can be used as stand-alone interventions (through the web). We also experiment with novel ways to directly stimulate brain processes that are important to constrain the impact of maladaptive impulses (tDCS).