About me
During my PhD trajectory at Erasmus MC under Prof.Dr. C.I. de Zeeuw, I delved into the intricate processes of memory formation in the brain, specifically focusing on associative motor learning. My dissertation explored the neurological mechanisms involved in acquiring new motor skills, emphasizing how our brains achieve precise timing of movements at a millisecond scale. Central to my research was the use of the classical eyeblink conditioning paradigm, also known as Pavlovian eyeblink conditioning. This paradigm was selected because of its well-characterized neuronal circuits, making it an excellent model for studying neuronal plasticity during memory formation in both healthy and disordered brains. Throughout my PhD journey, I sought to unravel the complex interplay of neural mechanisms underlying motor learning and memory, contributing valuable insights into both fundamental neuroscience and potential therapeutic approaches for neurological disorders.
Since September 2023, I am the project manager for the SCANNER project, which aims to answer the critical question: (Why) are there more men than women with autism? The SCANNER consortium is an ambitious collaboration that includes (applied) researchers, psychologists, autism associations, knowledge centres, eHealth tool designers, industrial designers, and business professionals. Together, we aim to close the knowledge gap regarding the biological mechanisms underlying sex differences in the occurrence and diagnosis of autistic traits. Our goal is to translate this knowledge into sex-sensitive diagnostic eHealth tools, ultimately improving the accuracy and effectiveness of autism diagnoses for both men and women.
