Contact »

 

Address:
Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience
Dept. of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology
Room 2.743
Universiteitssingel 40
6229 ER Maastricht, NL

 

Phone:

+ 31 433881902

 

Email:

k.kuypers@maastrichtuniversity.nl

 

Social Media:

LinkedIn

Research »

Currently, I'm conducting NWO-funded research and I'm involved in two NWO-funded projects, and a European-funded project (ALICE-RAP, FP7). Furthermore, I'm developing a new paradigm aimed at assessing empathy. It is a scientifically-driven creative process in which I can implement my previously acquired experience with empathy tasks.I'm very excited about this as it challenging and when proven successful, will hopefully be of use for other researchers interested in studying social cognition. My ultimate aim is to provide better understanding of the 'why' and 'how' of empathic processes so that we are able to improve it, and to push science forward in this field.

With my new project, which was granted in May 2011, I want to investigating the role of two potential mediators in the MDMA-induced prosocial effects. This project encompass two experimental studies.

The aim of the first this study was to investigate the role of oxytocin and the 5-HT1A receptor in the effects of MDMA on social cognition. Currently I'm preparing the manuscript for submission. The main conclusion was that MDMA selectively increased emotional empathy while leaving cognitive emapthy unaffected. Oxytocin did not affect social cognition measures and blocking of the 5-HT1a receptor did not reverse or affect the MDMA-induced effects on empathy.

Data collection of the second study will finish in November 2013. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of the 5-HT2a receptor in the effects of MDMA on social cognition.

The aim of the first project I'm involved in is to investigate the mechanisms underlying the MDMA- and cannabis-induced memory impairment. In order to do this, a series of three placebo-controlled experimental studies were conducted. The first articles have already been published (see Publications); the article from the last study is ready for submission. Principle investigators are dr Theunissen and prof Ramaekers. 

The aim of the second project I'm involved in is to investigate the acute effects of single doses of cannabis and cocaine on impulsivity measures, and to assess the role of two genotypes in these effects. This is a multi-center project which was carried out in Maastricht (Maastricht University) and Nijmegen (Radboud University Nijmegen). These are the PhD-projects of Janelle van Wel and Desirée Spronk. Data collection in Maastricht was finished in 2012, data collection in Nijmegen was finished in the May 2013. Currently, MSc van Wel is finalzing her PhD thesis.

The aim of the third project I'm involved in is to investigate the effects of alcohol- and cannabis-related cues on behavior and brain activation in alcohol and cannabis users, respectively. These effects will be assessed in users when they are under the influence of alcohol or cannabis and be compared to placebo. This project will be carried out at Maastricht University by Elizabeth de Sousa Fenandes Perna as part of her PhD project. Data collection will be finalized in November 2013.