1: Donders Wonders: You're not surrounded by idiots, but please, don't be the idiot
The Donders Wonders blog is packed with blogs from a team of PhD candidates that blog about the brain, cognition, or behaviour every week. The most popular article of 2024 was this one from Viola Hollestein in which she highlights two problems of the DISC-model personality test.
2: Uncovering new insights into childhood brain development
A Wellcome Discovery Award funds a new groundbreaking study characterising the development of the brain during childhood and adolescence in unprecedented detail. Professor Rogier Kievit explains how we increasingly realize that to truly understand the development of the brain and challenges that might arise, we must study how the brains and behaviours of people change over time.
3 - 6: Take a look at our labs
The list continues with four new lab video's were published that allow you to take a look in these labs. If you have not seen them yet, make sure to check these out:
- Take a look at our Brain Stimulation Lab
- Take a look at our Sensorimotor lab
- Take a look at our Brain Computer Interfacing lab
- Take a look at our Cognition and behaviour lab
7. Developments in autism research
Approximately 1% to 2% of the Dutch population is autistic. Emeritus Professor Jan Buitelaar and PhD candidate Viola Hollestein conduct autism research within the Donders Institute. The research aims to better understand and detect autism earlier to facilitate improved treatment when treatment is necessary. Additionally, environmental factors and neurodiversity play significant roles.
9 April marked World Autism Day and Jan Buitelaar and Viola Hollestein shared insights on developments in autism research on biomarkers, diversity and the environment.
8. Memory research: from maps to memories
Scientist Lisa Genzel was awared an ERC Consolidator grant to study how we build up and update our knowledge networks depending on the amount of previous experience we have. For example, when we move to a new city, we will use the experiences of navigating through new streets to create a spatial map in our mind. Once we have this map, we can now easily update it and learn where a new restaurant is or how we can take a short-cut.
9. How our brain handles what we see and what we imagine
Did you know that many people think in pictures, often while seeing the world at the same time? Although you seem to do this effortlessly, the process is quite complicated and we do not understand how the brain combines seeing and visual thinking, yet. Researcher Marius Peelen will use his recently earned Vici grant to discover these processes.
10. Highly sensitive persons wanted for research
The Week of the Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), dedicated to raising awareness about high sensitivity, was an excellent opportunity to learn more about HSP and to participate in important scientific research in this field. Did you know that high sensitivity is a personality trait found in approximately 20% of the population.