Niche Lab - Neuroimaging In Childhood

Patrick

Naam Patrick de Zeeuw
Functie Niche PhD student

Introductie

Curriculum Vitae

Patrick de Zeeuw completed his M.Sc. in Clinical Neuropsychology (specialisation: Developmental Neuropsychology) at the VU University Amsterdam in December 2005. He is currently a PhD student at the NICHE Neuroimaging Laboratory of the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the Utrecht University Medical Centre. His research interests are the neurobiological and neuropsychological background of developmental disorders, disruptive disorders in particular.

Current Research Projects

My project is called: Profiling ADHD: structural MRI and DTI in children with ADHD. The aim of the project is to integrate structural neuroimaging, cognitive performance data and genotypic information in ADHD. To achieve this, a large group of children with ADHD and controls will be scanned using both structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging (sMRI) and Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI). Additionally, tests tapping cognitive functions which are known to be deficient in ADHD will be administered. These include tests of cognitive control, sensitivity to effects of stimulus timing and sensitivity to reward. DNA will be obtained from participants and their parents for genotyping. Candidate genes that will be investigated are genes which have been associated with ADHD and have been subsequently replicated, thus covering multiple (neurotransmitter) pathways. Of main interest in this large cohort study is describing brain development in ADHD, as well as the influence of genetic vulnerability and presence of cognitive deficits on brain development in ADHD.

Publicaties