Why this programme?
The brain is a challenging topic to explore if you want to understand behaviour. Yet, the complexity of its myriad of neurons, dozens of biochemical messengers and infinite neuronal interconnections attract many researchers to this highly challenging field.
The Neuropsychology specialisation offers an integrated curriculum that includes most aspects of basic and applied neuroscience. Under the guidance of a multidisciplinary team of mainly psychologists , psychiatrists and psychopharmacologists as well as biologists, you will learn to use state-of-the art clinical and neuroimaging techniques (like EEG and fMRI) and behavioural laboratory facilities.
Internships
From November of the second year, you will devote your time to the preparation and execution of your research internship and master’s thesis. You will conduct your own research project (very often as part of a larger ongoing study), including the writing of a proposal, acquiring and analysing the data. The work is reported in a master’s thesis, written in the style of a scientific journal article. Given the strong multidisciplinary research infrastructure here in Maastricht as well as extensive international networks, you will have ample opportunities for internships related to any aspect of Neuropsychology, either locally or at other top universities throughout the world. We will help you find a topic and location that best fit your own interests and career goals. Curious about the kinds of projects students have conducted? You can find a list of research topics at the bottom of the page.
If you specialise in Neuropsychology, you may also choose to conduct an optional clinical internship in an approved setting, for at least 13 weeks. This can be done in conjunction with the required research internship or separately. Based on client/patient-based investigations you perform during the clinical internship, you will submit an additional, brief research report: the minor thesis. The length of the research internship and associated credits will be adjusted accordingly, so that you can complete both internships within the 2-year timeframe of the curriculum.
Studying in Maastricht has been a fantastic experience and has exceeded my expectations! This programme has given me so much; not only on an academic level but also on a personal level. Yes it involves hard work and commitment and there will be struggles at times, but in the end the rewards are much greater. I think I can say on behalf of all my colleagues, that with all the ups and downs, the research master is a challenging and nourishing experience which has offered me so much.
Rebecca Camilleri, Malta
Teaching staff and research environment
Research covers a broad range of topics, with a primary focus on understanding cognitive (e.g. memory, perception, attention) and emotional-affective (e.g. mood, motivation, arousal) aspects of human behaviour. Starting from the perspective of brain structure and function, neuropsychology investigates the continuum from normal behaviour to psychological dysfunctions (e.g. depression, addiction and eating disturbances, schizophrenia, ADHD) across the lifespan. In addition, brain-behaviour relationships are studied by pharmacological or dietary manipulation of brain neurochemistry and function, mainly in humans. At Maastricht University, scientists affiliated with the European Graduate School of Neuroscience (EURON) conduct experiments that include the use of psychoactive substances in combination with behavioural, psychophysiological and functional neuroimaging techniques.
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Examples of internship topics
| Thesis | Institution |
|---|---|
| Cerebral-limbic interconnectivity in emotion regulation and depression (PET, EEG-ERP, fMRI) | Karolinska Institute, Stockholm & Maastricht University |
| Using neuroimaging (fMRI) techniques to improve diagnostic efficacy in psychiatric treatment | Dalhousie University Halifax, Canada |
| Adolescent brain training and executive functions and action control | Leiden University, Netherlands |
| Relation between cerebrovascular blood flow and cognitive information processing as predictors for cognitive disorders | Newcastle University, Australia |
| Brain dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5HT) and sensitivity for punishment/ reward in addition | University of California, San Diego, USA |
| Creativity and mindfulness training to improve brain and behavioral function in psychiatric and affective disorders | Alzheimer Center Maastricht, Netherlands; Maastricht University |
| Brain network interconnectivity involved in top-down control of attention and related disturbances | Berkeley University California, USA |
| Effects of cognitive training on brain function indicative for memory decline | FC Donders Center, Nijmegen, NL |
| Effects of brain 5HT manipulation on stress-induced brain and behavioral emotional responses in genetic 5HTTLPR vulnerable subjects | Maastricht University, Netherlands; Leiden University; Trier University |
| Effects of antidepressant drugs on perceptual-motor function in healthy compared to clinical subjects | University Glasgow |
| Stress, analgesia and risk for development of borderline- personality disorders in children | University of Nairobi, Kenia |
| Dyslexia/fMRI | University Aachen, Germany |
| Impulsivity/parkinson | Melbourne University, New Zeeland |
| Traumatic experiences, personality and OCD | BCNI University Cambridge, UK |
| Neurodegenerative disease | Oxford University, UK |
| Effects of long-term tryptophan augmentation on behavioral and brain measures of stress-induced attentional biases | Maastricht University |
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