Name Erika van Hell
Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery
Section Brain Function and Plasticity
Function
PhD-student
E-mail:
h.h.vanhell@umcutrecht.nl Tel +31 88 755 5873
Supervisor Prof. N.F. Ramsey & Prof. R.S. Kahn; co-promotor Dr. G. Jager
Title research
The role of the endocannabinoid system in psychiatric disorders
Summary research The endocannabinoid system is ubiquitously present in the brain and involved in several cognitive functions, such as motivation, memory, reward and emotion. From animal studies we know that the endocannabinoid system may be altered in psychiatric diseases, such as schizophrenia, addiction and depression. We do not know how whether and how the cannabinoid system is altered in humans with a psychiatric disorder. In the current research project we will administer placebo and THC, the main psychoactive constituent of cannabis and an important cannabinoid agonist, to psychiatric patients. During performance of several cognitive tasks, functional MRI is used to measure brain activity. Neuropsychological tests will also be performed.