Jan Berend Deijen
Dr. J.B. Deijen, Associate Professor
What fascinates you in the area of cognitive neuropsychology?
I am attracted by the increasing technological possibilities of connecting brain imaging techniques and biochemical measures. These make it possible to relate neuropsychological parameters with a more and more diverse number of physical parameters and brain activation measures. They also make it possible to relate neuropsychological variables with pathological states and indices of health.
It is now possible to relate physiological and neuropsychological aspects of healthy, normal or supra-normal functioning individuals of all age groups. It is challenging to reveal the conditions that are necessary for persons to be normal, excellent or distinguishable with respect to neuropsychological functions or mood. The availability of brain imaging techniques such as PET, fMRI and MEG makes it possible to predict neuropsychological functions from physiological and pharmacological indices which may shed more light on the influence of physical state on normal and deviant brain functions.
What are recent accomplishments in your research?
Regarding Parkinson’s disease (PD), we found that a capture task was sensitive in detecting early perceptual signs in PD. The magnitude of the deficits in the suppression of reflexive saccades suggest that impairment of perceptual functions in PD may interfere with daily activities.
With respect to IGF-I, a PET study indicated that elderly with high IGF-I levels perform faster on a working memory task and show a greater increase in cerebral blood flow in the left premotor and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Thus elderly with high IGF-I levels seem capable of faster working memory performance and increased recruitment of task-associated prefrontal regions.
What are you working on at the moment?
I am involved in studies on the diagnostic potential of neuropsychological indices in Parkinson’s disease. In addition, I am studying the relationship between hormones and psychological functions in patients and healthy subjects. Finally, I am involved in a longitudinal study in healthy adults concerning nutritional and physiological factors that are predictive for the development of cognitive impairment and dementia.
