Judith Schomaker

My Research Interests

My research focuses on novelty (new things). How, and where in the brain is novelty detected? What are novelty's effects on other cognitive processes, like perception and action, and how does novelty influence our behavior?

Quickly detecting something new in our environment can be of great value when the detection of this novel stimulus increases the likelihood of survival (e.g. spotting a predator from the corner of your eyes to escape, just in time).

Maybe the biological relevance of novelty is the reason why our brain responds to novel stimuli similarly as to real rewards (like food or money). But, under which specific circumstances is novelty rewarding. Are novel stimuli still rewarding, even when we are bombarded with new things in our enviroment?

The goal of my research project is to investigate the above mentioned questions. Therefore, we make use of several techniques; such as the event-related potential (ERP) technique, using the electroencephalogram (EEG), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), behavioral experiments, patient studies, and pharmacological interventions. 

Contact

E-mail: j.schomaker@psy.vu.nl

Abbreviated CV

Bachelor Psychology 2005-2008

Research Assistant Clinical Psychology 2007

Research Assistant at the Center of Education 2007/2008

Master Cognitive Neuropsychology 2008-2010

www.cognitiveneuropsychology.nl

Research Assistant Cognitive Psychology 2009-2010

Graduate student Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tuebingen Germany (http://www.kyb.mpg.de/~jschomaker)

PhD Student 2010 -

Publications & Posters

1. Schomaker, J., Tesch, J., Bülthoff, H.H., Bresciani, J.P. (2011). It is all me: the effect of viewpoint on visual-vestibular recalibration. Experimental Brain Research213(2-3), 245-256.  
2. Schomaker, J., & Talsma, D. (2009). The relationship between response times and the strength of top-down attentional control: An ERP study. Journal of European Psychology Students, Volume 1. (http://efpsa.org.preview108.servergrove.com/images/issue1pdf/jeps1_art5.pdf).
3. Schee, J. van der,  Schomaker, J. & Trimp, H. (2009). Geografische kennis en kaartvaardigheden: gouden combi. Geografie, 18 (1), 29.
4. Bresciani, J.P., Schomaker, J., Tesch, J., Bischoff, H. and Bülthoff, H, H. (2010). [poster] The richness of the visual scene and the viewpoint affect sensorimotor learning in Virtual Reality. Body Representation in Physical and Virtual Reality with Applications to Rehabilitation. Monte Veritá, Switzerland, 26 Sep - 1 Oct, 2010.

Talks

1. Schomaker, J., J. Tesch, H. H. Bülthoff and J.-P. Bresciani: It‘s All Me; Varying Viewpoints and Motor Learning in a Virtual Reality Environment. 11th International Multisensory Research Forum (IMRF 2010) 11, 1.
http://imrf.mcmaster.ca/IMRF/ocs2/index.php/imrf/2010/paper/view/350

2. Schomaker, J. (2010). It is all me: The effect of viewpoint on visual-vestibular recalibration. 1st Annual CNP 'Master Student Presents' for the Research Master Cognitive Neuropsychology, October 6th, 2010.
https://sites.google.com/site/cnpmeet/abstracts