Psychopharmacology Maastricht
The psychopharmacology department at Maastricht University focuses on the cognitive, behavioral, and biological effects of various substances, ranging from pharmaceutical to recreational drugs.
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Natasha Mason and Zeus Tipado will be presenting at ICPR 2024 in Haarlem, Netherlands this June!
Maastricht Psychedelic Symposium
On May 24, the Maastricht Psychedelic Research Team will organize a mini-symposium on psychedelics. We will welcome two international speakers: Prof. dos Santos and Prof. Bouso from Brazil and Spain to discuss their ayahuasca and ibogaine research. We also have several internal speakers: presenting on mystical vs. autobiographical psychedelic experiences (Dr Kangaslampi), microdosing (Ms. Haijen), and 5-MeO-DMT (Mr. Reckweg). All students and staff with an interest in this topic are welcome to join us in the Maastrichtzaal in UNS40 between 13:30-15:30.
If you can’t make it, a live stream will be available at the link below!
Read about our new paper on the neurological origins of a visual psychedelic hallucination
Congratulations to Zeus Tipado on his newly published paper that introduces a new theory as to why a person experiences a visual trip on psychedelics.
Read The PaperParticipate in our studies!
We're always conducting research in our department and we're frequently looking for participants to be a part of science! If you're interested, look at the studies that we are currently conducting.
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Our Scientists
Katharina Lege, MSc
Cannabinoids, Neuroimaging, Consciousness
Coming from a background of psychology and clinical neuroscience, I developed a strong interest in altered states of the mind as in mediation or yoga practices.
Dr. Pim Heckman
Memory recovery, Sleep loss, Neuroplasticity
My academic training and research experience have provided me with an excellent background in multiple psychological disciplines including neurobiology, neuropsychology, and neuropsychopharmacology.
Hongyu Zhao, MSc
My name is Hongyu, and I am a researcher from China. After completing my undergraduate degree in anesthesiology and obtaining a master's degree in psychiatry from a prestigious medical university in China.
Giordano Rossi, MSc
Ayahuasca, Esketamine, Depression
We are also evaluating subjective effects, safety, tolerability, and possible changes in personality, social cognition and well-being.
Dr. Lilian Kloft
Cognition, Drugs, False Memory
I am a postdoctoral researcher in the fields of psychopharmacology and forensic psychology with an international education from various high-class universities.
Pablo Mallaroni, MSc
Psychedelics, fMRI/MRS, Idiosyncracy
I am PhD candidate with the Psychopharmacology Unit of Maastricht University with a background in translational neuroscience.
Mauro Cavarra, MSc
Psychosomatics, Chronic Pain, Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy
I am a psychotherapist, hypnotherapist and clinical trainer interested in understanding the connection between mind and body. At the Department I work in research projects that explore the potential of psychedelic therapies in the treatment...
Eline Haijen, MSc
ADHD, Microdosing, Psychedelics
I am a PhD candidate in the Psychopharmacology in Maastricht research group at the Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology at Maastricht University. I am from a little village close to Maastricht.
Prof. Arjan Blokland
Cognition, Learning & Memory, Acetylcholine
I studied Psychology at the Radboud University (Nijmegen, NL). After receiving my PhD in Maastricht in 1992, I did a post doc at the University of Cambridge in 1992.
Psychedelic Research
Psilocybin induces acute and persisting alterations in immune status and the stress response in healthy volunteers
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Microdosing with psychedelics to self-medicate for ADHD symptoms in adults: A prospective naturalistic study
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Microdosing psychedelics: More questions than answers? An overview and suggestions for future research
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Visual hallucinations originating in the retinofugal pathway under clinical and psychedelic conditions
vision, Psychedelics, retinofugal, tripping, hallucinations, visual
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Improving cognitive functioning in major depressive disorder with psychedelics: A dimensional approach
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Ayahuasca enhances creative divergent thinking while decreasing conventional convergent thinking
creativity, divergent thinking, convergent thinking, Ayahuasca
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Cannabis Research
Medicinal Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (dronabinol) impairs on-the-road driving performance of occasional and heavy cannabis users but is not detected in Standard Field Sobriety Tests
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Intoxication by a synthetic cannabinoid (JWH-018) causes cognitive and psychomotor impairment in recreational cannabis users
Psychomotor, Cannabis, Cognition
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Comparison of Cannabinoid Pharmacokinetic Properties in Occasional and Heavy Users Smoking a Marijuana or Placebo Joint
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Cannabis induced increase in striatal glutamate associated with loss of functional corticostriatal connectivity
Glutamate, Functional Connectivity, Cannabis
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Get in Touch
We are always up for communicating with people that have interesting ideas or questions. If you want to contact our department, please reach out using this form below.