L. Nawijn MSc

MSc L. Nawijn

Position

Research Associate

Main activities

Research

Specialisation

psychotrauma, PTSD, oxytocin, stress, neuroimaging, psychoneuroendocrinology

Focus of research

My research focusses on the neurobiological effects of oxytocin in PTSD.

I am involved in the BOOSTER and the BONDS study, both randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials. In the BOOSTER study we use fMRI to investigate the effects of a single dosage intranasal oxytocin administration on neural activity and behaviour related to emotion- and reward processing in individuals with and without PTSD. In the BONDS study we investigate the effects of single intranasal oxytocin administration on brain activity in recently trauma-exposed individuals. Furthermore, we look at the longitudinal effects of a week of intranasal oxytocin administration on psychological wellbeing and the development of psychopathology in recently trauma-exposed individuals. In both the BONDS and the BOOSTER study we also look into (epi)genetic, psychological, physiological and endocrinological factors that might influence the effects of oxytocin.