Projects
The Predictive Visual Brain in Autism Spectrum Disorders. KU Leuven
"New theories of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) based on Predictive Coding have been proposed in recent years. These theories are motivated by the increasing empirical support for predictive coding models of the brain and the unprecedented amount of autism symptoms that can be explained by this framework. Recently, Van de Cruys et al. (2014) proposed the ""High Inflexible Precision of Prediction Errors in ASD"" theory, suggesting that ...
Assessing the predictive coding accounts of autism spectrum disorders KU Leuven
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects more than seven million individuals in the European Union. Yet, this neurodevelopmental disorder remains poorly accounted for. ASD is defined by persistent deficits in social interactions and communication, and by restricted interests and repetitive patterns of behaviors. Recent predictive coding theories offer potential accounts of ASD.
The predictive coding framework assumes that the brain ...
Autism Innovative Medicine Studies - 2 - Trials Ghent University
Shaping the Social brain through early interactions Ghent University
The first three years of life are critical for children’ long-term development, health and wellbeing, since core brain functions are formed during this period and the brain is much more vulnerable to adversity, which is key for the emergence of developmental disorders (autism, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder). Identifying the mechanisms that act during early childhood to shape individual long-term social development is essential for ...
Epigenetics, experience and responsibility: implications for neurodevelopmental disorders (NEUROEPIGENETHICS). University of Antwerp
Comorbid Analysis of Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Epilepsy Ghent University
Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and intellectual disability (ID) are clinically heterogeneous, often co-occur, affect ~15% of the EU population; and are associated with somatic illnesses (e.g. epilepsy, autoimmune and gastrointestinal disease) that lead to a significant increase in morbidity and mortality. For instance in ASD the combination of ID ...
Integrated view on disruptions of early brain development Ghent University
Early onset neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are rather common, and affect more than 30 million children in Europe. The disorders carry a huge burden to the patients and their families and to society in general. This burden is linked to their chronic course and the absence of curative treatments. These neurodevelopmental disorders are thought to result ...
What makes us cognitively flexible? A new learning perspective Ghent University
Much of human behavior is characterized by the extraordinary ability to quickly reconfigure our mind, and switch between different tasks, often referred to as cognitive flexibility. While most psychologists agree on the kind of behaviors that fall under the term cognitive flexibility, we have only a poor understanding on what drives cognitive flexibility. When defining cognitive flexibility, its putative underlying processes are often ...
Epigenetics, Experience and Responsability:Implications for neurodevelopmental disorders KU Leuven
Neuroepigenethics aims to investigate the ethical implications of epigenetics for neurodevelopmental disorders. We will use theoretical and empirical methods to investigate how certain concepts (innate/biological/genetic)affect the ways in which professionals and stakeholders (persons with a neurodevelopmental disorder and their families) conceive of responsability. We will evaluate how the emerging field of epigenetics alters the ascription ...