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.
Learn More
Maastricht Psychedelic Symposium
On May 24, the Maastricht Psychedelic Research Team organized a mini-symposium on psychedelics. We welcomed two international speakers: Prof. dos Santos and Prof. Bouso from Brazil and Spain to discuss their ayahuasca and ibogaine research. We also had several internal speakers: presenting on mystical vs. autobiographical psychedelic experiences (Dr Kangaslampi), microdosing (Ms. Haijen), and 5-MeO-DMT (Mr. Reckweg).
Click below to watch the entire symposium
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.
View All Studies
Our Scientists
Dr. Eef Theunissen
Cognition, Synthetic Cannabinoids, Drugs and Driving
I began my Ph.D. journey in 2001 at the Faculty of Psychology at the University of Maastricht. My research focused on investigating the sedating and stimulating effects of antihistamines, with a particular emphasis on their...
Dr. Peter van Ruitenbeek
My name is Dr. Peter van Ruitenbeek and I work as an assistant professor. That means I teach and do research at the faculty of psychology and neuroscience.
Aedan O’Shea, MSc
I have a long standing interest in unravelling the therapeutic mechanisms of Psychedelics, and in this project I will investigate the effect of Psychedelic drug exposure in humans on miRNA’s transported in neuron-derived Extracellular Vesicles...
Dr. Rudy Schreiber
CNS Drug Discovery, Research Domain Criteria
I started my career in central nervous system drug discovery in 1993 and subsequently progressed from bench scientist to senior leadership roles at global pharmaceutical companies
Iva Totomanova, MSc
My primary research interest lies in exploring the potential of psychedelics to be used as novel treatment options for a range of psychiatric disorders.
Dr. Kim Kuypers
Microdosing, Cognition, Nutrition
My research focuses on the neurobiology of flexible cognition, empathy, and well-being.
Dr. Conny Quaedflieg
Stress Resilience, Intentional Forgetting, EEG
Through my extensive research experience, I have built expertise in various disciplines (psychology, psychophysiology, neurosciences) and I have become enthusiastic about bridging them.
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.
Katharina Lege, MSc
Consciousness, Cannabinoids, Neuroimaging
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.
Psychedelic Research
Improving cognitive functioning in major depressive disorder with psychedelics: A dimensional approach
→
Microdosing with psychedelics to self-medicate for ADHD symptoms in adults: A prospective naturalistic study
→
The use patterns of novel psychedelics: experiential fingerprints of substituted phenethylamines, tryptamines and lysergamides
→
Cannabis Research
Comparison of Cannabinoid Pharmacokinetic Properties in Occasional and Heavy Users Smoking a Marijuana or Placebo Joint
→
Cannabis induced increase in striatal glutamate associated with loss of functional corticostriatal connectivity
Cannabis, Glutamate, Functional Connectivity
→
Intoxication by a synthetic cannabinoid (JWH-018) causes cognitive and psychomotor impairment in recreational cannabis users
Cannabis, Cognition, Psychomotor
→
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.