Natacha Deroost

Biography

Career

• Current position : Associate professor, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
• Postdoctoral research fellow FWO, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 2008-2011
• Postdoctoral research fellow VUB, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 2006-2008

Education

• Research fellow FWO, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 2001-2005 (PhD project)
• Master Clinical Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 2001

Teaching

• General Psychology
• Cognitive Psychology I
• Research assignment Cognitive and Biological Psychology
• Experimental Clinical Psychology

Research

• Implicit learning We investigate the role of selective attention and attentional control in implicit learning processes as well as the representations (perceptual or motor) underlying implicit sequence learning. Another line of research focuses on the consolidation of implicit sequence knowledge. We also address the development of explicit knowledge during implicit sequence learning.
• Cognition in Parkinson's disease: deficits in automaticity and control In collaboration with Eric Kerckhofs of the Department of Neurological Rehabilitation Our aim is to develop an integrative empirical model that predicts the development of cognitive decline in Parkinson's disease using a fine-grained analysis of cognition. More particularly, we focus on how disturbances in automaticity and control contribute to cognitive deterioration in Parkinson's disease. Our long-term goal is to identify evidence-based predictors for cognitive rehabilitation based on innovative compensation strategies and neurostimulation (tDCS).
• Cognition and affective psychology: We investigate the relationship between cognitive processes and affective symptoms. One line of research determines how repetitive negative thought, such as rumination and worry, contribute to affective complaints. Another line of research, in collaboration with Renata Cserjesi of the Department of Affective Psychology of the Eötvös Loránd University (Budapest), focuses on cognitive distortions in disturbed eating, such as emotional eating.

Publications

List of publications...