Our research focuses on the neurocognitive mechanisms of eating behavior as well as how the foods we consume impact our brain and cognition. We study gut-brain communication as many Food & Cognition effects happen through the gut microbiome, immune system or peripheral markers of hunger and satiety. We are particularly interested in cognitive functions mediated by the dopamine system, such as motivation and cognitive control. Therefore, our research is performed in - and is relevant for - disorders with known dopamine deficits, such as ADHD, obesity, and Parkinson’s disease. For this, we use cognitive neuroimaging (mostly fMRI) in combination with pharmacological, behavioural, and nutritional interventions.
Food & Cognition
Research group
Research group information
Click on one of the links below for more information about this research group or contact one of the members of this group.
Principal Investigator
Group members
PostDoc
Dr. Ruben van den Bosch
PhD students
Mark van Loenen
Lianne Remie
Judith Scholing
Research Assistent
Lisette Olsthoorn
Knowledge utilisation
Yolanda Kooijmans
- MOCIA: Maintaining Optimal Cognitive function In Ageing – a personalised lifestyle prevention approach (NWO-crossover, Aarts)
- The obesity spiral: inflammation and effortless fast food choices (ERC, Aarts)
- The role of dopamine and noradrenaline in motivated cognitive control
- 2019: Crossover grant (7 years) by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO). Title: "MOCIA: Maintaining Optimal Cognitive function In Ageing – a personalised lifestyle prevention approach." [public-private, main applicant Aarts]
- 2019: Starting grant (5 years) by the European Research Council (ERC). Title: "The obesity spiral: inflammation and effortless fast food choices." [personal, sole applicant Aarts]
- 2016 - European Regional Development Fund (4 years) by the EU and (local) government. Title: “BriteN: Early nutritional Interventions for healthy brain development" [public-private, co-applicant] More information
- 2014 - Food, Cognition and Behaviour grant (4 years) by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO). Title: "Elucidating the neurocognitive mechanisms controlling satiation" [public-private, co-applicant] More information
- 2012 - Veni grant (3 years) by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO). Title: "Breaking the habit: the neural correlates of mindful eating" [sole applicant] More information
- 2011 - Post-doctoral fellowship (2 years) by the AXA Research Fund. Title: “Food, brain, and distractibility: Goal-directed versus habitual control of food intake" [sole applicant] More information2012
- 2008 - Stipend (1 year) by the Niels Stensen foundation. Title: “The role of catecholamines in attentional control” [sole applicant] More information
- Kaufmann LK, Custers E, Vreeken D, Snabel J, Morrison MC, Kleemann R, Wiesmann M, Hazebroek EJ, Aarts E*, Kiliaan AJ*. Additive effects of depression and obesity on neural correlates of inhibitory control. J Affect Disord. 2024 Oct 1;362:174-185. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.06.093. Epub 2024 Jul 1. PMID: 38960334. ()
- B.I.H.M. Lambregts, E. Vassena, A. Jansen, P. Pickkers, M. Kox, E. Aarts, M. van der Schaaf (2023). Fatigue during acute systemic inflammation is associated with reduced mental effort expenditure while task accuracy is preserved. Brain Behavior and Immunity 112:235-245. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.05.013 ()
- N. Kohn, J. Szopinska-Tokov, A. Llera, C. Beckmann, A. Arias Vasquez, E. Aarts (2021). Multivariate associative patterns between the gut microbiota and large-scale brain network connectivity. Gut Microbes ()
- I. Duif, J. Wegman, M. Mars, C. de Graaf, P.A.M. Smeets, E. Aarts (2020). Effects of distraction on taste-related neural processing. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. ()
- Papalini S, Michels F, Kohn N, Wegman J, van Hemert S, Roelofs K, Arias-Vasquez A, Aarts E (2018). Stress matters: Randomized controlled trial on the effect of probiotics on neurocognition. Neurobiology of Stress 10: 100141.
Contact information
024-3610651
6500HB NIJMEGEN
Postal address
Postbus 91016500HB NIJMEGEN