Hilleke Hulshoff Pol
Professor at the Neuroimaging Research Group, University Medical Center Utrecht
Challenging preconceived ideas about brain development is what Hilleke Hulshoff Pol really likes. Over the course of many years she has followed schizophrenic twins and healthy volunteers and mapped their brains with MRI scans. Contrary to current wisdom she proved that brain volume only starts to decrease roughly after the age of forty. Previously, the brain was held to start shrinking right after puberty.
This long term project continues. Repeated brain measurements in schizophrenic patients, in controls and in twins provide clues to developmental defects in schizophrenia. Currently, research also aims to describe changes in plasticity and connectivity between healthy and affected brains. The high field 7T scanner plays a pivotal role in this research, just like the newly developed dti-MR scanning technique, which enables visualization of white matter tracts. And with NMR spectroscopy it is possible to reveal neurotransmitter glutamate activity, which Hulshoff Pol and colleagues will use to zoom in on the molecular level of psychiatric disease.
“We really try to bring students into contact with all aspects of the scientific process, from performing experiments to thinking about methodological problems. We pride ourselves in good supervision of master students, we would never let them drown, so to speak. Students highly value our supervision.”
“We believe a six month stay to be the very minimum. Getting acquainted with MRI scanning and analysis takes quite some time. Also, affinity with computers and a technical mindset would be really helpful! Much of our research really explores the boundaries of physics and biology. This comes with great uncertainties, but is also great fun.”