Research interest
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As a species, humans have always relied on their adaptability and intelligence in order to survive. Regardless of country, culture, race, or gender, we have a natural curiosity to learn. After all, like Darwin said*, "it is not the most intellectual of the species that survives; it is not the strongest that survives; but the species that survives is the one that is able best to adapt and adjust to the changing environment in which it finds itself".
"I am the captain of my ship, I am the master of my fate". Society teaches us we are responsible for - and to some extent in control of - our own success and well-being; the self-help era. But at the same time, our everchanging environment makes life very demanding and wanting to control life is an exhausting illusion. Hence, it should not be a surprise that we are all looking for 'lifehacks' to become successful and happy; anything (but not too complicated) in order to deal with the demands of our environment. I aim to scientifically study and find safe and healthy ways to help us dealing with these demands and share that journey with you. Chasing the Human Potential. I believe humans are capable of more than we make ourselves believe at times. If only we could find out what keeps us from employing our full potential. In my humble opinion, it all starts with how we perceive, process, and respond to the world around us (i.e. cognition). Hence, I study methods to optimize people’s cognitive functioning (attention, flexibility, memory, etc.). But I do believe that in order to reach this human potential, we should aim to adapt a more holistic approach: the brain is not an independent entity that controls everything, but instead is heavily influenced by the rest of the body. In fact, some say our guts may function as a second brain! Enhancing cognitive functioning therefore, does not only follow from enhancing brain functioning - assuming that will contribute to well-being, but from optimizing the state of the rest of the body as well. Why 'enhancement' if there is nothing 'wrong'? At least in my opinion, health and well-being follow not only from the treatment of decline, diseases, or disorders, but also from enhancing (i.e. further optimizing) what we think is already ‘good’. Enhancing cognition in healthy individuals, whether that is by using food supplements, binaural beats, videogaming, or electrical stimulation, may therefore have promising potential. Not only in enhancing (social) cognitive functioning and mental well-being in healthy humans, but also in possibly delaying cognitive decline (in e.g. elderly) or preventing psychopathology. As such, cognitive enhancement may be an important step not in treating, but in preventing (mental) health problems, contributing to health and well-being in a completely different way. Current focus I am currently investigating the influence of the vagal nerve and pro- and antibiotics on microbiota-gut-brain interactions, cognitive functioning, and well-being. From a practical point of view, my research includes methods such as food supplementation (tyrosine, tryptophan, probiotics) and electrical brain stimulation (tVNS, tDCS). |
Peer-reviewed publications
2019
Colzato, L.S., Steenbergen, L., & Hommel, B. (Epub ahead of print). Rumination impairs the control of stimulus-induced retrieval of irrelevant information, but not attention, control, or response selection in general, Psychological Research [url]
Yakın, D., Gençöz, T., Steenbergen, L., & Arntz, A. (2019). An integrative perspective on the interplay between early maladaptive schemas and mental health: The role of self‐compassion and emotion regulation. Journal of clinical psychology, 75(6), 1098-1113. [url]
Hutten, N. R., Steenbergen, L., Colzato, L. S., Hommel, B., Theunissen, E. L., Ramaekers, J. G., & Kuypers, K. P. (2019). Cocaine enhances figural, but impairs verbal ‘flexible’divergent thinking. European Neuropsychopharmacology, 29(7), 813-824. [url]
2018
Colzato, L.S., Jongkees, B.J., de Wit, M., van der Molen, M.J.W., & Steenbergen, L. (2018). Variable heart rate and a flexible mind: higher heart rate variability predicts better cognitive flexibility, Cognitive, Affective & Behavioral Neuroscience. [url]
Colzato, L.S., Ritter, S.M., & Steenbergen, L. (2018). Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation enhances divergent thinking, Neuropsychologia [url]
Leonte, A., Colzato, L.S., Steenbergen, L., Hommel, B., & Akyürek, E.G. (2018). Supplementation of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) affects temporal, but not spatial visual attention, Brain and Cognition, 120, 8-16 [url]
2017
Colzato, L. S., & Steenbergen, L. (2017). High vagally mediated resting-state heart rate variability is associated with superior action cascading, Neuropsychologia, 106, 1-6 [url]
Steenbergen, L., & Colzato, L. S. (2017). Overweight and Cognitive Performance: High Body Mass Index Is Associated with Impairment in Reactive Control during Task Switching, Frontiers in Nutrition doi: 10.3389/fnut.2017.00051 [url]
Colzato, L. S., Steenbergen, L., & Sellaro, R. (2017). The effect of gamma-enhancing binaural beats on the control of feature bindings, Experimental Brain Research, 1-7. doi: 10.1007/s00221-017-4957-9 [url]
Jongkees, B. J., Steenbergen, L., & Colzato, L. S. (2017). Color vision predicts processing modes of goal activation during action cascading, Cortex. doi: 10.1016/j.cortex.2017.07.004 [url]
2016
Steenbergen L. (16th of June 2016), Cognitive enhancement : toward the integration of theory and practice (Dissertation. Institute of Psychology, Social and Behavioural Sciences, Leiden University).
Steenbergen L., Jongkees B.J., Sellaro R. & Colzato L.S. (2016), Tryptophan supplementation modulates social behavior: A review, Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews 64: 346-358. [url]
Steenbergen L., Sellaro R., Hommel B., Lindenberger, U., Kühn S. & Colzato L.S. (2016), "Unfocus" on foc.us: Commercial tDCS headset impairs working memory, Experimental Brain Research 234(3): 637-643. [url]
Beste C., Steenbergen L., Sellaro R., Grigoriadou S., Zhang R., Chmielewski W. & Colzato L. (2016), Effects of concomitant stimulation of the GABAergic and Norepinephrine system on inhibitory control - A study using Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation, Brain Stimulation 9(6): 811-818. [url]
Colzato L.S., Steenbergen L., Sellaro R., Stock A.K., Arning L. & Beste C. (2016), Effects of L-Tyrosine on working memory and inhibitory control are determined by DRD2 genotype: A randomized controlled trial, Cortex 82: 217-224. [url]
Stock A.K., Steenbergen L., Colzato L. & Beste C. (2016), The system neurophysiological basis of non-adaptive cognitive control: Inhibition of implicit learning mediated by right prefrontal regions, Human Brain Mapping 37(12): 4511-4522. [url]
2015
Steenbergen L, Sellaro R., Van Hemert S., Bosch J.A. & Colzato L.S. (2015), A randomized controlled trial to test the effect of multispecies probiotics on cognitive reactivity to sad mood, Brain, Behavior and Immunity 48: 258-264. [url]
Steenbergen L., Sellaro R., Stock A.K., Beste C. & Colzato L.S. (2015), y-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) administration improves action selection processes: A randomised controlled trial, Scientific Reports 5: e12770. [url]
Steenbergen L., Sellaro R., Stock A.K. & Beste C. Colzato L.S. (2015), Action video gaming and cognitive control: Playing first person shooter games is associated with improved action cascading but not inhibition, PLoS One 10(12): e0144364. [url]
Steenbergen L., Sellaro R., Stock A.K., Verkuil B., Beste C. & Colzato L.S. (2015), Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) enhances response selection during action cascading processes, European Neuropsychopharmacology 25(6): 773-778. [url]
Steenbergen L., Sellaro R., De Rover M., Hommel B. & Colzato L.S. (2015), No role of beta receptors in cognitive flexibility: Evidence from task-switching paradigm in a randomized controlled trial, Neuroscience 295: 237-242. [url]
Christoffels I.K., De Haan A.M., Steenbergen L., Van den Wildenberg W.P.M. & Colzato L.S. (2015), Two is better than one: Bilingual education promotes the flexible mind, Psychological Research / Psychologische Forschung 79(3): 371-379. [url]
Steenbergen L., Sellaro R., Hommel B. & Colzato L.S. (2015), Tyrosine promotes cognitive flexibility: Evidence from proactive vs. reactive control during task switching performance, Neuropsychologia 69: 50-55. [url]
Sellaro R., Steenbergen L., Verkuil B., Van IJzendoorn M. & Colzato L.S. (2015), Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) does not increase prosocial behavior in cyberball, Frontiers in Psychology 6: e499. [url]
Kuypers K.P.C., Steenbergen L., Theunissen E.L., Toennes S.W. & Ramaekers J.G. (2015), Emotion recognition during cocaine intoxication, European Neuropsychopharmacology 25(11): 1914-1921. [url]
2013 and 2014
Steenbergen L., Sellaro R. & Colzato L.S. (2014), Tryptophan promotes charitable donating, Frontiers in Psychology 5: e1451. [url]
Colzato L.S., Steenbergen L., De Kwaadsteniet E.W., Sellaro R., Liepelt R. & Hommel B. (2013), Tryptophan promotes interpersonal trust, Psychological Science 24(12): 2575-2577. [url]
Colzato, L.S., Steenbergen, L., & Hommel, B. (Epub ahead of print). Rumination impairs the control of stimulus-induced retrieval of irrelevant information, but not attention, control, or response selection in general, Psychological Research [url]
Yakın, D., Gençöz, T., Steenbergen, L., & Arntz, A. (2019). An integrative perspective on the interplay between early maladaptive schemas and mental health: The role of self‐compassion and emotion regulation. Journal of clinical psychology, 75(6), 1098-1113. [url]
Hutten, N. R., Steenbergen, L., Colzato, L. S., Hommel, B., Theunissen, E. L., Ramaekers, J. G., & Kuypers, K. P. (2019). Cocaine enhances figural, but impairs verbal ‘flexible’divergent thinking. European Neuropsychopharmacology, 29(7), 813-824. [url]
2018
Colzato, L.S., Jongkees, B.J., de Wit, M., van der Molen, M.J.W., & Steenbergen, L. (2018). Variable heart rate and a flexible mind: higher heart rate variability predicts better cognitive flexibility, Cognitive, Affective & Behavioral Neuroscience. [url]
Colzato, L.S., Ritter, S.M., & Steenbergen, L. (2018). Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation enhances divergent thinking, Neuropsychologia [url]
Leonte, A., Colzato, L.S., Steenbergen, L., Hommel, B., & Akyürek, E.G. (2018). Supplementation of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) affects temporal, but not spatial visual attention, Brain and Cognition, 120, 8-16 [url]
2017
Colzato, L. S., & Steenbergen, L. (2017). High vagally mediated resting-state heart rate variability is associated with superior action cascading, Neuropsychologia, 106, 1-6 [url]
Steenbergen, L., & Colzato, L. S. (2017). Overweight and Cognitive Performance: High Body Mass Index Is Associated with Impairment in Reactive Control during Task Switching, Frontiers in Nutrition doi: 10.3389/fnut.2017.00051 [url]
Colzato, L. S., Steenbergen, L., & Sellaro, R. (2017). The effect of gamma-enhancing binaural beats on the control of feature bindings, Experimental Brain Research, 1-7. doi: 10.1007/s00221-017-4957-9 [url]
Jongkees, B. J., Steenbergen, L., & Colzato, L. S. (2017). Color vision predicts processing modes of goal activation during action cascading, Cortex. doi: 10.1016/j.cortex.2017.07.004 [url]
2016
Steenbergen L. (16th of June 2016), Cognitive enhancement : toward the integration of theory and practice (Dissertation. Institute of Psychology, Social and Behavioural Sciences, Leiden University).
Steenbergen L., Jongkees B.J., Sellaro R. & Colzato L.S. (2016), Tryptophan supplementation modulates social behavior: A review, Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews 64: 346-358. [url]
Steenbergen L., Sellaro R., Hommel B., Lindenberger, U., Kühn S. & Colzato L.S. (2016), "Unfocus" on foc.us: Commercial tDCS headset impairs working memory, Experimental Brain Research 234(3): 637-643. [url]
Beste C., Steenbergen L., Sellaro R., Grigoriadou S., Zhang R., Chmielewski W. & Colzato L. (2016), Effects of concomitant stimulation of the GABAergic and Norepinephrine system on inhibitory control - A study using Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation, Brain Stimulation 9(6): 811-818. [url]
Colzato L.S., Steenbergen L., Sellaro R., Stock A.K., Arning L. & Beste C. (2016), Effects of L-Tyrosine on working memory and inhibitory control are determined by DRD2 genotype: A randomized controlled trial, Cortex 82: 217-224. [url]
Stock A.K., Steenbergen L., Colzato L. & Beste C. (2016), The system neurophysiological basis of non-adaptive cognitive control: Inhibition of implicit learning mediated by right prefrontal regions, Human Brain Mapping 37(12): 4511-4522. [url]
2015
Steenbergen L, Sellaro R., Van Hemert S., Bosch J.A. & Colzato L.S. (2015), A randomized controlled trial to test the effect of multispecies probiotics on cognitive reactivity to sad mood, Brain, Behavior and Immunity 48: 258-264. [url]
Steenbergen L., Sellaro R., Stock A.K., Beste C. & Colzato L.S. (2015), y-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) administration improves action selection processes: A randomised controlled trial, Scientific Reports 5: e12770. [url]
Steenbergen L., Sellaro R., Stock A.K. & Beste C. Colzato L.S. (2015), Action video gaming and cognitive control: Playing first person shooter games is associated with improved action cascading but not inhibition, PLoS One 10(12): e0144364. [url]
Steenbergen L., Sellaro R., Stock A.K., Verkuil B., Beste C. & Colzato L.S. (2015), Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) enhances response selection during action cascading processes, European Neuropsychopharmacology 25(6): 773-778. [url]
Steenbergen L., Sellaro R., De Rover M., Hommel B. & Colzato L.S. (2015), No role of beta receptors in cognitive flexibility: Evidence from task-switching paradigm in a randomized controlled trial, Neuroscience 295: 237-242. [url]
Christoffels I.K., De Haan A.M., Steenbergen L., Van den Wildenberg W.P.M. & Colzato L.S. (2015), Two is better than one: Bilingual education promotes the flexible mind, Psychological Research / Psychologische Forschung 79(3): 371-379. [url]
Steenbergen L., Sellaro R., Hommel B. & Colzato L.S. (2015), Tyrosine promotes cognitive flexibility: Evidence from proactive vs. reactive control during task switching performance, Neuropsychologia 69: 50-55. [url]
Sellaro R., Steenbergen L., Verkuil B., Van IJzendoorn M. & Colzato L.S. (2015), Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) does not increase prosocial behavior in cyberball, Frontiers in Psychology 6: e499. [url]
Kuypers K.P.C., Steenbergen L., Theunissen E.L., Toennes S.W. & Ramaekers J.G. (2015), Emotion recognition during cocaine intoxication, European Neuropsychopharmacology 25(11): 1914-1921. [url]
2013 and 2014
Steenbergen L., Sellaro R. & Colzato L.S. (2014), Tryptophan promotes charitable donating, Frontiers in Psychology 5: e1451. [url]
Colzato L.S., Steenbergen L., De Kwaadsteniet E.W., Sellaro R., Liepelt R. & Hommel B. (2013), Tryptophan promotes interpersonal trust, Psychological Science 24(12): 2575-2577. [url]
