Lorenza Colzato
Lorenza Colzato is assistant professor in the Cognitive Psychology Unit. Her early scientific work on long-term negative cognitive effect of the recreational use of cocaine has opened a new research line in the field of psychopharmacology, resulting in follow up studies by other labs and several invited talks. In broad outline her research aims to understand the neural and neuromodular underpinnings of cognitive control in humans. This involves the investigation of all kinds of factors that might predict, impair, or enhance people's control abilities, such genetic disposition, food supplementation, video-game practice, drug use, stress, emotions, working memory capacity, hormones, dopaminergic baseline levels or religious belief. She has published over 60 articles in peer-reviewed international journals. Her research contributions have been awarded a NWO VENI and VIDI grant.
Key publications
- DOOM’d to switch: Superior cognitive flexibility in players of first person shooter games (2010)
- The flexible mind is associated with the Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Val158Met polymorphism: Evidence for a role of dopamine in the control of task switching (PDF) (2010)
- Impaired Inhibitory Control in Recreational Cocaine Users (2007)