Brain mechanisms underlying mental functions and psychiatric symptoms

In the field of psychiatry, diagnosis, treatment, and research strongly rely on self-reports and behavioral observations. While these approaches are invaluable, there are ongoing endeavors to integrate neuroscientific knowledge to address the complexities of mental illness. By connecting psychiatry research more closely with neuroscience, we can explore new opportunities to leverage recent advances that uncover the brain mechanisms underlying mental functions and psychiatric symptoms.

For this reason, the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience (NIN) is keen to link its work in circuits neuroscience with relevant research within psychiatry. The NIN is prepared to invest in collaborative projects with the potential to help transform how we understand, diagnose, and treat mental disorders. In consultation with psychiatry researchers from AUMC, the NIN has initiated a program to support new research projects, preferentially for PhD candidates holding an MD degree alongside psychiatrists in training (see “Research projects” for more information).

Main objectives

• Better understand the biological causes or predispositions of psychiatric symptoms and develop new approaches for therapies targeting these symptoms.
• Encourage young psychiatrists to become trained in fundamental brain research, and fundamental neuroscience researchers to become trained in psychiatry research.
• Strengthen the interaction between the NIN (Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience) and psychiatry, and attract more psychiatrists to the NIN.

Connecting neuroscientists with psychiatry researchers

To develop these projects, the NIN plans to organize focused 1-day meetings between NIN scientists and psychiatry researchers. The goal of these meetings is to identify common ground and foster partnerships between psychiatry researchers in the Netherlands and NIN group leaders to co-develop joint proposals. These proposals will be reviewed by international experts in the field and (co) funded by the NIN if selected.  The NIN hopes that these projects will not only lead to new insights but also enhance the training of young psychiatrists in neuroscience.

Ongoing psychiatry research at the NIN

Several collaborations between NIN scientists and psychiatrists are already underway, including cross-species research on OCD and the mechanisms of deep brain stimulation, studies on the interaction between psychiatric symptoms and sleep disorders and research on molecular and cellular changes in post-mortem brain tissue from individuals with psychiatric symptoms.

Other NIN research areas also hold significant relevance for psychiatry, including investigations into innate fear, dreaming, hallucinations, predictive coding, social interactions, and neurodevelopment. These studies employ advanced techniques such as single-cell and in situ RNA sequencing, high-count neural recordings, optogenetics, chemogenetics, two-photon microscopy, high-density EEG, and high-field fMRI.

Expressing your interest to participate

More information about ongoing research at the NIN, potential connections to psychiatry, and experimental approaches can be found on via this link. If you are a psychiatrist or psychiatry researcher who supervises research projects and interested in participating in this program, please fill out the webform with a brief description of your research goals, interests, and expertise, along with any NIN scientists you may be interested in collaborating with.
We look forward to building new collaborations at the intersection of neuroscience and psychiatry!

If you have questions about the program, please send an email to psychiatry@nin.knaw.nl

Collaborating groups

Research projects

Contact form