Renee Lustenhouwer

Dr. Renee Lustenhouwer serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Experimental Psychology within the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences at Utrecht University. Her academic work bridges cognitive neuroscience with clinical applications, focusing on understanding neural mechanisms underlying body representation and sensorimotor control.

Dr. Lustenhouwer earned her Bachelor's degree in Human Movement Sciences in 2014, followed by a Research Master's in Cognitive Neuropsychology in 2016 (cum laude). She completed her PhD in 2023 through an interdisciplinary collaboration between Radboud University Medical Center and the Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging in Nijmegen.

Her research program investigates how neurocognitive methods can improve understanding and treatment of disordered body representations and sensorimotor control. Employing techniques like the Rubber Hand Illusion, fMRI, and clinical trials, she examines ownership, agency, and multisensory integration in conditions like neuralgic amyotrophy (NA). Her work integrates motor and tactile imagery with assessment of upper extremity function to develop targeted rehabilitation approaches.

Dr. Lustenhouwer's publication record reveals a cohesive research trajectory focused on neuralgic amyotrophy and sensorimotor processing. Her work has evolved from study protocols to clinical trial results, with increasing emphasis on cerebral adaptation mechanisms and rehabilitation effectiveness. Recent publications demonstrate her focus on translating neurocognitive findings into practical rehabilitation strategies for patients with neuromuscular disorders.

As an educator, she supervises students across multiple programs including MSc Neuropsychology, MSc Applied Cognitive Psychology, and BSc Psychology. Her teaching portfolio includes courses on brain and behavior (Cognitive Neuroscience, Sensation and Perception) and research methodology (Advanced Research Methods and Statistics, Programming, Practical Experimental Psychology).

Her methodological expertise centers on functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and various assessment techniques for studying body representation and motor control in both clinical and non-clinical populations, reflecting her commitment to rigorous scientific investigation with clinical relevance.