Irene van de Vijver

Dr. Irene van de Vijver is an Assistant Professor at Utrecht University's Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, affiliated with the Department of Experimental Psychology. Her research focuses on the intersection of cognitive neuroscience and behavioral control, particularly how frontal-subcortical networks support decision-making and habit formation across the lifespan.

• Key research areas: Brain connectivity, reinforcement learning, executive function, and emotion regulation
• Methodological expertise: EEG, MEG, MRI, and behavioral experiments

Her work demonstrates how aging affects the balance between goal-directed and habitual behaviors, using multimodal neuroimaging and computational modeling. Recent publications highlight corticostriatal white matter as a critical substrate for rational decision-making and daily routine formation. She teaches at multiple levels including Applied Cognitive Psychology and Neuropsychology programs.