Dr. V.A. (Vanessa) van Ast
Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences
Programme group Clinical Psychology
Area of expertise: Episodic memory, Autobiographical memory, Psychophysiology, Context
Photographer: Bram Belloni
Visiting address
- Nieuwe Achtergracht 129
- Room number: 1.40
Postal address
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Postbus 15933
1001 NK Amsterdam
Contact details
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Profile
Currently I am working as associate professor in the Emotional Memory Group, at the Clinical Psychology department.
After completion of the Research Master Psychology Amsterdam (cum laude), I received an NWO-funded Toptalent grant (“Effects of stress on associative memory”) that enabled me to pursue my PhD under the supervision of prof. dr. Merel Kindt. Then, as a post-doc in the group of prof. dr. Karin roelofs at the Donders institute, I helped to design and set up a large prospective study (still ongoing) investigating the neurobiology of human defensive reactions, and their role in the development of post-traumatic stress, in police recruits. My ongoing research is gratefully supported by an NWO-vidi grant, “Changing minds by reshaping memories”.
Research interests
Our emotional memories seem indelible, and therefore a reliable record of our experiences. But nothing is further from the truth: over time both the content and emotional intensity of memories are subject to change. My research is driven by my fascination for the neuroendocrinological, physiological, and psycho-emotional mechanisms of memory formation and change, and how these explain clinically relevant phenomena like overgeneralized fearful memories or intrusive memories.
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Research
Research methods
- behavioural experimentation (e.g., episodic memory assessment, fear-conditioning)
- psychophysiological assessments (e.g., functional magnetic resonance imaging, heart rate, fear-potentiated startle)
- statistical techniques (e.g., mediation analysis)
Collaborations
- Prof Merel Kindt, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Dr. Renée Visser, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Prof Martijn Meeter, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Prof Karin Roelofs, Radboud University, The Netherlands
- Dr. Floris Klumpers, Radboud University, The Netherlands
- Dr. Saskia Koch, Radboud University, The Netherlands
- Dr. Erno Hermans, Radboud University, The Netherlands
- Dr. Rianne de Kleine, Universiteit Leiden, The Netherlands
- Dr. Thomas Meyer, University College London, UK
- Dr. Manon Mulckhuyse, Vrije Universiteit, The Netherlands
- Dr. Suzanne Oosterwijk, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Publications
2025
- de Vries, O. T., Kindt, M., & van Ast, V. A. (2025). Integration of conditioned threat with pre-existing memories. Learning and Memory, 32(1), Article a054019. https://doi.org/10.1101/lm.054019.124
2024
Duken, S. B., Keessen, L., Hoijtink, H., Kindt, M., & van Ast, V. A. (2024). Bayesian evaluation of diverging theories of episodic and affective memory distortions in dysphoria. Nature Communications, 15, Article 1320. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-45203-4 [details]- Duken, S. B., Neumayer, F., Dzinalija, N., Kindt, M., van Ast, V. A., & Visser, R. M. (2024). Can neutral episodic memories become emotional? Evidence from facial expressions and subjective feelings. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 177, Article 104528. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2024.104528 [details]
- Downloads
- 1-s2.0-S000579672400055X-main
- Supplementary files
- 1-s2.0-S000579672400055X-mmc1
- Downloads
- de Vries, O. T., Duken, S. B., Kindt, M., & van Ast, V. A. (2024). No evidence that arousal affects reactivated memories. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 212, Article 107928. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nlm.2024.107928
2023
- Cox, W. R., Meeter, M., Kindt, M., & van Ast, V. A. (2023). Time-Dependent Emotional Memory Transformation: Divergent Pathways of Item Memory and Contextual Dependency. Journal of Experimental Psychology. General, 152(3), 733–748. https://doi.org/10.1037/xge0001293 [details]
- Cox, W. R., Woelk, M., de Vries, O. T., Krypotos, A.-M., Kindt, M., Engelhard, I. M., Sevenster, D., & van Ast, V. A. (2023). Context reexposure to bolster contextual dependency of emotional episodic memory. Scientific Reports, 13, Article 17792. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-40982-0 [details]
- Downloads
- s41598-023-40982-0
- Supplementary files
- 41598 2023 40982 MOESM1 ESM
- Downloads
- Stemerding, L. E., van Ast, V. A., & Kindt, M. (2023). Manipulating expectancy violations to strengthen the efficacy of human fear extinction. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 165, Article 104319. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2023.104319 [details]
- Downloads
- 1-s2.0-S0005796723000682-main
- Supplementary files
- 1-s2.0-S0005796723000682-mmc1
- Downloads
2022
- Stemerding, L. E., Stibbe, D., van Ast, V. A., & Kindt, M. (2022). Demarcating the boundary conditions of memory reconsolidation: An unsuccessful replication. Scientific Reports, 12, Article 2285 . https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-06119-5 [details]
- Downloads
- s41598-022-06119-5
- Supplementary files
- 41598 2022 6119 MOESM1 ESM
- Downloads
- Stemerding, L. E., van Ast, V. A., Gerlicher, A. M. V., & Kindt, M. (2022). Pupil dilation and skin conductance as measures of prediction error in aversive learning. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 157, Article 104164. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2022.104164 [details]
- Downloads
- 1-s2.0-S0005796722001358-main
- Supplementary files
- 1-s2.0-S0005796722001358-mmc1
- Downloads
- de Vries, O. T., Grasman, R. P. P. P., Kindt, M., & van Ast, V. A. (2022). Threat learning impairs subsequent associative inference. Scientific Reports, 12, Article 18878 . https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-21471-2 [details]
- van Ast, V. A., Klumpers, F., Grasman, R. P. P. P., Krypotos, A-M., & Roelofs, K. (2022). Postural freezing relates to startle potentiation in a human fear-conditioning paradigm. Psychophysiology, 59(4), Article e13983. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/psyp.13983 [details]
2021
- Cox, W. R., Dobbelaar, S., Meeter, M., Kindt, M., & van Ast, V. A. (2021). Episodic memory enhancement versus impairment is determined by contextual similarity across events. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 118(48), Article e2101509118. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/w7csx, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2101509118 [details]
- Koch, S. B. J., van Ast, V. A., Kaldewaij, R., Hashemi, M. M., Zhang, W., Klumpers, F., & Roelofs, K. (2021). Larger dentate gyrus volume as predisposing resilience factor for the development of trauma-related symptoms. Neuropsychopharmacology, 46(7), 1283–1292 . https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-020-00947-7 [details]
- Voorendonk, E. M., Meyer, T., Duken, S. B., & van Ast, V. A. (2021). Cardiorespiratory fitness as protection against the development of memory intrusions: A prospective trauma analogue study. Biological Psychology, 165, Article 108189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2021.108189 [details]
- Downloads
- 1-s2.0-S0301051121001824-main
- Supplementary files
- 1-s2.0-S0301051121001824-mmc1
- Downloads
2019
- Hashemi, M. M., Gladwin, T. E., de Valk, N. M., Zhang, W., Kaldewaij, R., van Ast, V., Koch, S. B. J., Klumpers, F., & Roelofs, K. (2019). Neural Dynamics of Shooting Decisions and the Switch from Freeze to Fight. Scientific Reports, 9, Article 4240. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-40917-8 [details]
- Downloads
- s41598-019-40917-8
- Supplementary files
- 41598 2019 40917 MOESM1 ESM
- Downloads
- Sep, M. S. C., Gorter, R., van Ast, V. A., Joëls, M., & Geuze, E. (2019). No time-dependent effects of psychosocial stress on fear contextualization and generalization: a randomized-controlled study with healthy participants. Chronic Stress, 3. https://doi.org/10.1177/2470547019896547 [details]
- Sep, M. S. C., van Ast, V. A., Gorter, R., Joëls, M., & Geuze, E. (2019). Time-dependent effects of psychosocial stress on the contextualization of neutral memories. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 108, 140-149. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.06.021 [details]
2018
- Elsey, J. W. B., van Ast, V. A., & Kindt, M. (2018). Human memory reconsolidation: A guiding framework and critical review of the evidence. Psychological Bulletin, 144(8), 797-848. https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000152 [details]
- Riis-Vestergaard, M. I., van Ast, V., Cornelisse, S., Joëls, M., & Haushofer, J. (2018). The effect of hydrocortisone administration on intertemporal choice. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 88, 173-182. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.10.002 [details]
- Zhang, W., van Ast, V. A., Klumpers, F., Roelofs, K., & Hermans, E. J. (2018). Memory Contextualization: The Role of Prefrontal Cortex in Functional Integration across Item and Context Representational Regions. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 30(4), 579-593. https://doi.org/10.1162/jocn_a_01218 [details]
2017
- Koch, S. B. J., Klumpers, F., Zhang, W., Hashemi, M. M., Kaldewaij, R., van Ast, V. A., Smit, A. S., & Roelofs, K. (2017). The role of automatic defensive responses in the development of posttraumatic stress symptoms in police recruits: protocol of a prospective study. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 8(1), Article 1412226. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2017.1412226 [details]
- Meyer, T., Krans, J., van Ast, V., & Smeets, T. (2017). Visuospatial context learning and configuration learning is associated with analogue traumatic intrusions. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 54, 120-127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbtep.2016.07.010 [details]
2016
- Gladwin, T. E., Hashemi, M. M., van Ast, V., & Roelofs, K. (2016). Ready and waiting: Freezing as active action preparation under threat. Neuroscience Letters, 619, 182-188. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2016.03.027 [details]
- van Ast, V. A., Spicer, J., Smith, E. E., Schmer-Galunder, S., Liberzon, I., Abelson, J. L., & Wager, T. D. (2016). Brain Mechanisms of Social Threat Effects on Working Memory. Cerebral Cortex, 26(2), 544-556. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhu206 [details]
2014
- Cornelisse, S., van Ast, V. A., Joëls, M., & Kindt, M. (2014). Delayed effects of cortisol enhance fear memory of trace conditioning. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 40, 257-268. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2013.11.013 [details]
- van Ast, V. A., Cornelisse, S., Meeter, M., & Kindt, M. (2014). Cortisol mediates the effects of stress on the contextual dependency of memories. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 41, 97-110. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2013.12.007 [details]
2013
- van Ast, V. A., Cornelisse, S., Marin, M-F., Ackermann, S., Garfinkel, S. N., & Abercrombie, H. C. (2013). Modulatory mechanisms of cortisol effects on emotional learning and memory: Novel perspectives. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 38(9), 1874-1882. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2013.06.012 [details]
- van Ast, V. A., Cornelisse, S., Meeter, M., Joëls, M., & Kindt, M. (2013). Time-dependent effects of cortisol on the contextualization of emotional memories. Biological Psychiatry, 74(11), 809-816. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2013.06.022 [details]
2012
- van Ast, V. A., Vervliet, B., & Kindt, M. (2012). Contextual control over expression of fear is affected by cortisol. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 6, 67. Article 67. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2012.00067 [details]
2011
- Krypotos, A. M., Jahfari, S., van Ast, V. A., Kindt, M., & Forstmann, B. U. (2011). Individual differences in heart rate variability predict the degree of slowing during response inhibition and initiation in the presence of emotional stimuli. Frontiers in Psychology, 2, Article 278. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2011.00278 [details]
2009
- Wager, T. D., van Ast, V. A., Hughes, B. L., Davidson, M. L., Lindquist, M. A., & Ochsner, K. N. (2009). Brain mediators of cardiovascular responses to social threat, Part II: Prefrontal-subcortical pathways and relationship with anxiety. NeuroImage, 47(3), 836-851. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2009.05.044 [details]
2020
- Duken, S. B., Neumayer, F., Oosterwijk, S., Kindt, M., & van Ast, V. A. (2020). To Remember Means To Relive: Memory Retrieval Leads To The Psychophysiological Re-Expression Of Emotional Episodes. Poster session presented at Annual meeting of the Society For Psychophysiological Research.
2024
2023
- Duken, S. B. (2023). High tide or low tide: Reliving memories of emotional events. [Thesis, fully internal, Universiteit van Amsterdam]. [details]
- Downloads
- Thesis (complete) (embargo until 19 July 2025)
- Front matter
- Chapter 1: General introduction
- Chapter 2: Reliving emotional memories: Episodic recollection elicits affective psychophysiological responses
- Chapter 3: Episodic and affective memory distortions in dysphoria: Bayesian testing of diverging theories (embargo until 19 July 2025)
- Chapter 4: Can neutral episodic memories become more emotional? Evidence from facial expressions and subjective feelings
- Chapter 5: General discussion
- Bibliography; Supplements; Summary; Nederlandse samenvatting (Summary in Dutch); Deutsche Zusammenfassung (Summary in German); Publication list; Acknowledgements
- Downloads
- Stemerding, L. E. (2023). Prediction errors in changing fear. [Thesis, fully internal, Universiteit van Amsterdam]. [details]
- Downloads
- Thesis (complete) (embargo until 17 May 2025)
- Front matter
- Chapter 1: General introduction
- Chapter 2: Pupil dilation and skin conductance as measures of prediction error in aversive learning
- Chapter 3: Demarcating the boundary conditions of memory reconsolidation: An unsuccessful replication
- Chapter 4: Manipulating expectancy violations to enhance the efficacy of human fear extinction
- Chapter 5: Learning from the unexpected: Towards a comprehensive understanding of prediction errors in psychotherapy (embargo until 17 May 2025)
- Chapter 6: General discussion
- References; Summary; Nederlandse samenvatting; Publication list; Dankwoord
- Downloads
2022
- Cox, W. R. (2022). Memory transience versus memory persistence. [Thesis, fully internal, Universiteit van Amsterdam]. [details]
- Downloads
- Thesis
- Front matter
- Chapter 1: General introduction
- Chapter 2: Time-dependent emotional memory transformation: Divergent pathways of item memory and contextual dependency
- Chapter 3: Context reexposure to bolster contextual dependency of emotional memory
- Chapter 4: Episodic memory enhancement versus impairment is determined by contextual similarity across events
- Chapter 5: Interfering with contextual fear memories by post-reactivation administration of propranolol in mice: A series of null findings
- Chapter 6: General discussion; References; Summary; Nederlandse samenvatting; Publication list
- Downloads
2014
- van Ast, V. A. (2014). Memories in context: On the role of cortisol. [Thesis, fully internal, Universiteit van Amsterdam]. [details]
- Downloads
- Front cover
- Title pages
- Contents
- Chapter 1: General introduction
- Chapter 2: Cortisol mediates the effects of stress on the contextual dependency of memories
- Chapter 3: Time-dependent effects of cortisol on the contextualization of emotional memories
- Chapter 4: Predictors for context dependent memories
- Chapter 6: Delayed effects of cortisol enhance fear memory of trace conditioning
- Chapter 7: Modulatory mechanisms of cortisol effects on emotional learning and memory: Novel perspectives
- Chapter 8: Summary and general discussion
- References
- Samenvatting
- Publications
- Dankwoord
- Back cover
- Downloads
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Ancillary activities
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Duken, S. B., Keessen, L., Hoijtink, H., Kindt, M., & van Ast, V. A. (2024). Bayesian evaluation of diverging theories of episodic and affective memory distortions in dysphoria. Nature Communications, 15, Article 1320.