Recent work in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) showed that having an intact functional brain network is a requirement for successful rehabilitation. However, brain networks can only be quantified at a group-level and not at the person-level. We therefore need novel indicators for brain network integrity to be able to seize the window-of-opportunity when it comes to rehabilitation. This project evaluates whether subtle measures of motor functioning can serve as indicators for brain network integrity. Such measures could provide a cost-effective, easy to administer tool to identify patients that are most likely to benefit from rehabilitation programs or clinical trials.

In the Baby’s First Bites study, we investigated whether it is possible to increase the amount of vegetables young children eat by giving their parents advice concerning the what (repeatedly exposing your child to the taste of vegetables) and how (listening to your child’s signals) of complementary feeding from the very first bites. We found no effects on the child’s vegetable intake or eating behavior; the advice on the how positively influenced the way mothers responded to their child during meals. Future research should focus on whether providing advice to specific subgroups like parents of “picky eaters” is more effective.

Voor studenten Pedagogische Wetenschappen is het belangrijk dat zij gedurende de bachelor gespreksvaardigheden aanleren. Deze vaardigheden dienen zij in te kunnen zetten in het pedagogische werkveld, bijvoorbeeld in gesprekken met ouders, jongeren en kinderen. Om in complexe situaties adequaat te kunnen communiceren (bijvoorbeeld als de gesprekspartner weerstand vertoont), is het nodig om geoefend te zijn in verschillende gesprekstechnieken. Binnen de huidige vormen van onderwijs kunnen studenten hier onvoldoende mee oefenen. Innovatie van het onderwijs middels virtual reality biedt de mogelijkheid om ervaring met complexe gesprekken op te doen. De huidige aanvraag is gericht op het implementeren van virtual reality in het vak Practicum Gesprekstechnieken 2. Het doel is om in een digitale omgeving complexe gesprekssituaties na te bootsen, waarbij de student aan het gesprek kan deelnemen vanuit het perspectief van een pedagoog. In de virtuele omgeving worden gesprekken gesimuleerd waarin ouders, jongeren en kinderen als gesprekspartners fungeren. De student neemt virtueel deel aan de gesprekken en dient meerdere keren per gesprek te beslissen wat een adequate reactie is op wat de gesprekspartners zeggen of doen. De studenten kunnen zo ervaring opdoen met verschillende gesprekssituaties in een veilige en realistische omgeving. Door studenten zelfstandig te laten oefenen met het toepassen van gespreksvaardigheden, krijgen ze een beter beeld van het type werk dat ze na hun studie kunnen uitvoeren en voelen ze zich zelfverzekerder in het voeren van gesprekken. Hun enthousiasme om te leren wordt daarmee vergroot.

Are freedom and economic inequality compatible? This project develops and defends the idea that some inequalities in income and wealth reduce freedom, even when they are mutually consensual and mutually beneficial. To do this, it develops a novel theory of domination as disempowering power, that is, as power that attenuates the responsiveness of another to power-independent reasons. This autonomy view contradicts conventional wisdom in philosophy and economics. Some economists and philosophers hold that, by expanding everyone’s option set, mutually consensual and beneficial transactions promote freedom. This belief rests on a flawed understanding of the nature of freedom. On the autonomy view, option-expanding inequality is bad when and because it disempowers an agent’s responsiveness to power-independent reasons. The project develops this view along three axes: (1) Economic power. On the autonomy view, inequality is bad when the rich convert the poor into their servants. Serving others is not, as such, objectionable. But service grounded on the power of others is objectionable. This subproject develops an autonomy-based critique of economic power. It also shows that this critique is conceptually and explanatorily superior to its main competitors. (2) Markets. Sweatshops, pimping, and zero-hour contracts are forms of servitude. On the autonomy view, they are instances of market-engendered servitude. This subproject develops the autonomy-based critique of markets and discusses its implications for the critique of capitalist private property. It does this by contrasting these results with neo-republican and liberal views. (3) The workplace. It is widely held that workplace democracy attenuates workplace unfreedom. This subproject attempts to explain that judgment by appeal to the nature of the power of bosses. By drawing from recent work in economics and sociology, it then studies the form of emancipatory organizational alternatives to bureaucratic hierarchies and capitalist firms.

Suicide is notoriously difficult to predict and suicidal thoughts greatly fluctuate in daily life. Using real time assessments, we can capture the factors that lead to increased suicidal ideation or reduced risk. In our study we aim to assess day and night variability in suicidal ideation and its risk factors (mood, cognitions, stressful events, social interactions, coping), by using real time ecological momentary assessments and sleep/activity monitoring, in order to establish high and low risk conditions. This will greatly assist both patients and clinicians in developing personalized safety plans and treatments.