Ineke van der Ham

Ineke van der Ham specialises in spatial cognition in real and immersive environments, combining fundamental neurocognitive and applied clinical research. She is a professor of Technological Innovations in Neuropsychology at the unit of Health, Medical, and Neuropsychology.

Van der Ham has dedicated her research to human spatial cognition (how humans interact with their spatial environment), pursuing it both from a cognitive neuroscientific and an experimental neuropsychological perspective. She conducts inter- and transdisciplinary research by implementing fundamental research in an applied and clinical context, and vice versa. Her research has been funded by e.g. NWO Veni, Revalidatiefonds, STW Take-off, and Wetenschapscommunicatie: Gewaardeerd!

Through technological advances, virtual space is increasingly becoming part of our spatial environment. Van der Ham examines how virtual environments are experienced across individuals and in comparison to the real world. Her work is characterized by numerous cross-disciplinary and societal partnerships across a wide range of scientific and applied domains such as healthcare, technology, humanities, education, and arts. This has resulted in the creation of theoretical insights within the field of spatial cognition, as well as clinical products that utilize virtual environments and serious gaming technology.