About

Hello! My name is Lizette Heine and I am a neuroscientist.

Coming from research on consciousness, with patients who suffer from disorders of consciousness I am especially interested in sensory perception. One of my current topics looks for ways to improve brain function, attention and responsiveness using emotional and salient stimuli, for example preferred music. My research-interests are however not limited to work on patients, and research topics have, among others, also involved acoustic perception in healthy subjects and functional connectivity in the congenitally blind.

Throughout my research I have employed multiple methods, main ones being (f)MRI, EEG, and PET, which are very often combined with behavioral assessments (neuropsychological metrics in the case of patient work). I generally analyze my data using Python, R, or Matlab.

My Ph.D. Thesis

Thesis back pageThesis back page

Brain connectivity and sensory stimulation in patients with disorders of consciousness

European Doctorate defended September 2016

This thesis explores brain connectivity and sensory stimulation in patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC). These are serious conditions where massive brain damage can lead to a dissociation between arousal and awareness (e.g., UWS and MCS).

Part I explores brain connectivity. We highlight that brain function and structure are intimately related to each other, and to consciousness. The decrease in brain function can be used to distinguish between the clinically indicated states of consciousness.

Part II evaluates passive sensory stimulations. Preferred stimuli may have the power to momentarily enhance brain function, and behavioral responses.

My Background

Since 2016

Post-doctoral researcher

Audition, Cognition, and Psychoacoustics team (CAP) - Lyon Neuroscience Research Centre, University Claude Bernard 1, France.

2016

Visiting Researcher

International Vegetative State and Consciousness Science Institute, Hangzhou Normal University, China

2016

European Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences

Brain connectivity and sensory stimulation in patients with disorders of consciousness

Coma Science Group, GIGA Research Centre, University of Liège and University Hospital of Liège, Liège, Belgium.

2015

Secondment

Audition, Cognition, and Psychoacoustics team (CAP) - Lyon Neuroscience Research Centre, University Claude Bernard 1, France.

2014

Short stay

Analysis of resting state functional connectivity in congenitally blind

Department of Neuroscience & Pharmacology, Panum Institute. University of Copenhagen, Denmark

2013

Master of Science in Neuropsychology

Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Netherlands

2011

Bachelor of Science in Biological Psychology

Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Netherlands

2010

Erasmus Semester

University of Warsaw, Poland
My Teaching Experience

Since 2017

Teaching second year master course “Biomedical English” – Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1

Since 2016

Supervision of Master's students, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1

May 2016

Co-organization of a CRS-R workshop: workshop on theoretical and practical training of the coma recovery scale revised at the Coma Science Group

2014

Supervised one Master's student, University of Liège

2009-2011

Student tutor, Maastricht University