Dr

Ans Vercammen

Email: 

Background

I obtained my first degree in Psychology (Experimental & Theoretical) from Ghent University in Belgium and completed a Ph.D. in Cognitive and Behavioural Neuroscience at the University of Groningen. Following a postdoc at NeuRa in Sydney and a few years lecturing on psychology at the Australian Catholic University, I chose to shift my research focus to environmental issues, and how they affect individual and collective human health and wellbeing. I gained experience with grassroots commmunity conservation projects as a volunteer and completed the interdisciplinary MSc in Conservation Science at Imperial College London in 2016. I was a researcher at Imperial's Centre for Environmental Policy at Imperial College from 2017-2021. My research is now broadly focused on the human dimensions of environmental change, with a particular interest in how people (emotionally) connect with nature, determinants of pro-environmental behaviour, the health and wellbeing benefits of nature exposure and the mental health impacts of climate change.

Availability

Dr Ans Vercammen is:
Available for supervision

Fields of research

Conservation and biodiversity Environment policy Environmental Sciences Environmental education and extension Human Society Policy and administration Psychology

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Psychology, Ghent University
  • Masters (Research) of Experimental Psychology, Ghent University
  • Doctor of Philosophy of Behavioural Science, University of Groningen
  • Masters (Research) of Conservation Science, Imperial College London
  • Collaboration / Affiliation, Climate Cares, Climate Cares
  • Journal Editorial Board Member, Conservation Biology, Conservation Biology
  • Honorary Fellow, Imperial College London, Imperial College London
  • Member, Society for Conservation Biology, Society for Conservation Biology
  • Journal Editorial Board Member, Sustainability, Sustainability

Research interests

  • Nature connectedness

    I am interested in people's connectedness with nature, how this is expressed, and how it links to pro-environmental attitudes and behaviours.

  • Mental health impacts of environmental change / climate change

    Environmental change has many direct and indirect impacts on human lives. Apart from presenting a physical danger, environmental change may impact our mental health, experiences that are variably labeled as eco-anxiety, solastalgia, and ecological grief (among others). I am interested in understanding who is most affected by this, the conditions under which it may be adaptive (or not), how it's linked to agency and action-taking, and to what extent these experiences can be shaped to build greater resilience. I am involved with Climate Cares, a program of research led by the Institute for Global Health Innovation and the Grantham Institute at Imperial College London. We have collected data on young people's feelings about climate change in the UK, and we are working with a range of partners to expand this work globally.

  • Health and wellbeing benefits of engaging with nature

    I have previously collaborated with the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust in the UK to assess the human wellbeing benefits of urban wetland environments. Next, I will be working with Zoos Victoria to develop a field experiment to test the physical and mental wellbeing effects of zoo visits and, in particular, immersive animal exhibits. I am also interested in what motivates people to visit urban green and blue spaces and how these spaces could be designed for maximal benefit, while also considering biodiversity values.

  • Metascience

    I am committed to supporting open science practices, both in my own work and by encouraging others. I also have an interest in improving peer review and critical appraisal of research for policy and practice.

Search Professor Ans Vercammen’s works on UQ eSpace

59 works between 2008 and 2025
All (59) Journal Article (53) Book Chapter (2) Conference Publication (3) Other Outputs (1)

41 - 59 of 59 works

2013

Journal Article

Rethinking schizophrenia in the context of normal neurodevelopment

Catts, Vibeke S., Fung, Samantha J., Long, Leonora E., Joshi, Dipesh, Vercammen, Ans, Allen, Katherine M., Fillman, Stu G., Rothmond, Debora A., Sinclair, Duncan, Tiwari, Yash, Tsai, Shan-Yuan, Weickert, Thomas W. and Weickert, Cynthia Shannon (2013). Rethinking schizophrenia in the context of normal neurodevelopment. Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience (MAY). doi: 10.3389/fncel.2013.00060

Rethinking schizophrenia in the context of normal neurodevelopment

2013

Book Chapter

The “bottom-up” and “top-down” components of the hallucinatory phenomenon

Aleman, André and Vercammen, Ans (2013). The “bottom-up” and “top-down” components of the hallucinatory phenomenon. The neuroscience of hallucinations. (pp. 107-121) edited by Renaud Jardri, Arnaud Cachia, Pierre Thomas and Delphine Pins. New York, NY, United States: Springer New York. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4614-4121-2_6

The “bottom-up” and “top-down” components of the hallucinatory phenomenon

2012

Book Chapter

Functional neuroimaging of hallucinations

Aleman, André and Vercammen, Ans (2012). Functional neuroimaging of hallucinations. Hallucinations: research and practice. (pp. 267-281) edited by Jan Dirk Blom and Iris E.C. Sommer. New York, NY, United States: Springer New York. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4614-0959-5_20

Functional neuroimaging of hallucinations

2012

Journal Article

Auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia and nonschizophrenia populations: A review and integrated model of cognitive mechanisms

Waters, Flavie, Allen, Paul, Aleman, André, Fernyhough, Charles, Woodward, Todd S., Badcock, Johanna C., Barkus, Emma, Johns, Louise, Varese, Filippo, Menon, Mahesh, Vercammen, Ans and Laroi, Frank (2012). Auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia and nonschizophrenia populations: A review and integrated model of cognitive mechanisms. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 38 (4), 683-692. doi: 10.1093/schbul/sbs045

Auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia and nonschizophrenia populations: A review and integrated model of cognitive mechanisms

2012

Journal Article

Disambiguating ventral striatum fMRI-related bold signal during reward prediction in schizophrenia

Morris, R. W., Vercammen, A., Lenroot, R., Moore, L., Langton, J. M., Short, B., Kulkarni, J., Curtis, J., O'Donnell, M., Weickert, C. S. and Weickert, T. W. (2012). Disambiguating ventral striatum fMRI-related bold signal during reward prediction in schizophrenia. Molecular Psychiatry, 17 (3), 280-289. doi: 10.1038/mp.2011.75

Disambiguating ventral striatum fMRI-related bold signal during reward prediction in schizophrenia

2012

Journal Article

Significant differences in fMRI related activity between healthy adults and people with schizophrenia during reward-related prediction-errors

Morris, R. W., Vercammen, A., Lenroot, R., Moore, L., Langton, J. M., Short, B., Kulkarni, J., Curtis, J., O'Donnell, M., Weickert, C. S. and Weickert, T. W. (2012). Significant differences in fMRI related activity between healthy adults and people with schizophrenia during reward-related prediction-errors. Molecular Psychiatry, 17 (3). doi: 10.1038/mp.2012.1

Significant differences in fMRI related activity between healthy adults and people with schizophrenia during reward-related prediction-errors

2012

Journal Article

Abnormal connectivity between attentional, language and auditory networks in schizophrenia

Liemburg, Edith J., Vercammen, Ans, Ter Horst, Gert J., Curcic-Blake, Branislava, Knegtering, Henderikus and Aleman, André (2012). Abnormal connectivity between attentional, language and auditory networks in schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Research, 135 (1-3), 15-22. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2011.12.003

Abnormal connectivity between attentional, language and auditory networks in schizophrenia

2012

Conference Publication

Increased autoantibodies against brain tissue in schizophrenia

Derminio, Dominique S., Catts, Vibeke S., Rothwell, Alice, Moore, Loretta, Vella, Nicholas, Vercammen, Ans, Catts, Stanley V., Weickert, Thomas W. and Weickert, Cyndi Shannon (2012). Increased autoantibodies against brain tissue in schizophrenia. 67th Annual Scientific Convention and Meeting of the Society-of-Biological-Psychiatry, Philadelphia, PA, United States, 3-5 May 2012. Philadelphia, PA, United States: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2012.02.012

Increased autoantibodies against brain tissue in schizophrenia

2012

Journal Article

Reduced neural activity of the prefrontal cognitive control circuitry during response inhibition to negative words in people with schizophrenia

Vercammen, Ans, Morris, Richard, Green, Melissa J., Lenroot, Rhoshel, Kulkarni, Jayashri, Carr, Vaughan J., Weickert, Cynthia Shannon and Weickert, Thomas W. (2012). Reduced neural activity of the prefrontal cognitive control circuitry during response inhibition to negative words in people with schizophrenia. Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, 37 (6), 379-388. doi: 10.1503/jpn.110088

Reduced neural activity of the prefrontal cognitive control circuitry during response inhibition to negative words in people with schizophrenia

2011

Journal Article

Subjective loudness and reality of auditory verbal hallucinations and activation of the inner speech processing network

Vercammen, Ans, Knegtering, Henderikus, Bruggeman, Richard and Aleman, André (2011). Subjective loudness and reality of auditory verbal hallucinations and activation of the inner speech processing network. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 37 (5), 1009-1016. doi: 10.1093/schbul/sbq007

Subjective loudness and reality of auditory verbal hallucinations and activation of the inner speech processing network

2011

Journal Article

Transcranial direct current stimulation influences probabilistic association learning in schizophrenia

Vercammen, Ans, Rushby, Jacqueline A., Loo, Colleen, Short, Brooke, Weickert, Cynthia S. and Weickert, Thomas W. (2011). Transcranial direct current stimulation influences probabilistic association learning in schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Research, 131 (1-3), 198-205. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2011.06.021

Transcranial direct current stimulation influences probabilistic association learning in schizophrenia

2011

Journal Article

Frontal and parietal contributions to probabilistic association learning

Rushby, Jacqueline A., Vercammen, Ans, Loo, Colleen, Short, Brooke, Weickert, Cynthia Shannon and Weickert, Thomas W. (2011). Frontal and parietal contributions to probabilistic association learning. Cerebral Cortex, 21 (8), 1879-1888. doi: 10.1093/cercor/bhq255

Frontal and parietal contributions to probabilistic association learning

2010

Journal Article

Auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia are associated with reduced functional connectivity of the temporo-parietal area

Vercammen, Ans, Knegtering, Henderikus, den Boer, Johann A., Liemburg, Edith J. and Aleman, André (2010). Auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia are associated with reduced functional connectivity of the temporo-parietal area. Biological Psychiatry, 67 (10), 912-918. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2009.11.017

Auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia are associated with reduced functional connectivity of the temporo-parietal area

2010

Journal Article

Functional connectivity of the temporo-parietal region in schizophrenia: Effects of rTMS treatment of auditory hallucinations

Vercammen, Ans, Knegtering, Henderikus, Liemburg, Edith J., Boer, Johannes A. den and Aleman, André (2010). Functional connectivity of the temporo-parietal region in schizophrenia: Effects of rTMS treatment of auditory hallucinations. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 44 (11), 725-731. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2009.12.011

Functional connectivity of the temporo-parietal region in schizophrenia: Effects of rTMS treatment of auditory hallucinations

2010

Journal Article

Semantic expectations can induce false perceptions in hallucination-prone individuals

Vercammen, Ans and Aleman, André (2010). Semantic expectations can induce false perceptions in hallucination-prone individuals. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 36 (1), 151-156. doi: 10.1093/schbul/sbn063

Semantic expectations can induce false perceptions in hallucination-prone individuals

2009

Journal Article

Effects of bilateral repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on treatment resistant auditory-verbal hallucinations in schizophrenia: A randomized controlled trial

Vercammen, Ans, Knegtering, Henderikus, Bruggeman, Richard, Westenbroek, Hanneke. M., Jenner, Jack A., Slooff, Cees J., Wunderink, Lex and Aleman, André (2009). Effects of bilateral repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on treatment resistant auditory-verbal hallucinations in schizophrenia: A randomized controlled trial. Schizophrenia Research, 114 (1-3), 172-179. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2009.07.013

Effects of bilateral repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on treatment resistant auditory-verbal hallucinations in schizophrenia: A randomized controlled trial

2009

Journal Article

Conceptual and physical object qualities contribute differently to motor affordances

Vingerhoets, G., Vandamme, K. and Vercammen, A. (2009). Conceptual and physical object qualities contribute differently to motor affordances. Brain and Cognition, 69 (3), 481-489. doi: 10.1016/j.bandc.2008.10.003

Conceptual and physical object qualities contribute differently to motor affordances

2009

Journal Article

Structural covariance in the hallucinating brain: A voxel-based morphometry study

Modinos, Gemma, Vercammen, Ans, Mechelli, Andrea, Knegtering, Henderikus, McGuire, Philip K. and Aleman, André (2009). Structural covariance in the hallucinating brain: A voxel-based morphometry study. Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, 34 (6), 465-469.

Structural covariance in the hallucinating brain: A voxel-based morphometry study

2008

Journal Article

Hearing a voice in the noise: auditory hallucinations and speech perception

Vercammen, A., De Haan, E. H.F. and Aleman, A. (2008). Hearing a voice in the noise: auditory hallucinations and speech perception. Psychological Medicine, 38 (8), 1177-1184. doi: 10.1017/S0033291707002437

Hearing a voice in the noise: auditory hallucinations and speech perception

Past funding

  • 2023 - 2024
    Measuring the quality of collective reasoning (The University of Cambridge administered British Academy/Leverhulme Small Research Grant)
    University of Cambridge
    Open grant

Availability

Dr Ans Vercammen is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The household as a site of deliberation and resilience: Understanding psycho-social responses of children and families towards a changing marine environment in the Great Barrier Reef

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Claudia Benham

Enquiries

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