World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!

D-Index & Metrics

Neuroscience

D-Index
36
Citations
4678
World Ranking
9050
National Ranking
248

Overview

Esther Aarts is affiliated with Radboud University in the Netherlands and has a research focus that intersects multiple disciplines within medicine and neuroscience. Their work prominently features investigations into the interactions between the gut microbiota and brain function, including cognitive and behavioral outcomes.

The scientist's publication record includes studies addressing the gut-brain axis, diet and metabolism, brain connectivity, and mental health conditions such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). These research areas reflect a multidisciplinary approach combining cognitive neuroscience, physiology, psychiatry, and molecular biology.

Key topics of Esther Aarts's research include:

  • Gut microbiota and health
  • Diet and metabolism studies
  • Tryptophan and brain disorders
  • Functional brain connectivity studies
  • Neural and behavioral psychology studies
  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
  • Advanced neuroimaging techniques and applications

Some of their recent scientific papers are:

  • "Probiotics-induced changes in gut microbial composition and its effects on cognitive performance after stress: exploratory analyses," 2021, published in Translational Psychiatry
  • "Investigating the Gut Microbiota Composition of Individuals with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Association with Symptoms," 2020, published in Microorganisms
  • "A systematic review exploring the association between the human gut microbiota and brain connectivity in health and disease," 2023, published in Molecular Psychiatry
  • "Effects of distraction on taste-related neural processing: a cross-sectional fMRI study," 2020, published in American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
  • "Multivariate associative patterns between the gut microbiota and large-scale brain network connectivity," 2021, published in Gut Microbes

Frequent coauthors who have collaborated extensively with Esther Aarts include:

  • Alejandro Arias Vásquez
  • Mirjam Bloemendaal
  • Joanna Szopinska-Tokov
  • Jurgen A.H.R. Claassen
  • Joukje M. Oosterman

The scientist has published multiple papers across various venues, with notable recurrent contributions to:

  • bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
  • Brain Behavior and Immunity
  • PLoS ONE
  • Scientific Reports
  • Alzheimer's & Dementia

Esther Aarts's main fields of study are medicine and neuroscience, supported by numerous works that contribute to cognitive neuroscience, physiology, psychiatry and mental health, and molecular biology subfields.

Best Publications

  • Neuroimaging and neuromodulation approaches to study eating behavior and prevent and treat eating disorders and obesity

    David Val-Laillet;E. Aarts;B. Weber;M. Ferrari

  • Gut microbiome in ADHD and its relation to neural reward anticipation

    Esther Aarts;Thomas H. A. Ederveen;Jilly Naaijen;Marcel P. Zwiers

  • Striatal dopamine and the interface between motivation and cognition

    Esther Aarts;Mieke van Holstein;Roshan Cools

  • Striatal Dopamine Mediates the Interface between Motivational and Cognitive Control in Humans: Evidence from Genetic Imaging

    Esther Aarts;Ardi Roelofs;Barbara Franke;Barbara Franke;Mark Rijpkema

  • Anticipatory activity in anterior cingulate cortex can be independent of conflict and error likelihood.

    E. Aarts;A.P.A. Roelofs;M.I. van Turennout

  • Poor cognitive ageing: Vulnerabilities, mechanisms and the impact of nutritional interventions

    Sophie Miquel;Claire Champ;Jon Day;Esther Aarts

  • Dopamine controls Parkinson's tremor by inhibiting the cerebellar thalamus.

    Michiel F. Dirkx;Hanneke E. M. den Ouden;Esther Aarts;Monique H. M. Timmer

  • Human cognitive flexibility depends on dopamine D2 receptor signaling

    Mieke van Holstein;Esther Aarts;Marieke E. van der Schaaf;Marieke E. van der Schaaf;Dirk E. M. Geurts;Dirk E. M. Geurts

  • The Cerebral Network of Parkinson's Tremor: An Effective Connectivity fMRI Study

    Michiel F. Dirkx;Hanneke den Ouden;Esther Aarts;Monique Timmer

  • Dopaminergic Modulation of Cognitive Control: Distinct Roles for the Prefrontal Cortex and the Basal Ganglia

    Martine van Schouwenburg;Esther Aarts;Roshan Cools

  • Nitric oxide synthase genotype modulation of impulsivity and ventral striatal activity in adult ADHD patients and healthy comparison subjects.

    Martine Hoogman;Esther Aarts;Marcel Zwiers;Dorine Slaats-Willemse

  • Probiotics-induced changes in gut microbial composition and its effects on cognitive performance after stress: exploratory analyses.

    Mirjam Bloemendaal;Joanna Szopinska-Tokov;Clara Belzer;David Boverhoff

  • Attentional Control of Task and Response in Lateral and Medial Frontal Cortex: Brain Activity and Reaction Time Distributions.

    Esther Aarts;Ardi Roelofs;Miranda van Turennout

  • Stress matters: Randomized controlled trial on the effect of probiotics on neurocognition

    S. Papalini;F. Michels;N. Kohn;J.B.T. Wegman

  • Investigating the Gut Microbiota Composition of Individuals with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Association with Symptoms.

    Joanna Szopinska-Tokov;Sarita Dam;Jilly Naaijen;Prokopis Konstanti

  • Impaired dual tasking in Parkinson's disease is associated with reduced focusing of cortico-striatal activity.

    Freek Nieuwhof;Bastiaan R Bloem;Miriam F Reelick;Esther Aarts

  • Loss of lateral prefrontal cortex control in food-directed attention and goal-directed food choice in obesity.

    Lieneke K. Janssen;Iris Duif;Ilke van Loon;Joost Wegman

  • Influence of motivation on control hierarchy in the human frontal cortex.

    Jörg Bahlmann;Jörg Bahlmann;Esther Aarts;Mark D'Esposito

  • Increased Dependence of Action Selection on Recent Motor History in Parkinson's Disease

    R.C.G. Helmich;E. Aarts;F.P. de Lange;B.R. Bloem

  • Decomposing effects of dopaminergic medication in Parkinson's disease on probabilistic action selection--learning or performance?

    P. Smittenaar;H. W. Chase;E. Aarts;B. Nusselein

  • Aberrant reward processing in Parkinson's disease is associated with dopamine cell loss.

    Esther Aarts;Rick C. G. Helmich;Rick C. G. Helmich;Marcel J. R. Janssen;Marcel J. R. Janssen;Wim J. G. Oyen;Wim J. G. Oyen

  • Dopamine and the Cognitive Downside of a Promised Bonus

    Esther Aarts;Deanna L. Wallace;Linh C. Dang;Linh C. Dang;William J. Jagust;William J. Jagust

Frequent Co-Authors

Roshan Cools
Roshan Cools Radboud University
Rick C. Helmich
Rick C. Helmich Radboud University
Paul A.M. Smeets
Paul A.M. Smeets Wageningen University & Research
Barbara Franke
Barbara Franke Radboud University
Mark D'Esposito
Mark D'Esposito University of California, Berkeley
Ivan Toni
Ivan Toni Radboud University
Jan K. Buitelaar
Jan K. Buitelaar Radboud University
William J. Jagust
William J. Jagust University of California, Berkeley
Ardi Roelofs
Ardi Roelofs Radboud University
Clara Belzer
Clara Belzer Wageningen University & Research

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