Research
My research programme sits at the intersection of forensic psychology and psychopharmacology. I study how psychoactive substances affect memory processes, with a particular focus on false memory formation and its implications for eyewitness testimony and criminal investigations.
Research Areas
Substance Effects on Memory
Researching how recreational and medical substances such as cannabis, alcohol, benzodiazepines, MDMA, and psychedelics affect memory for events.
Validity of Eyewitness Testimony
Testing how intoxication affects witness recall, false memories, suggestibility, and eyewitness identification.
Expert Witness Work
Translating drug and memory science into the courtroom, I work on cases involving substance use and memory.
Field Research
Conducting ecologically valid research in real-world settings to study naturalistic substance effects.
Key Publications
Cannabis intoxication does not impair eyewitness recall with the Sketch Cognitive Interview but increases confidence in lineup errors
Kloft-Heller L, Junk A, Dando CJ, Sauerland M, Otgaar H, Ramaekers JG
Ayahuasca enhances the formation of hippocampal-dependent episodic memory without impacting false memory susceptibility in experienced ayahuasca users
Doss MK, Kloft L, Mason NL, Mallaroni P, Reckweg JT, van Oorsouw K, Tupper N, Otgaar H, Ramaekers JG
Remembering Molly: Immediate and delayed false memory formation after acute MDMA exposure
Kloft L, Otgaar H, Blokland A, Toennes SW, Ramaekers JG
Cannabis increases susceptibility to false memory
Kloft L, Otgaar H, Blokland A, Monds LA, Toennes SW, Loftus EF, Ramaekers JG