welcome

Welcome to my website. I am an interdisciplinary trained and operating human movement scientist. I am fascinated by the control and coordination of human movement, and changes therein as a function of development, learning and training.
As you can tell from my research activities and publications, many topics have my interest, but I am especially interested in the control and coordination of movement in the context of real-life skills and the development of expertise in that regard.

PDF’s of journal articles and book chapters are available through the research section, while video clips of my media appearances may be viewed in that section. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about my research.


Peter Beek

research

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Bimanual coordination

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Haptic perception

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Interceptive actions

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Juggling

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Locomotion

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Methods

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Motor development

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Motor learning

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Psychomotor interaction & therapy

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Standing & lifting

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Stochastic dynamics

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Swimming & rowing

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Unimanual coordination

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Visual perception

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Commentaries and reviews

dissemination

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Sportgericht

media

Had jij met jouw genen een topsporter kunnen worden?
Hoe kun je een betere sporter worden zonder fysiek te trainen?
VU Connected: over project Sportief
Waarom is het zo moeilijk om iets af te leren?
Sportinnovator centra: interview Peter Beek van AISS
ZonMW: Optimalisatie van voortstuwing door en over water
Wanneer kun je als sporter beter niet naar je coach luisteren?
The choreography of movement and the brain
Vernieuwende kracht van sport
Welke training heb je nodig als je een betere sporter wilt worden?
STW project: Optimalisatie van voortbeweging over en door water
De 100 meter vrije slag

De 100 meter vrije slag

phd’s

Linda Bank
Doctoral dissertation:
Motor dysfunction in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. The role of sensory processing and sensory-motor integration. (2014)
Betteco de Boer
Doctoral dissertation:
Stabilizing bimanual coordination: Changes in interlimb interactions. (2013)
Tjeerd Boonstra
Doctoral dissertation:
Neural dynamics of human motor control. Published Doctoral Dissertation. (2007)

Daniëlle Bouman
Doctoral dissertation:
Taking approach-avoidance research a step further. (2020)
Sjoerd Bruijn
Doctoral dissertation:
Is stability an unstable concept? Quantifying dynamic stability of human locomotion. (2010)

Nienke Debats
Doctoral dissertation:
Exploratory movements in haptic perception. (2013)

Lex van Delden
Doctoral dissertation:
Unilateral versus bilateral upper limb training after stroke. (2014)

Joost Dessing
Doctoral dissertation:
Neural dynamics underlying interceptive actions. (2005)

Stella Donker
Doctoral dissertation:
Flexibility of human walking: A study on interlimb coordination. (2002)

Till Frank
Doctoral dissertation:
Stochastic properties of human motor control: Nonlinear Fokker-Planck equations. (2000)

Erik van der Graaff
Doctoral dissertation:
Perfecting your pitch. In search of the perfect baseball pitch and its training. (2019)

Laura Hak
Doctoral dissertation:
Step by step. Stepping strategies to prevent falling while walking. (2014)
Maarten van den Heuvel
Doctoral dissertation:
Augmented visual feedback in Parkinson’s disease – assessing and improving postural control. (2017)

Sanne Houweling
Doctoral dissertation:
Neural entrainment in coordination dynamics. (2010)

Josje van Houwelingen
Doctoral dissertation:
In the swim. Optimising propulsion in human swimming. (2018)
Vana Hutter
Doctoral dissertation:
Training and assessment for sport psychology practice. (2016)

Raoul Huys
Doctoral dissertation:
Disentangling perceptual-motor learning. (2004)

Trienke IJmker
Doctoral dissertation:
Balance control in human walking: An energetic perspective. (2015)
Dinant Kistemaker
Doctoral dissertation:
The control of fast goal-directed movements. A critical test of the equilibrium point hypothesis. (2006)

Claudine Lamoth
Doctoral dissertation:
Walking with back pain. (2004)

Rolf van de Langenberg
Doctoral dissertation:
How do you feel? An inquiry into dynamic touch and proprioception. (2007)

Chantal Leemrijse
Doctoral dissertation:
Developmental coordination disorders: Evaluation and treatment. (2000)

Lotte Lintmeijer
Doctoral dissertation:
Power in rowing. In search of effective feedback variables. (2019)

Rob van Lummel
Doctoral dissertation:
Assessing Sit-to-Stand for clinical use. (2017)

Vivien Marmelat
Doctoral dissertations:
Synchronization with fractal rhythms. Complexity matching of statistical structure. (2014)
Appariement des strcutures temporelles de deux systèmes complexes couplés: perspectives de réhabilitation d’un système déficient. (2014)

Masood Mazaheri
Doctoral dissertation:
Older adults: Mind your step! (2016)

Jonathan de Melker Worms
Doctoral dissertation:
Human balance control: Effects of fear and attention in standing and walking. (2017)
Anke van Mourik
Doctoral dissertation:
Structure from randomness: A window into coordination. (2006)
Anouk Nijs
Doctoral dissertation:
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Ben van Oeveren
Doctoral dissertation:
Running deciphered. Interpretation of running technique from wearable data. (2021)
Rita Ferraz de Oliveira
Doctoral dissertation:
Visual perception for basketball shooting. (2007)

Lieke Peper
Doctoral dissertation:
Tapping dynamics. (1995)

Mariëlle van Ooijen-Kerste
Doctoral dissertation:
Steps to follow. Toward the clinical assessment and training of walking adaptability. (2017)
Rob Pijpers
Doctoral dissertation:
The impact of anxiety on perceptual-motor behaviour. (2006)

Harjo de Poel
Doctoral dissertation:
Asymmetric interlimb coupling strength in rhythmic bimanual coordination. (2007)

 

Auke Post
Doctoral dissertation:
Effects of task constraints on the relative phasing of rhythmic movements. (2000)
Arne Ridderikhoff
Doctoral dissertation:
Rhythmic bimanual coordination: Interlimb interactions and effector dynamics. (2006)

Sietse Rispens
Doctoral dissertation:
A walk on the wild side. Fall-risk assessment from daily-life gait. (2015)

Melvyn Roerdink
Doctoral dissertation:
Anchoring: Moving from theory to therapy. (2009)

Tony van Santvoord

Doctoral dissertation:
Cascade juggling: Learning, variability, and information. (1995)

Melanie Scholz
Doctoral dissertation:
Jump and run. Energetics and mechanics of explosive and cyclic movements. (2009)

Sander Schreven
Doctoral dissertation:
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  • Personal page >>
Luc Selen
Doctoral dissertation:
Impedance modulation: A means to cope with neuromuscular noise. (2006)

Manon Smit
Doctoral dissertation:
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  • Personal page >>
Tom Stevens
Doctoral dissertation:
External load during football training: The power of acceleration and deceleration. (2017)
Celine Timmermans
Doctoral dissertation:
Walking-adaptability assessment and training: Steps towards clinical implementation. (2019)
Niek van Ulzen
Doctoral dissertation:
Exploring affective perception and social action. (2010)

Alistair Vardy
Doctoral dissertation:
Moving in time: Neurons, clocks, and rhythmic movements. (2010)

Wu Wenhua
Doctoral dissertation:
Pregnancy-related Pelvic girdle Pain (PPP): An emphasis on transverse pelvis-thorax coordination during walking. (2004)

Bernadette van Wijk
Doctoral dissertation:
Neural synchronization within and between regions of the motor system. (2012)

Raymond Wimmers
Doctoral dissertation:
Grasping developmental change. (1996)

résumé

Name:   Peter J. Beek
Date of Birth:   July 9, 1959
Place of Birth:   Delft, the Netherlands
Civil Status:   Married
Citizenship:   The Netherlands
Address (Work):   Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Faculty of Behaviour & Movement Sciences
Van der Boechorststraat 9, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Telephone (work):    +31 (0)20 5988532
Telephone (mobile): +31 (0)6 39659365
E-mail address:   p.j.beek@vu.nl

Academic positions
2015-2019: Dean of Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

2014-2015: Interim Dean of Faculty of Psychology and Education, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

2007-2015: Dean of Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

2013-2014: Affiliated Professor at Brunel University, London, United Kingdom.

2005-2007: Visiting Professor at the Centre for Sport and Exercise Sciences, John Moores University Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.

1998-Present: Full Professor of Coordination Dynamics, Department of Motor Behavior, Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

1994-1998: Associate Professor (University Head Docent), Department of Psychology, Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

1989-Present: Fellow of the Center for the Ecological Study of Perception and Action, Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, U.S.A.

1988-1994: Assistant Professor (University Docent), Department of Psychology, Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Education & Courses
Education
1971-1977: Atheneum-B, Hugo Grotius Scholengemeenschap, Delft.
1977-1985: Interfaculty of Physical Education, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands, BS, cum laude.
1985-1989: Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Ph.D., cum laude.

Management and leadership courses
Management of human resources. Looten-De Sonnaville Management Consultants, 1995.
CALL: Community for Authenthic Leadership and Learning, Twijnstra & Gudde, 2008-2009.

Courses in teaching
Course on Lecturing, Education Advisory Bureau, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1996.
Course on Testing and Grading, Education Advisory Bureau, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1997.

Teaching
Graduate and undergraduate courses in:
Movement control and coordination;
Perception and action;
Acquisition of perceptual-motor skills;
Nonlinear dynamics;
Research methods; theory of measurement;
Philosophy of human movement (science).
Editorial activities & Professional societies
Editorial activities
Editor-in-chief of Human Movement Science (1999-2019).
Associate editor of Journal of Motor Behavior.

Professional societies
International Society for Ecological Psychology;
Dutch Society for Ecological Psychology;
Psychonomic Society (The Netherlands Foundation for Scientific Research).

Organisation of professional symposia and conferences
  • Smeets, J. B. J., & Beek, P. J., Progress in Motor Control XII 2019: Movement improvement. Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and Amsterdam UMC, July 7-July 10, 2019
  • De Haan, A., van Mechelen, W., & Beek, P.J. (congress presidents), 19th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science, ECSS Amsterdam 2014, Sport Science Around the Canals, Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, and Faculy of Medince, VU Medical Center, July 2-July 5, 2014.
  • Beek, P.J., organization of plenary session “The choreography of movement and the brain”, with presenations by Scott Kelso and Scott DeLahunta), 18th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science, ECSS Barcelona 2013, Unifying Sport Science, The National Institute of Physical Education of Catalonia (INEFC), June 26-June 29, 2013.
  • Beek, P. J., Schöllhorn, W., & Verwey, W., Third European Workshop on Movement Science (EWOMS), Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, May 31-June 2, 2007.
  • Beek, P. J., Control of interceptive actions. Workshop organized at the Faculty of Human Movement Sciences and the Institue for Fundamental and Clinical Human Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 2005.
  • Beek, P. J., On the coordination dynamics of skill acquisition: A neglected dimension of expertise. Symposium organized at the Eleventh European College of Sport Science, Lausanne, Switzerland, July 6-July 8, 2006.
  • Beek, P. J., Rhythmic interlimb coordination: Dynamics, neural underpinnings and cognition. Workshop organized at the Faculty of Human Movement Sciences and the Institue for Fundamental and Clinical Human Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 2000.
  • Peper, C. E., & Beek, P. J., Timekeepers versus oscillators. Symposium organized at the Tenth International Conference on Perception and Action, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1999.
  • Beek, P. J., Synergetics of perceptual-motor actions. Workshop organized at the Faculty of Human Movement Sciences and the Institute for Fundamental and Clinical Human Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 1998.
  • Brinker, B. P. L. M. den, Beek, P. J., Hollander, A. P., & Nieuwboer, R. T., Zesde Workshop Computers in de Psychologie. Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 1996.
  • Ingen Schenau, G. J. van, & Beek, P. J., Coordination of multi-joint movement. Symposium organized at the Second World Congress of Biomechanics, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 1994.
  • Beek, P. J., Riccio, G., & Newell, K. M., Affordances and task constraints in intentional systems. Symposium organized at the VIIth International Conference on Event Perception and Action, University of British Columbia, Canada, 1993.
  • Beek, P. J., & Guiard, Y., Stability, (a)symmetry, and constraints in two-effector coordination. Symposium organized at the Second European Conference on Ecological Psychology, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland, 1992.
  • Beek, P. J., & Bootsma, R. J., Ball skills. Symposium organized at the VIth International Conference on Event Perception and Action, Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 1991.
  • Beek, P. J., Bootsma, R. J., van Wieringen, P. C. W., & Reijmers, M., The VIth International Conference on Event Perception and Action, Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 1991.
  • Beek, P. J., On the origin of temporal order in movement coordination. Symposium organized at the Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 1989.
  • Bingham, G. P., Kay, B., & Beek, P. J., Dynamical models of perception-action systems. Symposium organized at the Vth International Conference on Event Perception and Action, Oxford, Miami, OH, U.S.A., 1989.
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