Cognition and Pathophysiology of basal ganglia
This team is interested in both physiological and pathophysiological (Parkinson’s disease) contribution of this
brain system. More precisely, the research performed by this team aims at deciphering at the behavioural, neuronal and
circuit levels the impact of mesostriatal dopamine loss.
Attention, cerebral dynamics and chronometry
The members of this new team are mainly concerned with the neural processes underlying timing and executive
control, focusing on a core network of cortical and subcortical structures encompassing the (pre)Supplementary Motor
Area, the inferior frontal gyrus (especially in the right hemisphere), and the basal ganglia.
Neural bases of spatial cognition
Our research takes a multidisciplinary approach to the problem of how animals process spatial information to navigate in space. Recent progress on the neurophysiological bases of spatial knowledge provides support for biologically realistic computational models inspired by the concepts of cognitive psychology. Accordingly, we study not only how animals perceive and navigate in space but also the involvement of several neural systems in these abilities.
Neural bases of sensori-motor behavior
Our research is focused on the neural bases of voluntary movements and postural control. With neurophysiological and behavioural studies, we try to understand the relationships between sensory information, internal representations and movement production (e.g., eye and arm movements, locomotion). We devote a special interest to the fusion of sensory information (e.g. visual, vestibular, proprioceptive, cutaneous) and the sensorimotor transformation during movement planning, execution and learning of movement.
Music, language and writing ( MuLaW )
Our aim is to explore how music and writing contribute to language learning. To address these general questions we use sophisticated measures of behavior (auditory psychophysics, fine-grained kinematics) together with different measures of brain activity and brain structure (ERPs, functional and structural MRI) both in children and in adults, without and with learning disabilities. A critical factor for an efficient approach of learning is the development of optimal training paradigms, which are at the core of all the projects.
Neurodevelopment of motor and social cognition
The research domain of the team concerns the understanding of brain maturation and development processes
allowing harmonious relationships between motor control and social cognition in Humans. In particular, the team focuses
on critical periods of brain maturation such as infancy and adolescence. Initially focused on healthy brain development,
the team also looks at neurodevelopmental pathologies such as autism spectrum disorder.
Neural basis of somatosensory functions
Our goal is to understand the neural basis of somatosensation - the process whereby we experience touch and pain - with an emphasis on identifying molecules that regulate electrogenesis of sensory neurons and detect environmental stimuli within the healthy and pathological somatosensory system. Our research also focuses on characterizing the function of the enteric nervous system in both gastroenterological and neurological disorders.
Brain, Obesity and diet imbalance
Neuronal and glial substrates of homeostatic regulation of energy balance: the research performed by this team
aims at an in depth understanding of the cerebral systems involved in the regulation of food intake, with a special
emphasis on the hypothalamus and dorsal vagal complex.
Sensory and Cognitive Rehabilitation (EX LNSC)
The Sensory and Cognitive Rehabilitation team studies cognitive, psychological, and sensorimotor abilities and their interactions. The goals are to define the markers characterizing the disorders at each of these levels, to evaluate the rehabilitation processes and their underlying mechanisms, and to analyze the transfer of the consequences of rehabilitation from one of these levels to the others.
Multisense and Body Team (EX LNSC)
We study the specific contributions and interactions of the somatosensory, vestibular and visual systems to the development of awareness of one's own body, to the perception of one's own body movements and to the perception of external stimuli applied to the body. The modulation of these bodily experiences and the brain plasticity of these sensory systems after central or peripheral neural alteration are also studied (stroke, amputation, vestibular deficits, aging).
We combine transdisciplinary approaches, including electrophysiology (microneurography, multi-unit cortical recordings), brain imaging (fMRI; EEG, optical imaging) and behavioral methods (psychophysics, EMG, multisensory stimulation, postural tests), in humans and rodents.
Pathophysiology and Therapy of Vestibular Disorder (EX LNSC)
Composed of researchers, teacher-researchers and clinicians, our team studies the endogenous reactionnal mechanisms involved at peripheral and central levels following vestibular insults, in order to promote therapeutic solutions to restore posture and balance functions.
Neuronal Dynamics and Audition (EX LNSC)
The DNA team brings together researchers whose expertise ranges from integrative and computational neuroscience to cognitive science, psychoacoustics and applied mathematics and whose project is to further understand the neural dynamics underlying brain functions such as resting activity, perception and emotion. The team's project is based on both experimental and theoretical approaches, and relies on a "multi-scale" approach of the nervous system. Although the auditory system will be our model of choice to study these questions, in particular the functional disorders of tinnitus and hyperacusis, other models (attentional processes) will also be studied in collaboration with other teams.
