Neurofunctional imaging of mentation laboratory - Research topics
Expertise
- Language, logical thought processes, calculus, spatial attention and mental imaging.
- Cognitive development.
The overall objective of our mixed research unit (UMR) is to identify the spatial and temporal neuronal networks of certain cognitive functions and to study factors determining their intra- and inter-individual variability, in particular their modulation by the learning processes and in schizophrenia. Our theoretical and experimental approach to brain-cognition relationships is striving towards a higher level of complexity because the analysis is situated within the framework of an organic anatomical and functional model rather than within a theoretical model based on the architecture of cognitive processes. The overall study is highly constrained by the spatial and temporal scale at which these relations are examined. We are studying the neuroanatomical and neurophysiological basis of integrative functions, with the objective of generating new models for cognitive functions alongside those derived from psychology and neuropsychology.
In the field of cognitive functions, our research will focus on visual and spatial attention, metal imaging, language and reasoning. These cognitive processes have been studied for several years by our group. They are both highly integrated processes with numerous interactions which we propose to investigate. They are also characterized by a high level of variability between individuals and are affected by learning, two aspects which will also be investigated. Finally, these processes are globally specific to the human species and therefore, functional imaging is an experimental approach of choice to studying their neuronal basis.
The execution of the project is based on the strong expertise in cognitive imaging acquired during the last decade by our unit. This expertise includes neuroanatomical (anatomic MRI), hemodynamic (PET and functional MRI) and electromagnetic (EEG and MEG) methods, to which we have access either at our site in Caen or through collaborations. Together with the expertise acquired in experimental psychology, these methods help the optimal execution of neuro-imaging experimental protocols. We can also integrate new questions into our project concerning the spatial and temporal dynamics of cognitive networks and the relations between cognitive functions and various levels of brain architecture through experiments coupling both types of techniques.