Rhythms of attention, by Laura Dugué

Abstract: Rhythms of attention

Our brain cannot process all the information coming through our eyes, due to bioenergetic constraints. Attention prioritizes the processing of information according to relevance. For instance, when we drive a car, we must attend not only to the road signs and other cars, but also to unexpected events such as pedestrians crossing. Attention is a fundamental brain function underlying human behavior. Knowledge of attention can help further our understanding of how the brain controls human behavior. My research aims to investigate the neural mechanisms underlying attentional selection and facilitation, as well as the way it translates in behavioral trade-offs. I tackle this question using a multimodal approach including psychophysics (behavior), functional neuroimaging and computational modeling, thus linking cognitive psychology and neuroscience. Specifically, I test the hypothesis that brain oscillations modulate attentional performance periodically in time. I will show evidence that oscillations create periodic windows of excitability, with more or less favorable periods recurring at particular phases of the oscillations. I will also present more recent work investigating the joint effect of temporal and spatial dimensions of brain oscillations in attention in human.

Short biography:

Laura Dugué is an Associate Professor at the INCC (Université de Paris and CNRS), Paris, France. Using a multimodal approach including psychophysics (behavior), neuroimaging (EEG/MEG, fMRI, TMS) and computational modelling, she studies the spatio-temporal dynamics of perception and attention in adult human.

2020-2025: ERC Starting Grant WAVES

2019: Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches in Cognitive Neuroscience

Since 2019: Junior Member of the Institut Universitaire de France

2018-2021: ANR-DFG Grant in collaboration with N. Busch (Münster, Germany)

Since 2017: Co-director of studies for the Master of Cognitive Science (CogMaster)

Since 2016: Visiting Scholar at New York University

Since 2016: Maîtresse de Conférences in Cognitive Neuroscience, INCC, Université de Paris & CNRS

2014 – 2016: Post-doc in Neuroscience and Cognitive Psychology, New York University

2010 – 2013: PhD in Neuroscience, Behavior and Cognition, CerCo, Université de Toulouse & CNRS

2008 – 2010: Masters in Neuroscience, Behavior and Cognition

2005 – 2008: Bachelor of Biology

To join the Zoom meeting:

https://u-paris.zoom.us/j/82535109482?pwd=Q2dUMnhkSlJaVjRUdkd5NTZLM1FzQT09

ID of the meeting : 825 3510 9482

Code : 056821