THE SPATIAL BRAIN
The Spatial Brain research group is composed of researchers and clinicians. The group focuses its activities on the unimodal or multimodal processing of neural signals for the representation of spatial information throughout the brain, from the brainstem to cortical areas, in a multi-layered integrative approach conducted on both animals and humans. The overreaching goal is to understand how the brain combines sensory and motor information to generate internal representations of the position and movement of the body in a given environment. We broaden this fundamental research themes to understand how the spatial brain adapts to long term environmental (e.g. space) or pathological (diseases) perturbations.
Research topics
- THEME 1: internal representation of body and space
- Somatotopy and body representation.
We use behavioral and EEG (somatosensory evoked potentials) methods to study how touch and body representations are coded and to identify their common and distinct characteristics. - Internal models for 3D space perception.
We use experimental paradigms exploiting virtual reality and haptic technologies, coupled to EEG, to measure and manipulate the perception of 3D objects. These experiments are sponsored by the French space agency (CNES). - Vestibular pathways for spatial orientation and perception.
We are developing in vitro labelling techniques combined with electrophysiology recordings to decipher in different genetically engineered mouse strains the specific subcircuits that relates these different structures together. These experiments, part of the INVEST ANR PROJECT (2021-2026) are conducted in collaboration with F. Sargolini (CNRS-Univ. Aix-Marseille).
- Somatotopy and body representation.
- THEME 2: Sensory and motor modulation for spatial coding
- Modulation of vestibular signals by spinal locomotor efferent copy signals.
These experiments, part of the LOCOGATE ANR PROJECT (2023-2027) are conducted in collaboration with F. Lambert (CNRS-Univ. Bordeaux). - Shaping of spatial representation through exploratory movements.
To investigate how movement shapes the spatial representation of touch and how touch and movement are reciprocally related, we use behavioural methods decorrelating movement from its sensory consequences. - The role of gravity in spatial perception visuo-manual coordination.
In collaboration with the European and French space agencies we devote experimental paradigm in weightlessness (on board of parabolic flights or of the International Space Station) to investigate the role of gravitational inputs on our ability of compare visual and proprioceptive/haptic information and to combine them to improve perceptive and motor performances.
- Modulation of vestibular signals by spinal locomotor efferent copy signals.
- THEME 3: Diseases affecting the Spatial Brain
Our group has developed collaborations with different research centers (Institut Psychiatrie & Neurosciences Paris; Institut de l’Audition; Centre de Recherche en Audiologie) and hospitals (Necker – Enfants Malades & Saint-Anne Psychiatric hospitals) that let us develop research lines aimed at understanding how different neural disease affect the Spatial brain.- Tactile and body spatial representations in psychiatric disorders
We aim to characterize the distortions of body and tactile representation along the different stages of the pathology anoxia nervosa, and are investigating the hypothesis that somatosensory integration, as a driver of spatial attention, is altered in psychosis and leads to an inappropriate motor response compared to the context. We use behavioural technics and EEG to quantify spatial somatosensory integration in schizophrenia. - Effects of vestibular deficits on visuo-manual coordination
Our experimental and theoretical studies about the importance of gravitational/otolithic signals on goal-oriented hand movements suggest that inner ear pathologies might have an effect also on this poorly evaluated patients’ functions. To explore this hypothesis, we develop tests adapted to young age patients. Through a research collaboration, we quantify at Necker’s hospital the effect of different vestibular deficits (congenital vs acquired, bilateral vs unilateral…) on the patients visuo-manual functions. - Animal models of vestibular pathologies
Work on vestibular pathologies is developed at national level with the groups of Christian Chabbert (Marseille), Saaid Safieddine (Pasteur/hearing institute) and Aziz El Amraoui (Pasteur/hearing institute), and at the international level with Prof. Jordi Lorens (Univ. Barcelona), and Prof. Kenna Peusner (GW University). Our group is coordinating the Parisian Centre de compétence Paris Vestibulaire, of Université Paris Cité with the aim to favor fundamental & clinical research.
- Tactile and body spatial representations in psychiatric disorders
