Units

Neuropsychology and Functional Neuroimaging Research Unit

Person in charge of the Unit : Oui

Researches conducted at the Neuropsychology and Functional Neuroimaging Research Unit [UR2NF - Unité de Recherches en Neuropsychologie et Neuroimagerie Fonctionnelle] are mainly but not exclusively focused on investigating the relationships between sleep and memory consolidation processes, and in a wider perspective centered on the interrelationships between cognitive processes and vigilance states, including sleep and biological rhythms. A specific focus is made on the processes by which novel representations are created in memory and the processes by which novel information is consolidated in long-term memory. We are also interested in the understanding and investigation of major neuropsychological syndromes. Furthermore, UR2NF members are deeply involved in numerous collaborations with other research units and departments of the ULB faculties (psychology, medicine, Erasme hospital ...) and other Belgian and foreign universities in the framework of our expertise in functional neuroimaging techniques. UR2NF is affiliated at CRCN - Centre de Recherches en Cognition et Neurosciences at the Faculté des Sciences Psychologiques et de l'Education de l'ULB, and at UNI - ULB Neurosciences Institute (http://uni.ulb.ac.be).

Projetcs

Within-sleep stimulation of brain activity and formation of novel memories

1/07/2013 ' 30/06/2017 FNRS Research project (PDR) 14626883 (principal promotor): Within-sleep stimulation of brain activity and formation of novel memories. With this project we essentially aim at better understanding processing information abilities during human sleep, and their relationships with memory consolidation and creation processes. To do so, we will mainly investigate (1) how and whether consolidation of novel information in memory is enhanced and/or disrupted through presentation of related cues at non-awakening thresholds during different stages of sleep, (2) whether increases in memory consolidation-related slow wave sleep (SWS) oscillations (using transcranial direct current stimulation [TDCS]) are commonly or distinctly beneficial to the long-term consolidation of neutral and emotional components of memories, and (3) whether it is possible to create de novo associations during a sleep episode using classical trace (hippocampus-dependent) or delay (hippocampus-independent) conditioning procedures, as evidenced using both behavioural measurements and neurophysiological recordings of cerebral activity using electroencephalography [EEG] and magnetoencephalography [MEG] techniques.

Pathophysiology of brain plasticity processes in memory consolidation

1/10/2010 ' 30/09/2015 Action de Recherche Concertée [ARC] project (co-principal promotor) Pathophysiology of brain plasticity processes in memory consolidation. Other promotors P. Van Bogeart (LCFC [Laboratoire de Cartographie Fonctionnelle du Cerveau] et Département de Neurologie Pédiatrique, ULB), A. Kerchove d'Exaerde (Laboratoire de Neurophysiologie, Faculté de Médecine, ULB)

Neural bases of learning and long term consolidation of sequential regularities. Combined effects of discrete vs. continuous learning mode and post-training sleep

FRSM 3.4582.09. This project investigates the sleep-dependent reorganization of cerebral activity underlying performance in a probabilistic serial reaction time task, an implicit paradigm with which our teams have demonstrated for the first time an experience-dependent neuronal reactivation during human sleep. Also, we aim at better understanding the cerebral mechanisms involved in learning discrete and continuous motor sequences, and their consolidation during sleep. This project should provide a new prospect on the mechanisms subtending motor learning, and how sleep takes part in these processes. Promotors A. Cleeremans (Consciousness, Cognition and Computation Group), P. van Bogaert (Erasme hospital, ULB), P. Maquet (Cyclotron Research Centre, ULg), and P. Peigneux