Actual Research Topics

Our research aims to study the mechanisms of multimodal representation in human cerebral cortex using neuro-imaging techniques coupled to robotics approaches. The main sensory systems investigated are the visual and the vestibular systems which are linked to maintain the visual world stable despite constant body motion. In previous studies in animal and human, we demonstrated that vestibular information are integrated in cerebral parieto-temporal cortex and combined to the visual input they might contribute to space representation.

In the current projects we are interested in finding possible generalized rules underlying the structural and functional cortical organization of the sensory systems in dorsal/spatial and ventral/non spatial streams. For this purpose, we investigate the functional organisation of the vestibular cortex forming in human, distributed neural networks from the posterior occipito-parieto-temporal cortex to the prefrontal regions. Likewise, the issue of a dichotomic organisation in the prefrontal cortex is adressed for both visual and vestibular modalities in the context of working memory and learning. We compare the visual and vestibular cortical functions and their anatomical correlates by temporary cortical suppression using transcranial magnetic stimulation technique in human.

Moreover, while visual and vestibular inputs interact to maintain a stabilized percept, these same interactions can also lead to illusory and/or disturbing perception which mechanisms are investigated in different experimentally conflictual situations in human (collaboration with the Research Center of French Army). In the general framework of interactive sensory-motor functions based on embodied cognition theory, we have also initiated research projects related to the interaction between langage and visuo-motor processing, especially between motion perception (visual background/ self-motion) and langage comprehension.

Finally, these research projects are integrated in a large program of computational implementation of our findings in an infant like humanoid robot (iCub) that will combined language-sensory-motor skills based on the CNCI team multidisciplinary investigations, including visuo-vestibular functions as well as high-order cognitive functions.

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