Research challenge
Brain development and cognitive functions
How does the brain develop to achieve the highest cognitive functions?
Neurodevelopment research at NeuroMarseille
Analysing the dynamics of normal or pathological development is one of the keys to understanding brain function. NeuroMarseille brings together 30 research teams who study the fundamental mechanisms of neurodevelopment, from stem cell biology to the neurophysiology of developing systems, up to cognitive functions such as language. Their area of expertise also includes cognitive development and maturation of large-scale neural networks.
To link it to research, NeuroSchool’s training courses include many course units related to this theme. Below you will find the list of the teams working on this theme as well as the related course units.
The research teams
The teams are analysing, in different models, the signals that determine cell fate, plasticity, network shaping and brain wiring, from birth to adulthood. Nerve cells, organs and animals are observed at different levels using multidisciplinary approaches. Combining the molecular and cellular study of early developmental programmes, the patho-physiology of neuronal circuits and the development of cognitive functions, at the same location and with such a large number of researchers, is a NeuroMarseille special feature that is unique at an international level.
Teams working on neuro-development
| List of the teams | Team leaders | Institutes | Campus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neurodevelopment of motor and social cognition | Christine Assaiante | LNC | Saint-Charles |
| Polarization and binary cell fate decisions in the nervous system | Vincent Bertrand | IBDM | Luminy |
| Development and cognitive aging | Agnès BLAYE | LPC | Saint-Charles |
| Plasticity and Physio-pathology of rhythmics Motor networks (P3M) | Frédéric Brocard | INT | La Timone |
| Attention, cerebral dynamics and chronometry | Boris Burle | LNC | Saint-Charles |
| Language | Pascale COLE | LPC | Saint-Charles |
| Developmental imprint on the functional organisation of cortical networks | Rosa Cossart | INMED | Luminy |
| Methods and Computational Anatomy | Olivier Coulon | INT | La Timone |
| Molecular control of neurogenesis | Harold Cremer | IBDM | Luminy |
| Neural basis of somatosensory functions | Patrick Delmas | LNC | Saint-Charles |
| Social Cognition across Lifespan and Pathologies | Christine Deruelle | INT | La Timone |
| Stem cells and brain repair | Pascale Durbec | IBDM | Luminy |
| Comparative cognition | Joël Fagot | LPC | Saint-Charles |
| Molecular control of mesenchymal cell differentiation | Laurent Fasano | IBDM | Luminy |
| NOSE. Nasal Olfactory Stemness and Epigenesis | François Féron | INP | La Timone |
| List of the teams | Team leaders | Institutes | Campus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genes, Rhythm and Neurophysiopathology | Anne-Marie François-Bellan | INP | La Timone |
| Robustness of excitability | Jean-Marc Goaillard | UNIS | Nord |
| Development and pathologies of neuromuscular circuits | Françoise Helmbacher | IBDM | Luminy |
| Early activity in the developing brain | Roustem Khazipov | INMED | Luminy |
| NeuroCyto: the neuronal cytoskeleton in health and disease | Christophe Leterrier | INP | La Timone |
| Music, language and writing | Marieke Longcamp | LNC | Saint-Charles |
| Signaling networks for stemness and tumorigenesis | Flavio Maina | IBDM | Luminy |
| Axon plasticity in development and cancer | Fanny Mann | IBDM | Luminy |
| Adolescence and developmental vulnerability to neuropsychiatric diseases | Olivier Manzoni, Pascale Chavis | INMED | Luminy |
| Neural stem cell plasticity | Cédric Maurange | IBDM | Luminy |
| Functional specialisation of distinct sub-populations of nociceptive neurons | Aziz Moqrich | IBDM | Luminy |
| Perinatal Imprintings and Neurodevelopmental Disorders | Françoise Muscatelli-Bossy | INMED | Luminy |
| NICE2: Neonatal, Infantile and Childhood Epilepsies and Encephalopathies | Pierre Szepetowski | INMED | Luminy |
| Typical and atypical development | Carole Tardif | Centre PsyClé | Aix-en-Provence |
| Human neurogenetics | Laurent Villard | MMG | La Timone |
A network of excellence
This is complemented by interdisciplinary interaction with physicists and mathematicians on issues of self-organisation and growth within the framework of the CenTuri Institute. NeuroMarseille, by strengthening the bridges between different approaches, from genes to behaviours, will enable a better understanding of the physiopathological mechanisms which, during brain development, can lead to neurological and psychiatric disorders, and thus provide new biomarkers or innovative therapies. To this end, NeuroMarseille will build a network of excellence in the field of neurodevelopmental disorders (ASD, MCD, encephalopathy, epilepsy) in association with the neurology, paediatrics and psychiatry departments of the University Hospital.
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Education through research
In addition to traditional training related to the theme of research on neuro-development, the teaching team has implemented numerous pedagogical innovations that link research and training.
Courses related to neuro-development (all levels and specialities)
| Course unit | Level |
|---|---|
| Neurobiology | 3rd year of Bachelor |
| Behavioural genetics and epigenetics | 3rd year of Bachelor |
| Neuroplasticity | 3rd year of Bachelor |
| Environment, lifestyle and nervous system | 3rd year of Bachelor |
| Growing old and aging well | 3rd year of Bachelor |
| Cellular and molecular neurobiology | Master |
| Development and plasticity of the nervous system | Master |
| Functional neuroanatomy | Master |
| Learning and memory | Master |
| Mental functions | Master |
| Problem-based learning modules: autism, epilepsy, neurodevelopment | Master |
| Advanced neuroanatomy | PhD |
| Clinical day 2021: neurodevelopment, autism | PhD |
