Mother-Baby Brain Synchrony: an Electroencephalography Hyperscanning study

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DETAILS OF THE OFFER

Working place: Université Claude Bernard Lyon1

Missions:

Brief summary of the PhD project:

The mother-baby dyad is often considered a dynamic system engaged in perpetual two-way interactions. The reciprocal and continuous adjustment between these two partners is called synchrony and constitutes a critical element of social cognition. Mutual gaze plays a central role in the subsequent establishment of joint attention and the later development of metacognitive skills in childhood. It is now well accepted that this synchrony goes far beyond the behavioral sphere, extending from biological signals to the coupling of brain rhythms in the interactive partners.

The miniNO European project is devoted to better understanding the maturational neural impact of prematurity, notably the multifaceted consequences of mini-puberty. In this sub-study, the PhD candidate will specifically look at the dyadic cerebral synchronization in a situation of mutual gaze, depending on whether this mini-puberty has been corrected (or not) by NO administration (an early mini-puberty inhibitor treatment with nitric oxide).

Participation in the experimental set-up (an EEG hyperscanning procedure), recruitment, data analysis, and publication are expected. Supervision will be ensured by Pr. Renaud Jardri (U Lille, France) and Pr. Guillaume Dumas (U Montreal Canada), in collaboration with a postdoctoral fellow also working on the project.

Key facts on the PhD project:

• Faculty sponsor/ PI: Pr. Renaud Jardri & Pr. Guillaume Dumas
• Appointment term: 36 months PhD position starting in Oct. 2024.
• Funding source: INSERM International Network in Precision Psychiatry (INPP)
• Location/ Department: University of Lille, France: Lille Neuroscience & Cognition Center (INSERM U-1172), Plasticity & SubjectivitY (PSY) team for 2 years/ and University of Montreal, Canada: Precision Psychiatry and Social Physiology laboratory (PPSP), CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center for 1 year.

Qualifications:

Required qualifications to apply:

• To have defended a Master in neuroscience, experimental psychology, cognitive science, or an engineering diploma in computer science or signal processing before starting the PhD. Expertise in either EEG/MEG signal, hyper-scanning procedures, social interactions, or cognitive development is a bonus.
• Preference will be given to candidates who previously worked with children or baby samples, who can demonstrate good coding skills (notably in Python +/- with the MNE or the HyPyP packages) and an interest in analyzing brain imaging data.
• Women and underrepresented minorities in academia are strongly encouraged to apply.

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