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Gamma Multimodal Entrainment in Virtual Reality for Cognitive Enhancement in mental disorders

This PhD project develops a VirtualReality platform combining high-frequency neural

entrainment with cognitive-emotional training to treat mental disorders. Synchronous

observation of encephalographic data permits to identify neural biomarkers.

The approach targets both primary symptoms and underlying neurocognitive deficits

(attention, working memory) that impede traditional therapy. The project bridges immersive

technology, computational neuroscience, and clinical psychology to pioneer a newclass of

digital therapeutics for trauma.

This project inherently combines expertise spanning computational neuroscience, clinical

psychology, and immersive technology—domains that are essential but individually

insufficient to address mental disorder treatment innovation. Two partner teams bring

complementary and synergistic competencies: (i) the INRIA-team Nectarine (PI: Axel Hutt)

provides foundational  expertise in non-invasive neuromodulation and computational neuroscience.

The team specializes in EEG signal processing, neural modeling, and biofeedback systems—

technical competencies essential for designing the multimodal entrainment protocols, integrating

real-time EEG recording with VR stimulation, extracting robust neurophysiological biomarkers,

and developing closed-loop neuromodulation frameworks. (ii) the IGG team (PI: Antonio

Capobianco) contributes human-centered Virtual Reality design, experimental protocol

robustness, and user experience optimization. IGG expertise ensures that the VR platform

deliversan engaging, safe, and immersive experience—critical for both participant tolerability

and thevalidity of behavioral measurements.

The project will be funded by ITI HealthTech (https://healthtech.unistra.fr/ ) in Strasbourg, France.

Principal Investigators:

* Axel Hutt, Inria-team Nectarine (https://team.inria.fr/nectarine/)

Please submit your usual application documents or request for more information to

Axel Hutt (axel.hutt@inria.fr) or Antonio Capobianco (a.capobianco@unistra.fr).

Deadline for application is March 13, 2026

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Dr. rer. nat. Axel Hutt
Directeur de Recherche
Equipe NECTARINE - INRIA Nancy Center at University of Lorraine
Equipe MLMS - iCube Strasbourg
Bâtiment NextMed , 2, rue Marie Hamm
67000 Strasbourg, France