PhD position on electrical stimulation-induced changes in neuroplasticity at Inserm, Rennes, France
*Title*: Neuro-inspired macroscale models of electrical stimulation-induced changes in neuroplasticity *Context*. Epilepsy refers to a neurological disorder that affects about 1% of the general population. Recent findings indicate that non-invasive brain transcranial current stimulation (tCS) is safe and of therapeutic promise in epilepsy. However, it is not yet indicated as a standard treatment due to major scientific limitations: unknown mechanisms of action, insufficient account for patient-specific factors, poor understanding of short- and long-term effects. The ambition of the GALVANI Project (ERC-SyG 2019; 2020-26) is to transform the care of a large fraction of patients living with drug-resistant epilepsies by solving a fundamental problem: to efficiently target and control large-scale epileptic brain networks with tCS-induced neuromodulatory weak electric fields ( https://www.galvani-lab.eu/). *Rationale*. Neuroplasticity refers to a wide ensemble of brain changes at cellular and network level that result from learning, practice, environmental influences, etc. In the normal brain, neuroplasticity is physiological process that allows for acquisition of new competences for instance. In the epileptic brain, neuroplasticity is a pathological process which alters the balance between excitation and inhibition giving rise to epileptic seizures. Neuroplastic changes may occur at different time scales (short and long) and may potentiate or, on the opposite, depress neuronal activity generated by brain circuits. Electrical stimulation (supra-threshold) and neuromodulation (sub-threshold) are two different methods that can be used to alter brain plasticity in order to lower hyperexcitability and subsequently decrease the occurrence of epileptiform events. *Objective*. This research focuses on neuromodulation. The objective of the proposed PhD position is to design neuroinspired macroscale models that will account for immediate (acute) and lasting (short- or long-term) effects of neuromodulatory weak electric fields, which remain elusive to some extent. *Methods*. After deep bibliographic review, biomathematical models to be developed will combine neurophysiological models of neuronal populations with mechanisms of action induced by weak electric fields on neuronal assemblies, typically on synaptic connectivity and firing rates. They will provide a unique framework to clarify and optimize the effects of dynamic E-fields induced by stimulation. They will be based on already-existing macroscale computational models which allow for simulation of epileptic activity (interictal spikes, ictal activity) generated by large-scale networks, as observed in human epilepsies. An issue to be solved is the translation from stimulation-induced short- and long-term effects at cellular level into average effects at population level. Optimization methods will be developed for identifying “therapeutic” neuromodulation parameters. Models will use the Neural Mass Model formalism (NMMs). They will be developed in Python. They will extend already-existing models at neural mass level. Strong background is available ( https://perso.univ-rennes1.fr/fabrice.wendling/). *Scientific domains*. Engineering (computational, biomedical); Physics (biophysics, electromagnetism); Biology (neuroscience); Medicine (neurology); Computer Science (computing in maths, engineering and Medicine) Scientific environment. GALVANI involves three partners: LTSI-Inserm (Rennes), AMU-APHM (Marseille) and Neuroelectrics (Barcelona). It is intended to develop the next generation of brain stimulation solutions. GALVANI can be viewed as a distributed lab (Rennes-Barcelona-Marseille) working under a common policy to ensure coherence of research and intense collaboration and cross-fertilization. Fellows will be co-supervised in a unique, shared environment with exposure to science, technology and clinical experience. *Candidate profile*. The research project is at the interface between biomathematics (neuro-inspired models), biophysics (electric field models), and neuroscience/neurology (epilepsy). The candidate will preferably have some background in dynamical systems, computational neuroscience/systems biology or in electrical engineering with experience in bio-signal processing and in biophysics. Knowledge in electrophysiology and/or EEG analysis would be an asset. The PhD fellow will join a multidisciplinary team including research scientists in biomedical engineering, neurophysiological modeling, bio-physics, signal processing, electrophysiology, neurology. *Contract*. The position will be opened* Feb. 1st, 2022*. The contract is for 3 years with possible extension (3 months). The salary will be defined according to Inserm rules regarding doctoral student remuneration. Location in the city of Rennes, France. LTSI-Inserm laboratory, University of Rennes. In addition, the PhD fellow will have the opportunity to perform visits and to actively collaborate with engineers, researchers and clinicians of the Marseille & Barcelona groups. *Contact *(please provide resume and cover letter) Fabrice Wendling (DR Inserm, LTSI, France) Email: fabrice.wendling@inserm.fr Pascal Benquet (Professeur, LTSI, France) Email: pascal.benquet@univ-rennes1.fr Elif Koksal-Ersoz (Post-doc fellow, LTSI, France) Email: elif.koksal-ersoz@inserm.fr
participants (1)
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Elif Köksal