3. CiPsE

CiPsE

Centre for Interdisciplinary Research and Training in Psychophysiology and Electrophysiology of Cognition

 

The CiPsE brings together the activities of 7 research departments from 4 faculties of the UMONS. It aims to create an environment favourable to the development of multidisciplinary projects exploiting physiological, psychological and electrophysiological measurements of brain activity during cognitive tasks.

Founded in 2018, CiPsE was born from the collaboration of research and teaching departments of the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy and the Polytechnic Faculty of UMONS.

The CiPsE’s mission is to develop multidisciplinary research projects that allow the integration of new technologies and the training of doctoral students for innovative and efficient research.
Cognitive neuroscience is a very complex field of research, requiring the contribution of complementary disciplines, such as psychology, biomedical sciences, mathematics and engineering. This unique combination of expertise is made possible by the creation of inter-faculty Institutes and Research Centres within the UMONS.

The CiPsE has state-of-the-art equipment

  • EEG (64 to 128 channels)
  • Infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS)
  • Eye-tracking
  • Measurement of physiological parameters – Biopac
  • Virtual reality

To stimulate innovation, the CiPsE teams are involved in 2 main types of activities

  • Active participation in regional, national and European research programmes
  • Training PhD students and researchers in brain activity analysis technologies and tools

Examples of ongoing research

  • Electrophysiological correlates and role of sensory-motor processes in semantic memory during life and in Alzheimer’s disease.
    The ultimate goal will be to better understand the deterioration of the semantic system in Alzheimer’s disease and to propose innovative rehabilitation solutions based on sensory-motor processes. Two theses, one in psychology (Aurélie Miceli) and one in engineering sciences (Luca La Fisca) are in progress
  • Development of virtual environments for children with attention disorders – combined EEG and eye movement measurements
    The ultimate goal is to develop neurofeedback attention training systems by exploiting the potential of virtual reality. A thesis in engineering sciences (Victor Delvigne) is in progress.

Doctoral theses defended in 2019

  • Sarah Itani (FPMs): Machine learning for the diagnosis of mental disorders in children.
  • Erika Wauthia (FPSE): The applicability of attentional control theory to the understanding of attentional biases in paediatric social anxiety.
  • Khira El Bouragui (FPSE): The role of perspective taking and cognitive flexibility in empathic deficits: Application to subclinical depression 

CiPsE member services

With their multidisciplinary and complementary skills, some 30 enthusiastic collaborators stimulate research in the field of Cognitive Neuroscience.

Neuroscience Unit Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy (FMP)
Cognitive Psychology and Neuropsychology Unit Faculty of Psychology and Education (FPSE)
Forensic Psychology Unit Faculty of Psychology and Education (FPSE)
Engineering Innovation Management Unit Faculty of Engineering (FPMs)
Mathematics and Operational Research Unit Faculty of Engineering (FPMs)
Language Sciences and Metrology Unit Faculty of Psychology and Education (FPSE)
Information Signal and Artificial Intelligence Unit Faculty of Engineering (FPMs)
Effective Mathematics Unit Faculty of Science (FS)

Contact

info.CIPSE@alumni.umons.ac.be

  • Laurence Ris, FMP, President
  • Philippe Fortemps, FPMS, Vice President
  • Mandy Rossignol, FPSE, Secretary