Research

Conducted by more than 500 scientists, research within the Faculty is organized into four faculty or inter-faculty research units. These units include around 100 doctoral students and numerous scientists funded by research contracts established with international, national, or federated entities and private organizations. It is also supported by several faculty bodies.

Our brain is one of the most complex things in the world. Whether we are in good health or suffering from illness, at work or at school, and even in our voice, it is present at every stage of our lives. And yet... it is far from having revealed all its secrets to us. And that is the whole point of research, one of the aims of which is to help us live better with ourselves and with others.

LIFE AHEAD

The very first skills we learn—reading, writing, counting—form a crucial foundation for our existence. That is why educational sciences study, among other things, the impact of writing workshops and book clubs on children's skills, as well as new ways of learning mathematics.

However, success at school is not solely linked to learning. How can we encourage children and make them want to learn? What impact can repeating a year or the relationship they develop with their teacher have on them? How can they cope with language and communication disorders or disabilities?

The issue of screens is unavoidable: social media in particular is a place of expression where gender stereotypes are omnipresent. Some research therefore focuses on the issue of sexist cyberviolence and slut-shaming, i.e., the humiliation of women whose behavior is considered provocative and overtly sexual.

Finally, since childhood and adolescence are crucial periods for brain development, several researchers are studying the impact of anxiety related to global warming or the COVID-19 pandemic on young people's mental health, while others are looking at the consequences of certain pollutants, such as endocrine disruptors, on brain development.

ACTIVE LIFE

Psychology is interested in how our brains function in adulthood, particularly our memory. Reading, calculating, planning for the future, or remembering our last vacation: all these activities involve different types of memory. To study them, researchers use functional MRI, which allows them to observe the different parts of the brain involved in a mental operation in real time!

Some diseases mainly affect the brain and can be very debilitating, such as depression or schizophrenia. Research in these areas not only explores avenues for treatment, but also provides a better understanding of brain activity in healthy people.

Work takes up a large part of our lives. Logically, it also occupies many researchers! They analyze work-related mental disorders, such as burnout, by assessing, for example, the impact of working conditions on workers' mental health. Others focus on ergonomics or adapting work to people and study the consequences of the work environment on people, such as the effect of blue light on nurses working night shifts.

THE FIELD OF POSSIBILITIES

New technologies raise new questions. This is the case with autonomous cars: how can we ensure that drivers remain alert when the car is doing all the driving? Technology can also open up new avenues for treatment: virtual reality is used in a variety of ways, from smoking cessation to migraine and stuttering treatment to relaxation for hospital patients.

What if our voice conveyed much more meaning than the words it utters? In speech therapy, researchers are attempting to map the voices of patients with certain disorders, while others are working with teachers on the best way to convey knowledge to their students. Still others are interested in the tools available to transgender women to feminize their voices.

THE STRENGTH OF AGE

Aging does not necessarily mean illness or loneliness! Several researchers are studying the stereotypes we hold about aging. They analyze how these preconceived ideas influence the way we age on the one hand, and how we treat older people on the other.

Growing older also means having a lifetime of experiences and memories behind you, which has an impact on the brain. Psychology researchers are studying the impact of aging on brain function, depending on the richness of patients' lives, and the possibilities for delaying its effects, particularly through meditation.

Certain age-related diseases can appear, such as Alzheimer's disease. Scientists are working to better understand this disease in all its facets. (Neuro)psychologists are studying the areas of the brain and types of memory affected, as well as genetic risks, behavioral changes, and the impact of certain exercises in order to channel the progression of the disease.