PhD position (urgent):

Understanding the dynamic of facial expression decoding mechanisms by means of an electrophysiologic approach by fast periodic visual stimulation

Being able to quickly read emotional expression from the face is critical for human social interactions. Six facial expressions – fear, disgust, sadness, happiness, angry, surprise – also known as the ‘basic emotions’ have been suggested to be universally recognized (Ekman & Friesen, 1975). Studies on facial emotional processing have produced evidence for impairments in neurological and psychiatric populations, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). However, patients may often compensate on explicit behavioral tasks and fail on implicit face processing tasks, which suggests that they rely less on automatic emotion processing, but employ cognitive, language-based or perceptual compensatory mechanisms.

This PhD proposal will focus on understanding the decoding of facial expression in typical human population by means of the rapid presentation of brief expression changes and the recording of implicit measures with electroencephalography (EEG). Specifically, we will rely on a fast periodic visual stimulation approach (FPVS) during EEG recording. Intracerebral recordings of patients suffering from epilepsy refractory to medication with the same paradigms will aim at understanding the neural basis of facial expression decoding.

The PhD will be supervised by S. Caharel & J. Lighezzolo-Alnot at the Laboratory INTERPSY at the University of Lorraine in Nancy, France (http://interpsy.univ-lorraine.fr/content/stéphanie-caharel), and L. Maillard at the CHU of Nancy for intracerebral recording studies. Studies with the FPVS approach in EEG will be performed in close collaboration with B. Rossion and M. Dzhelyova at the University of Louvain in Belgium (http://face-categorization-lab.webnode.com/). 

The position involves a temporary appointment for 3 years, with a starting date on September/October 2016. Applications should be completed ideally by june 20th.

For more information, please contact: 

Stéphanie Caharel by email: stephanie.caharel@univ-lorraine.fr

Candidate requirements

We will consider highly motivated candidates with a degree in neuroscience, neuropsychology, biomedical sciences, natural sciences, mathematics, physics etc. A high level of written and spoken English is required. The ideal candidate will have good programming skills for the setting up and adaptation of stimulation paradigms and data analysis, experience with neurophysiological techniques such as EEG, and a background in cognitive neuroscience. Knowledge of the topic of research – face perception - is an asset.

Supervision

-  Stéphanie Caharel, Associate Professor of Neuropsychology, Lab Interpsy (EA 4432), University of Lorraine (stephanie.caharel@univ-lorraine.fr)

- Joëlle Lighezzolo-Alnot, Professor of Clinical Psychology, Lab Interpsy (EA 4432), University of Lorraine (joelle.lighezzolo@univ-lorraine.fr)

- Louis Maillard, Pr. of Neurology, University Hospital of Nancy, CRAN UMR CNRS 7039, University of Lorraine (l.maillard@chru-nancy.fr)

 Main Laboratory: Lab of Psychology “InterPsy” (EA 4432) – University of Lorraine: http://interpsy.univ-lorraine.fr

 Other Labs associated: CRAN (UMR CNRS 7039) - University of Lorraine; Face Categorization Lab, UCLouvain, Belgium (http://face-categorization-lab.webnode.com/)

To apply, please send application letter, CV, academic results (master’s degree) and two letters of recommendation before June 20, 2016 to the ED 78 Stanislas doctoral school and to Stéphanie Caharel (stephanie.caharel@univ-lorraine.fr) (with ‘PhD application 2016’ as subject line)