Gometz Le Chatel

Researchers are studying social cognition, which is the ability to understand social information and behave appropriately in social settings. This ability can be impaired in patients with epilepsy, especially those with medial temporal lobe epilepsy, negatively affecting their quality of life. The study aims to map the structural and functional brain networks involved in social cognition in 20 healthy subjects and 20 patients with drug-resistant medial temporal lobe epilepsy, both before and one year after surgery to remove the epileptic focus. Deficits in social cognition will be assessed using a validated French neuropsychological battery (Batteries de Cognition Sociale BCS). Participants will undergo advanced brain imaging including a 3-Tesla MRI to analyze the anatomy and microstructure of white matter tracts related to social cognition, using sequences such as anatomical T1, High Angular Resolution Diffusion Imaging (HARDI), quantitative MRI, and Hybrid Diffusion Imaging (HYDI). Functional connectivity will be evaluated with an ultra-high-field 7-Tesla MRI during rest and while performing social cognition tasks. The study includes imaging both before surgery and one year after surgery to assess changes in brain networks. During the study, participants will receive neuropsychological evaluations and multiple MRI scans to measure brain structure and function related to social cognition. Outcomes include detailed imaging measures such as fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, fiber count, angular dispersion of axons, and functional MRI activation in social cognition brain networks, assessed over 12 months. The research will help understand alterations and possible reorganization of social cognition networks in epilepsy patients after surgery.

Researchers are exploring the genetic and clinical aspects of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) through a central study called "Genes and Autism," sponsored by INSERM. This ancillary study focuses on using anatomical, diffusion, and functional MRI scans to investigate brain differences in people with ASD, their relatives, and typically developing controls. The goal is to identify structural, connectivity, and functional brain features specific to ASD, as well as familial heritability patterns and correlations between brain imaging and genetic data. Participants will undergo multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) including 3D T1, resting state fMRI, task-based fMRI, diffusion MRI, and quantitative T1 and T2 scans. These neuroimaging sessions are conducted by specialized teams from INSERM, NeuroSpin (CEA), Robert Debré Hospital (APHP), and the Pasteur Institute. The study builds on over 600 participants previously recruited since 2010 to enhance understanding of brain abnormalities in ASD. During the study, researchers will collect multiple MRI-derived variables on day 0 from all participants. Evaluations include structural and functional brain imaging data to assess brain differences related to ASD. Participants will be monitored for MRI safety and any findings of brain abnormalities. This comprehensive imaging and genetic study aims to advance knowledge of ASD brain characteristics and their heritability.

The MOTIF-STROKE study, part of the BrainSync project, focuses on improving motor rehabilitation of the upper limb in stroke patients. Researchers aim to build a detailed brain atlas showing anatomical and functional disconnections in 100 stroke patients using advanced 3T and 7T MRI scans. This atlas will help link brain connectivity with motor tasks and use machine learning to analyze brain activity and predict motor intentions, supporting future neuroprosthesis implantation in clinical trials. Participants will undergo various MRI sessions, including task-based and resting-state functional MRI focused on motor imagery and execution tasks. The study collects brain activity and clinical data to analyze motor function and brain reorganization. Data collection begins in Fall 2025 and includes high-resolution morphological, functional, and diffusion-weighted MRI scans to study brain structure and connectivity. During the study, participants will complete motor tasks while being scanned, and researchers will measure the accuracy of AI models predicting motor intention within one day. The study monitors clinical data alongside imaging results to identify patient subgroups and brain reorganization patterns. Total participation time depends on imaging sessions and clinical assessments, aiming to provide a 3D brain atlas accessible to the neuroscience community.