Connectionists: PhD opening in Behavioral Neuorsciences in Marseille

[Viktor Jirsa]

*Ph.D. studentship in Behavioral Neurosciences at the Mediterranean 
University in Marseille, France
*
_Title:_ Control mechanisms in precision aiming in the elderly


The Institute of Movement Sciences in Marseille (France) (ISM, 
http://www.ism.univmed.fr) has an opening for a PhD student in 
Behavioral Neurosciences. The ISM is an interdisciplinary laboratory 
(CNRS & University of the Mediterranean), which brings together research 
in experimental psychology, behavioral neuroscience, motor control, 
biomechanics, and physiology. Topics currently being investigated in the 
ISM include: perception-action coupling, motor control, neuromuscular 
modeling with kinematics, computational neurosciences with a focus on 
large-scale brain modeling, non-invasive brain imaging including 
Electroencephalography (EEG).

_PhD project:
_
Our daily activities incessantly require that we control both the speed 
and the accuracy of our movements via which we physically interact with 
the environment. Over a century of research has firmly documented that 
movement speed decreases as accuracy requirements increase and vice 
versa. This so-called speed-accuracy trade-off has been extensively 
explored, notably in goal-directed aiming. We recently found evidence 
that, in young adults, repetitive precision aiming movements with low 
and high accuracy requirements are associated with two different control 
mechanisms (corresponding to rhythmic and discrete movements, respectively).

It is well known that both the peripheral and central nervous system of 
the elderly are subject to changes, which underlies an alteration of 
their interaction with their environment relative to young adults. In 
particular, in the context of precision aim these effects come to the 
fore as a slowing down and increased variability of their movements.

This interdisciplinary team-project brings together established 
theoretical and methodological expertise in nonlinear dynamics, 
experimental psychology, neurophysiology and behavioral neuroscience in 
order to determine how aging impacts the distinct motor control 
mechanisms utilized in precision aiming. This aim will be pursued 
combining skills in dynamical modeling/simulation, complementary (phase 
flow) analysis techniques as well as the analysis of kinematic and 
electromyographical patterns (underlying muscular activity) in multiple 
experiments in the context of precision aiming.

Applicants should have a background in experimental psychology or 
behavioral neurosciences and have programming, as well as time-series 
analysis skills. Knowledge of dynamical approaches to motor control is a 
plus.

Funding will be allocated on a competitive basis. Principal 
investigators involved are Laure Fernandez, Raoul Huys and Viktor Jirsa.

For further information please contact Laure Fernandez: 
laure.fernandez at univmed.fr