Exploring the Interplay between Social Cognition and Thermonociception

Details

Supervisors

Liberati, Giulia

Faculty

Faculté de pharmacie et des sciences biomédicales

Degree label

Master [120] en sciences biomédicales, à finalité approfondie

Abstract

This project investigates the neural mechanisms underlying thermonociception and social cognition using intracerebral electroencephalography (iEEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Thermonociception refers to the perception of potentially painful thermal stimuli, while social cognition involves the processes by which individuals understand and interact with others. Although they might seem as two distinct concepts, investigating these domains together enables to understand how internal bodily states influence social behavior and emotional experiences. The study involves patients with focal epilepsy undergoing iEEG for pre-surgical evaluations, providing the opportunity to capture neural activity directly from specific brain regions, including the insula. The experimental design includes a thermonociceptive and social cognition task, allowing to investigate how these domains interact within the brain's neural networks. The iEEG data analysis focuses on identifying phase-locked local field potentials (LFPs) peaks elicited by thermonociceptive and vibrotactile stimulations and examining their correlations with stimulus intensity, modality, and subjective pain ratings. Considering the current stage of the project, this thesis focuses mainly on thermonociception. Indeed, a proper understanding of thermonociception is required before integrating it with social cognition. To integrate and compare these domains effectively, it is necessary to first establish a solid understanding of the brain’s response to thermonociceptive stimuli. Thus, the primary goal will be to investigate the neural and behavioral responses to thermonociceptive and vibrotactile stimuli using intracerebral EEG (iEEG) recordings in epileptic patients. In parallel, the fMRI experiment is in development, with the goal of complementing iEEG findings by mapping broader brain networks associated with thermonociception and social cognition. This research aims to advance our understanding of the interplay between these domains, providing valuable insights into their interaction and potential clinical applications for conditions affecting these domains.