
Contact & Links
matthieu.guitton@fmed.ulaval.ca
Mailing address
2601 Chemin de la Canardière
Québec (Québec) G1J 2G3
Office phone: (418) 656-5928
Matthieu Guitton, Ph.D.
Full professor au Département d’ophtalmologie et d’oto-rhino-laryngologie – chirurgie cervico-faciale de la Faculté de médecine de l’Université Laval
Secrétaire de la Faculté de médecine de l’Université Laval
Chercheur au Centre de recherche CERVO
Research Axis: Integrative Neuroscience and Experimental Therapies
Keywords:
Cyberbehavior - Human behavior in virtual spacesCyberbehavior – The study of human behaviors in virtual spaces
Professor Matthieu Guitton’s research aims to understand the behavior of people online, in virtual spaces. He is as interested in the psychology of individuals and virtual communities (including virtual communities of patients) as in the social dynamics in these groups, ethics, and computer-aided communication.
Impact and use of the internet and virtual reality in health
Dr. Guitton’s research also focuses on information technologies applied to health sciences. He is studying telemedicine, the use of internet (problematic or not), and the impact of the internet on health care systems. Of particular interest are approaches to optimize the tools available for virtual communities of patients, and the use of virtual reality tools for the rehabilitation of neurosensory disorders.
My main research interests are in cyberbehavior (human behavior in virtual spaces). My research covers both fundamental aspects of cyberbehavior (including cyberpsychology, virtual communities and social dynamics in virtual spaces, computer-mediated communication, human-machine interactions, virtual anthropology) and health applications of information technologies (telemedicine, particularly in the context of ORL diseases, eHealth, problematic Internet use, impact of the Internet on health care systems, health games). Our research is extremely multi- and trans-disciplinary, and we use a variety of research models (ranging from role-play communities of immersive virtual worlds to Wikipedia) and tools (experimental psychology, behavioral neuroscience, virtual anthropology, content analysis, mathematical modeling, …).
Publications
Ève-Marie Roy; Iva Georgieva; Laurent Fradet; Laddawan Kaewkitipong; Matthieu J Guitton
Consenting to share data from electronic health records to research deposits: Constraints, obstacles, and proxy Journal Article
In: Acta Psychol (Amst), vol. 258, pp. 105176, 2025, ISSN: 1873-6297.
@article{pmid40541141,
title = {Consenting to share data from electronic health records to research deposits: Constraints, obstacles, and proxy},
author = {Ève-Marie Roy and Iva Georgieva and Laurent Fradet and Laddawan Kaewkitipong and Matthieu J Guitton},
doi = {10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.105176},
issn = {1873-6297},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-08-01},
journal = {Acta Psychol (Amst)},
volume = {258},
pages = {105176},
abstract = {In the age of data, one of the major challenges of biomedical research is to have access to the patients' information. As health data of the populations are being globally stored into electronic health records, a lingering demand from the research community is to have these data transferred to electronic research records that would be accessible for research purposes. The central element for sharing data from electronic health records to research deposits is the consent. Yet, can a valid consent be obtained if the magnitude and outcomes of the research to be performed with massive data cannot be foreseen? We will analyze the trans-sectional, trans-temporal, and trans-spatial characteristics of the data that could be shared between electronic health records and electronic research records. We will then explore the constraints and obstacles to ensure the validity of the consent, and decipher the possibility of a gradation of the consent.},
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Elisabeth Beaunoyer; Alexandre Guitton; Matthieu J Guitton
Online Presence of the Funeral Industry: The Example of the Quebec Federation of Funeral Cooperatives Journal Article
In: Omega (Westport), vol. 90, no. 2, pp. 762–782, 2024, ISSN: 1541-3764.
@article{pmid35766969,
title = {Online Presence of the Funeral Industry: The Example of the Quebec Federation of Funeral Cooperatives},
author = {Elisabeth Beaunoyer and Alexandre Guitton and Matthieu J Guitton},
doi = {10.1177/00302228221111936},
issn = {1541-3764},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-12-01},
journal = {Omega (Westport)},
volume = {90},
number = {2},
pages = {762--782},
abstract = {The digitalization of modern societies has offered new tools for funeral industries to reach the communities they serve, ranging from using technologies in funeral planning, in commemoration of the dead, or to support the bereaved. The COVID-19 pandemic only pushed this need for online presence of the funeral industries further. We explore the digitalization of funeral industries through the example of Quebec (Canada), where many funeral institutions are regrouped under a federation of funeral cooperatives. We analyze how this influences the delivery of funeral services and allows the development of common services answering various needs of the population (e.g., a funding program for youth funerals, an ecological memorialization program, online grief support). Finally, we discuss how the federation's online presence contributes to its mission, and more largely whether it changes the perception of the industry.},
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Matthieu J Guitton; Julien Fréchette
Facing cyberthreats in a crisis and post-crisis era: Rethinking security services response strategy Journal Article
In: Comput Hum Behav Rep, vol. 10, pp. 100282, 2023, ISSN: 2451-9588.
@article{pmid37008183,
title = {Facing cyberthreats in a crisis and post-crisis era: Rethinking security services response strategy},
author = {Matthieu J Guitton and Julien Fréchette},
doi = {10.1016/j.chbr.2023.100282},
issn = {2451-9588},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-05-01},
journal = {Comput Hum Behav Rep},
volume = {10},
pages = {100282},
abstract = {The recent years have witnessed two major events that have deeply impacted cybersecurity threats. First, the COVID-19 pandemic has drastically increased our dependence upon technology. From individuals to corporations and governments, the overwhelming majority of our activities moved online. As the proportion of human activities performed online is reaching new peaks, cybersecurity becomes a problem of national security. Second, the Russia-Ukraine war is giving us a glimpse of what cyberthreats may look like in future cyberconflicts. From data integrity to identity thievery, and from industrial espionage to hostile manoeuvres from foreign powers, cyberthreats have never been that numerous and diverse. Due to the increase of the magnitude, of the diversity, and of the complexity of cyberthreats, the current security strategies used to face cybercriminality won't be sufficient in the post-crisis era. Therefore, governments need to rethink globally their national security services response strategy. This paper analyses how this new context has impacted cybersecurity for individuals, corporations, and governments, and emphasis the need to reposition the economical identity of the individuals at the center of security response. We propose strategies to optimize law enforcement response from police to counterintelligence, notably through formation, prevention, and interaction with cybercriminality. We then discuss the possibilities to optimize the articulation of the different levels of security response and expertise, by emphasizing the need for coordination between security services, and by proposing strategies to include non-institutional players.},
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Chen Chen; Elisabeth Beaunoyer; Matthieu J Guitton; Jing Wang
Physical Activity as a Clinical Tool against Depression: Journal Article
In: J Integr Neurosci, vol. 21, no. 5, pp. 132, 2022, ISSN: 0219-6352.
@article{pmid36137954,
title = {Physical Activity as a Clinical Tool against Depression: },
author = {Chen Chen and Elisabeth Beaunoyer and Matthieu J Guitton and Jing Wang},
doi = {10.31083/j.jin2105132},
issn = {0219-6352},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-07-01},
journal = {J Integr Neurosci},
volume = {21},
number = {5},
pages = {132},
abstract = {Depression is a major public health issue in numerous countries, with around 300 million people worldwide suffering from it. Typically, depressed patients are treated with antidepressants or psychological therapy or a combination of both. However, there are some limitations associated with these therapies and as a result, over the past decades a number of alternative or complementary therapies have been developed. Exercise is one such option that is supported by published extensive basic and clinical research data. The aim of this review was to examine the beneficial effects of exercise in depression. Physical activity and exercise have been shown to be effective in treating mild-to-moderate depression and in reducing mortality and symptoms of major depression. However, physical activity and exercise are still underused in clinical practice. This review attempts to propose a framework to help clinicians in their decision-making process, how to incorporate physical activity in their toolkit of potential therapeutic responses for depressed patients. We first summarize the interactions between depression and physical activities, with a particular focus on the potential antidepressant physiological effects of physical activity. We then identify some of the barriers blocking physical activity from being used to fight depression. Finally, we present several perspectives and ideas that can help in optimizing mitigation strategies to challenge these barriers, including actions on physical activity representations, ways to increase the accessibility of physical activity, and the potential of technology to help both clinicians and patients.},
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Jade Chénard-Roy; Matthieu J Guitton; François Thuot
Online residency training during the COVID-19 pandemic: a national survey of otolaryngology head and neck surgery program directors Journal Article
In: J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, vol. 50, no. 1, pp. 65, 2021, ISSN: 1916-0216.
@article{pmid34784978,
title = {Online residency training during the COVID-19 pandemic: a national survey of otolaryngology head and neck surgery program directors},
author = {Jade Chénard-Roy and Matthieu J Guitton and François Thuot},
doi = {10.1186/s40463-021-00546-6},
issn = {1916-0216},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-11-01},
journal = {J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg},
volume = {50},
number = {1},
pages = {65},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has deeply impacted healthcare and education systems, including resident education. The impact of the pandemic on the different types of pedagogical activities, and the displacement of pedagogical activities to online modalities have not yet been quantified. We sought to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on formal pedagogic components of otorhinolaryngology-head and neck surgery (ORL-HNS) residency, the switch to distance learning and program director's perceptions of the future of teaching and learning.nnMETHODS: A nationwide online survey was conducted on Canadian ORL-HNS program directors. The use of standard didactic activities in-person and online, before and during the pandemic was rated with Likert scales. Perceptions of the pandemic were described with open-ended questions.nnRESULTS: A total of 11 of the 13 program directors contacted responded. The analysis were conducted using nonparametric statistics. There was a significant drop in overall didactic activities during the pandemic, regardless of the teaching format (3.5 ± 0.2 to 3.1 ± 0.3, p < 0.05). The most affected activities were simulation and in-house lectures. Online activities increased dramatically (0.5 ± 0.2 to 5.0 ± 0.5, p < 0.001), including attendance to lectures made by other programs (0.5 ± 0.3 to 4.0 ± 0.8, p < 0.05). Respondents stated their intention to maintain the hybrid online and in-person teaching model.nnCONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that hybrid online and in-person teaching is likely to persist in the post-pandemic setting. A balanced residency curriculum requires diversity in academic activities. The pandemic can have positive consequences if higher education institutions work to better support distance teaching and learning.},
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Matthieu J Guitton
Something good out of something bad: eHealth and telemedicine in the Post-COVID era Miscellaneous
2021, ISSN: 0747-5632.
@misc{pmid34092910,
title = {Something good out of something bad: eHealth and telemedicine in the Post-COVID era},
author = {Matthieu J Guitton},
doi = {10.1016/j.chb.2021.106882},
issn = {0747-5632},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-10-01},
journal = {Comput Human Behav},
volume = {123},
pages = {106882},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {misc}
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Jérôme Ruel; Matthieu J Guitton; Paul Gratias; Marc Lenoir; Sanbing Shen; Jean-Luc Puel; Philippe Brabet; Jing Wang
Endogenous Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide (PACAP) Plays a Protective Effect Against Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Journal Article
In: Front Cell Neurosci, vol. 15, pp. 658990, 2021, ISSN: 1662-5102.
@article{pmid33828461,
title = {Endogenous Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide (PACAP) Plays a Protective Effect Against Noise-Induced Hearing Loss},
author = {Jérôme Ruel and Matthieu J Guitton and Paul Gratias and Marc Lenoir and Sanbing Shen and Jean-Luc Puel and Philippe Brabet and Jing Wang},
doi = {10.3389/fncel.2021.658990},
issn = {1662-5102},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-01-01},
journal = {Front Cell Neurosci},
volume = {15},
pages = {658990},
abstract = {Pituitary adenylyl cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a member of the vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-the secretin-glucagon family of neuropeptides. They act through two classes of receptors: PACAP type 1 (PAC1) and type 2 (VPAC1 and VPAC2). Among their pleiotropic effects throughout the body, PACAP functions as neuromodulators and neuroprotectors, rescuing neurons from apoptosis, mostly through the PAC1 receptor. To explore the potential protective effect of endogenous PACAP against Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), we used a knockout mouse model lacking PAC1 receptor expression (PACR1) and a transgenic humanized mouse model expressing the human PAC1 receptor (TgHPAC1R). Based on complementary approaches combining electrophysiological, histochemical, and molecular biological evaluations, we show PAC1R expression in spiral ganglion neurons and in cochlear apical cells of the organ of Corti. Wild-type (WT), PAC1R, and TgHPAC1R mice exhibit similar auditory thresholds. For most of the frequencies tested after acute noise damage, however, PAC1R mice showed a larger elevation of the auditory threshold than did their WT counterparts. By contrast, in a transgene copy number-dependent fashion, TgHPAC1R mice showed smaller noise-induced elevations of auditory thresholds compared to their WT counterparts. Together, these findings suggest that PACAP could be a candidate for endogenous protection against noise-induced hearing loss.},
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Elisabeth Beaunoyer; Sophie Dupéré; Matthieu J Guitton
COVID-19 and digital inequalities: Reciprocal impacts and mitigation strategies Journal Article
In: Comput Human Behav, vol. 111, pp. 106424, 2020, ISSN: 0747-5632.
@article{pmid32398890,
title = {COVID-19 and digital inequalities: Reciprocal impacts and mitigation strategies},
author = {Elisabeth Beaunoyer and Sophie Dupéré and Matthieu J Guitton},
doi = {10.1016/j.chb.2020.106424},
issn = {0747-5632},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-10-01},
journal = {Comput Human Behav},
volume = {111},
pages = {106424},
abstract = {With more than three billion people in isolation, the status of digital spaces is switching from an amenity to a necessity, as they become not only the main way to access information and services, but also one of the only remaining vectors for economic, educational, and leisure activities as well as for social interactions to take place. However, not all are equals in terms of access to networks or connected devices, or when it comes to the skills required to navigate computerized spaces optimally. Digital inequalities were already existing, yet the COVID-19 crisis is exacerbating them dramatically. On the one hand, the crisis will worsen digital inequalities within the population. On the other hand, digital inequalities represent a major risk factor of vulnerability for exposure to the virus itself, and for the non-sanitary consequences of the crisis. Therefore, this paper aims at exploring the reciprocal impacts of the COVID-19 crisis and digital inequalities, and to propose operative solutions to help fight the nefarious consequences of the crisis. We first describe how digital inequalities are a determinant of health. We then investigate how COVID-19 can potentiate digital inequalities, and how digital inequalities potentiate vulnerability to COVID-19. Finally, in order to contribute to the mitigation of this crisis, we propose a set of multi-layered strategies focusing on actionability that can be implemented at multiple structural levels, ranging from governmental to corporate and community levels.},
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Matthieu J Guitton
Cyberpsychology research and COVID-19 Miscellaneous
2020, ISSN: 0747-5632.
@misc{pmid32362721,
title = {Cyberpsychology research and COVID-19},
author = {Matthieu J Guitton},
doi = {10.1016/j.chb.2020.106357},
issn = {0747-5632},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-10-01},
journal = {Comput Human Behav},
volume = {111},
pages = {106357},
abstract = {•Research in cyberpsychology is needed during the COVID-19 pandemic.•COVID-19 elicits new challenges for cyrberpsychology research.•Online technologies will be part of the solution to mitigate the crisis.},
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Elisabeth Beaunoyer; Lisandro Hiracheta Torres; Lenn Maessen; Matthieu J Guitton
Grieving in the digital era: Mapping online support for grief and bereavement Journal Article
In: Patient Educ Couns, 2020, ISSN: 1873-5134.
@article{pmid32591255,
title = {Grieving in the digital era: Mapping online support for grief and bereavement},
author = {Elisabeth Beaunoyer and Lisandro Hiracheta Torres and Lenn Maessen and Matthieu J Guitton},
doi = {10.1016/j.pec.2020.06.013},
issn = {1873-5134},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-06-01},
journal = {Patient Educ Couns},
abstract = {OBJECTIVE: To describe the landscape of digital resources available for grief and bereavement, and to explore cultural variations through the analysis of patterns in three languages with a multinational repartition (English, French and Spanish).nnMETHODS: For each language, websites were collected through a systematized approach and classified according to their category (governmental, health, educational, social media, conventional media, spiritual), their country of origin, and the type of support they offered (practical support, services, peer support, informational support, resources).nnRESULTS: A total of 2587 websites (English: 1003; French 678; Spanish: 906) were analyzed. Cultural variations were observed both for the websites' categories and the types of support. Half of the websites presented at least one type of support, informational support being the most prevalent, followed by practical support. English websites presented significantly more support than Spanish websites, with French websites in between.nnPRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: By using an extensive survey, our results allow for a general mapping of online websites that is comparable across languages, but also unveil digital dynamics unknown to date. These results further the multicultural understanding of digital support for grief and bereavement, propose an innovative and operational typology for online support and raise awareness of the current support landscape.},
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News

Matthieu Guitton launches the book Fan Phenomena : Mermaids
Disney’s Princess Ariel would give anything to be “where the people are,” but little does she know there’s an ever-growing fan base of humans dying to be down in the ocean where she is. Movies like theLittle Mermaid and Pirates of the Caribbean have sparked the interest of newer generations of mermaid fans, but our enchantment with these mythical creatures of the sea […]