Axis Director: Chantal Mérette
The Clinical and cognitive neuroscience axis mainly studies the genetic, epidemiological, cognitive and neuropharmacological aspects of neurological and psychiatric diseases. The researchers are grouped in three tightly interacting groups:
- the language and neurocognition unit
- the genetic and neurodevelopmental psychiatry unit, and
- the clinical and behavioral intervention unit.
The units share a common strategic vision in which neurocognitive functions serve as base elements to break down the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) categories in more applicable and useful elements to
- Study neurocognitive and genetic mechanisms
- Target specific variables in remediation or pharmacological therapy
- Study the efficacy of diverse treatments, and
- Observe normal development and aging.
The axis is profoundly interdisciplinary, with expertise from domain as diverse as
- genetics
- epigenetics
- developmental psychopathology
- statistical modeling
- neuropsychology
- visual electrophysiology and evoked potentials
- the science of language
- sleep
- cognitive neuroscience, and
- neuroimaging
The units use platforms such as the Consortium d’Imagerie en Neurosciences et Santé Mentale de Québec (CINQ), the biostatistics services and a biobank (BIGP) which allows the grouping of a range of test results obtained from the same patient. These methods are applied to multiple infantile, adult and geriatric syndromes and have led to innovative collaborations. Applied results reveal the strength of the axis in knowledge transfert and translation to patients.
