The mind, an ocean of discoveries | EUROtoday

Raphaël Gaillard: Tomorrow, an elevated mind … but in addition extra disturbed

The hybridization between people and the machine is underway. Already, electrodes are day by day within the brains of Parkinson sufferers to alleviate them. The goal of those applied sciences just isn’t all the time to restore, however typically to extend mind features.

“Increasing sight, hearing or concentration capacity has become possible”,, Esimes Raphaël Gaillard, professor of psychiatry at Paris-Cité University. It just isn’t with out threat! “Our brain is already so powerful that it no longer supports itself,” warns the psychiatrist, member of the French Academy. Hence the explosion of psychological problems.

“If we improve our mind, we will anticipate a good larger epidemic. Writing and studying, by outsourcing and reintegrating information, have marked a key step in human evolution akin to what fashionable applied sciences promise. Faced with the challenges of human-machine hybridization, he proposes to attract inspiration from studying as a profitable hybridization, as a result of it brings essential spirit and structured thought, important property to work together with AI. To your books!

Aziz Moqrich: Chronic ache, quickly a nasty reminiscence

Faced with the opioid disaster, the seek for alternate options is intensifying. The French biotech Tafalgie Therapeutics, from the CNRS and Aix-Marseille University, develops a promising molecule primarily based on the TAFA4 protein. Unlike opioids, which act on the mind, it’s lively within the peripheral nervous system and spinal wire, calming ache with out unwanted effects or habit.

“Today, we have the hope of putting a safe painkiller in the hands of the scientific community,” stated Aziz Moqrich, scientific director, winner of the Foundation for Medical Research. Clinical trials are imminent.

Christelle Jozet-Alves: the unbelievable reminiscence of cuttlefish and octopus

The human mind is so complicated that researchers are struggling to isolate the mechanisms. Christelle Jozet-Alves, teacher-researcher on the Caen animal and human ethology laboratory, research the cephalopods, whose cognitive processes resemble these of people, however with a less complicated nervous system.

These animals provide valuable research fashions. The remark of the enormous calamar allowed discoveries on our neurons. Winner of the CNRS bronze medal in 2022, Christelle Jozet-Alves focuses on the episodic reminiscence of the cuttlefish, which stays intact their entire life, not like that of people.

Luc Buée and Mounia Chami: Against Alzheimer’s, these weapons that researchers are getting ready

Announced for quickly, “the medication Lecanémab, which targets amyloids, slows down cognitive decline in patients at an early stage,” explains Mounia Chami, inserm analysis supervisor. “A similar approach exists for the TAU protein, still in clinical trials,” studies Luc Buée, analysis director on the CNRS. Finally, the Clinatec heart explores the stimulation of mitochondria with 40 Hz gentle to spice up the vitality manufacturing of neurons with the intention to improve their resilience. Bright.

Pierre Magistretti: Glial cells, future highly effective levers for dementia?

Neurons signify solely half of our mind mass. The glial cells, which represent the opposite half, have nevertheless been uncared for by neurology researchers for a very long time. Two households of them may contribute to future remedies towards Alzheimer’s. There are astrocytes, which deliver glucose to the mind. Forcing them to import extra would make neurons immune to irritation and due to this fact brake their degeneration.

“We have identified a whole family of molecules that seem effective,” explains the neuroscientist Pierre Magistretti, advisor to the Biomedical Clinatec Research Center. Clinical trials ought to begin by the tip of 2025. “On the other hand, microglies, which have a protection role of neurons, tend to get carried away. They then become harmful. “The use of molecules to calm them is one other promising monitor,” thinks Pierre Magistretti again.

Lionel Naccache: Subjectivity, when you hold us

In our brain is constantly playing a funny cinema, without our being aware of it. “When a light-weight sign arrives in your retina, it’s transformed into {an electrical} sign which is able to cross your entire mind to the again of the cranium, the place the neural circuits of visible evaluation are positioned,” explains Lionel Naccache, neurologist, author of the book Subject, are you there? (Odile Jacob, 2025).

“But, even earlier than this sign reaches its vacation spot, a number of unconscious processes will begin to construct the visible illustration of what your eyes see. These processes will contain the areas of the mind linked to our identification, our beliefs, our needs, and many others. “This is why we do not all perceive the same way the identical things that we observe,” stated the one who can be a researcher on the Institut du Brain. Lionel Naccache thus agrees with psychoanalyst Paul-Claude Récamier, who wrote: “Perception is a profitable hallucination. »»

Olivier Guérin and Yann Bubien: growing older nicely with useful robots

In 2070, 30 % of French folks will probably be over 65 (towards 21 % in 2024). “The aging of the population will be faster than the increase in helping staff,” notes Olivier Guérin, head of the acute and therapeutic geriatric service on the Nice University Hospital. Will robots are available reinforcement?

“Those who are present in the operating room work well, but it will take years before the machines play home aid,” tempers Yann Bubien, managing director of the regional well being company PACA. Better to wager on dwelling automation. “A lighting system that reacts to the voice, a suitable bathroom … Everyone must develop their home as long as they are valid,” recommends Yann Bubien.