Stéphanie Lacour to give inaugural lecture at the Collège de France
Stéphanie Lacour © EPFL
Stéphanie Lacour, the Bertarelli Foundation Chair in Neuroprosthetic Technology in EPFL's School of Engineering and head of the Laboratory for Soft Bioelectronic Interfaces, will deliver her inaugural lecture on neurotechnology at the Collège de France on Thursday, February 29, 2024.
As a specialist in neurotechnologies, Stéphanie Lacour, who also leads EPFL's Neuro-X Institute, works to create dialogues between experts to develop and implement the next generation of electronic devices designed to communicate with the nervous system for therapeutic purposes. She has been invited to take up the annual Liliane Bettencourt Technological Innovation Chair at the Collège de France. Her classes will begin on March 1, 2024.
Event details:
Event webpage, Collège de France
Press release
Thursday, February 29, 2024
18:00 - 19:00
Amphithéâtre Marguerite de Navarre, Site Marcelin Berthelot
Free access
Watch on YouTube
Abstract
Neurotechnology is an emerging interdisciplinary field that merges neuroscience and technology to explore, understand and manipulate the nervous system. This discipline offers vast possibilities for deciphering neural mechanisms, diagnosing and treating neurological disorders, and enhancing cognitive abilities and human-machine interactions. Thanks to advances in neuroimaging, it is now possible to visualize brain activity in real time, opening up new perspectives in the study of cognition, emotions and human behavior.
Neuromodulation is an application of neurotechnology to regulate neuronal activity and treat disorders such as deafness, Parkinson's disease, or drug-resistant epilepsy. Neuroprosthetics aims to restore lost or damaged nervous system functions by developing wearable or implantable devices that interact directly with the nervous system. Recent advances in brain-machine interfaces have enabled paralyzed people to control artificial limbs and walk again using their brain activity and the modulation of their spinal activity.
Neurotechnology offers unprecedented potential to shed light on our understanding of the nervous system, develop new treatments to alleviate or palliate certain neurological disorders, and enhance human capabilities. Its development requires a careful, regulated approach to balance opportunities with ethical responsibilities.