M2 Cognition, Behavior and Mental Disorders

At the end of this program, the students will be able to:

• Define the fundamental principles of cognitive functions and brain structures involved. 
• Have a comprehensive overview of the brain anatomy, neurophysiology and neurotransmission of healthy mammals
• Explain the current knowledge concerning brain dysfunctions associated to some neurodevelopmental, psychiatric or neurodegenerative diseases, at different scales (from behavioral to cellular and molecular)
• Assess behavioral, neurochemical and/or cellular dysfunctions associated with specific neuropathologies either investigated in preclinical models or in human populations 
• Understand the principle of cutting edge brain imaging methods, in rodents and in humans through the involvement of world-renown brain imaging centers 
• Analyze data with appropriate statistical methods
• Analyze, understand and present orally scientific publications in the field of Neuroscience
• Show an ability to work in a team and interact scientifically with colleagues
• Develop autonomy in scientific thinking and work organization
• Develop an ethical thinking of Neuroscience research
• Build and communicate a research project (both orally and in writing) and design experimental protocols to study brain-function relationships in healthy individuals, as well as in preclinical or in clinical populations.

The objectives of the M2 are to provide students with a solid knowledge regarding brain functioning (at different scales) allowing the development and implementation of behavior and cognitive functions in healthy subjects, in clinical populations or in preclinical models of psychiatric, neurodevelopmental or neurodegenerative disorders. Relying on their innovative research, neuroscience experts will present current knowledge about how healthy brains develop and function, along with the latest innovative methods used to assess brain activity in humans and animal models. Another central objective of the program is to equip students with the tools to assess brain dysfunction in clinical populations and to evaluate efficiency of innovative therapeutics. This will be explored through examples of pathologies involving social dysfunction, eating disorders, learning developmental issues, and major psychiatric disorders including depression, addiction and post-traumatic stress disorders. All these aspects will rely on the close relationship among clinical, animal, and in silico approaches, offering a unique opportunity for students to question and discuss with experts the strength, ethics and limitations of each approach. The Master courses will be at the edge of current questions in Neuroscience, thus providing students with the knowledge and experience needed to take an active part in the laboratory where they will carry out their internship during the second semester.

The global objective of the Master degree is to provide students at the same time with technical/methodological understanding as well as a strong conceptual knowledge enabling them to comprehend and perform in multiple Neuroscience domains, from behavioral studies in preclinical models to pathophysiological assessments in healthy human or clinical populations.

The Master provides a unique opportunity for each student to shape her/his own path by choosing four optional units on top of the six mandatory ones. Students will learn how to design a Neuroscience research project, how to conceptualize a scientific question, why choosing specific methods, how to analyze data and appropriately present them to an audience.