TRAIN: Translational Research in Assistive and Interventional Neurotechnologies

Our team develops and investigates neurotechnologies through a translational approach spanning preclinical models and proof-of-concept clinical studies. We aim to understand the mechanisms underlying neuromodulation strategies for motor and cognitive disorders and to evaluate their feasibility and efficacy as both assistive and interventional neurotechnologies. Assistive neurotechnologies seek to improve motor or cognitive function while they are being applied, whereas interventional neurotechnologies seek to promote longer-lasting functional improvements by engaging neuroplasticity through repeated stimulation. Our research is organized around the following projects:

MEMOPROSTHETICS: Effects of intracranial neuromodulation of the hippocampal formation in non-human primates

We investigate the effects of intracranial electrical stimulation of the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex on memory performance and gene expression profiles in non-human primates, both in healthy animals and following the development of Alzheimer’s disease-like pathology, in collaboration with Dr. Erwan Bezard and Pr. Vincent Planche for aspects related to tauopathy.

Team members involved: Adrien Boissenin, Dr. Mathieu Taillade.
Alumni: Ankur Gupta, Dr. Nikolaos Vardalakis.
Funding: Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine Chair (2020-2023) and ERC Starting Grant MEMOPROSTHETICS to Dr. Fabien Wagner (2022-2027, grant number 101040391).
Publications: Gupta et al., Commun Biol 2023; Gupta, Boissenin et al., JNE 2025; Valcourt Caron et al., Sci Data 2025.

Computational models of hippocampal neurostimulation

Through collaborations with Dr. Amélie Aussel and Dr. Nicolas Rougier from the Mnemosyne team at Inria, we seek to understand how hippocampal neurostimulation affects theta-gamma oscillations using conductance-based computational models.

Team member involved: Maeva Andriantsoamberomanga.
Alumnus: Nikolaos Vardalakis.
Funding: Inria doctoral fellowship to Maeva Andriantsoamberomanga (2022-2026).
Publications: Vardalakis et al., eLife 2024; Andriantsoamberomanga et al., bioRxiv 2026.

SHIVA-CogNeurophys: Multimodal digital therapeutics for improving cognition in neurovascular disorders

This clinical feasibility study is part of the Vascular Brain Health Institute (https://vbhi-institute.org/) and is sponsored as an interventional study by the Bordeaux University Hospital (clinical investigators: Pr. Igor Sibon, Dr. Nicolas Borderies; ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT07068620). In this collaborative project, we investigate the presence of EEG biomarkers of cognitive deficits associated with cerebral small vessel disease (Dr. Fabien Lotte, Inria), the short-term effects of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) targeting the frontoparietal network on associative memory and visual attention (Dr. Fabien Wagner and Dr. Amélie Aussel), and the long-term effects of cognitive training on overall cognition (Dr. Hélène Sauzéon, Inria).

Team member involved: Mathilde Reynes.
Funding: Doctoral fellowship from the “Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale” (FRM) to Mathilde Reynes (2024-2027, grant number ECO202406019157) and internal funding from VBHI.

TIMe: Temporal Interference for Memory

This project is an interventional study sponsored by CNRS that explores the effect of transcranial temporal interference stimulation (tTIS) targeting the hippocampus on associative memory in young and older healthy volunteers. The study is conducted in collaboration with Dr. Thomas Boraud.

Team member involved: Mathilde Reynes.
Funding: Doctoral fellowship from the “Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale” (FRM) to Mathilde Reynes (2024-2027, grant number ECO202406019157) and ERC starting grant MEMOPROSTHETICS to Dr. Fabien Wagner (2022-2027, grant number 101040391).

BrainSpineStim: Synergistic effects of non-invasive brain and spinal cord stimulation

This interventional study is sponsored by CNRS and conducted in collaboration with Pr. Hélène Cassoudesalle (PM&R physician), the Bordeaux University Hospital, and the “Centre de la Tour de Gassies” rehabilitation center. BrainSpineStim investigates the short-term effects of cervical transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS), transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the motor cortex, and their combination on sensorimotor and cognitive functions in individuals with cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) or stroke (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT07334977). Additionally, this study explores the mechanisms underlying cervical tSCS through electrophysiological approaches in healthy volunteers and in patients with stroke or SCI.

Team member involved: Nabila Brihmat.
Funding: Postdoctoral fellowship “Aide au Retour en France” from the “Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale” (FRM) to Dr. Nabila Brihmat (2024-2027, grant number ARF202309017508) and grant from the “Institut pour la Recherche sur la Moelle épinière et l’Encéphale” (IRME) to Dr. Nabila Brihmat and Dr. Fabien Wagner (2025-2027).
Publications: Alashqar et al., bioRxiv 2026.

REACH: Non-invasive spinal cord stimulation to improve sensorimotor recovery after cervical spinal cord injury

This bilateral French-German project is coordinated by Dr. Fabien Wagner on the French side and Prof. Andreas Rowald (FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg) on the German side, in collaboration with the Bordeaux University Hospital and PM&R physicians Pr. Hélène Cassoudesalle, Pr. Patrick Dehail, and Dr. Cécile Lambert. REACH (Reaching achieved by Electrical Activation of the Cervical spinal nerves controlling arm and Hand function) aims to optimize cervical transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) to promote recovery of upper-limb function following cervical spinal cord injury. The project will combine neuroimaging, biophysical modeling, electrophysiological recordings, rehabilitation, and clinical assessments. The clinical study will be conducted in Bordeaux, while patient-specific digital twins will be modeled in Germany.