16 November 2023

09:35 – 10:20

Amphithéâtre Faure

Claire Calmels

Claire Calmels (PhD, HDR) is a researcher in cognitive neuroscience applied to high-level sport at INSEP. She works on various themes such as visual perception (conscious and unconscious), motor simulation and injury management (curative and preventive). She also works on cortical plasticity, using behavioral and neurophysiological (EEG) measures. Her work has given rise to some one hundred scientific publications. Based on the individual’s brain function, she recently designed an interactive application to improve information and decision making in high-level badminton players, freeing them from the motor component. In addition to this research, she is also involved in monitoring high-level athletes (mental and perceptive-cognitive training), with the aim of preparing them for major international events, and in particular the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Conference: Why are we interested in brain energy at rest?

The brain, the seat of vegetative and higher functions, is a major consumer of energy. Representing just 2% of the human body’s total weight, the brain is the organ of the human body that consumes the most energy, accounting for 20% of total energy intake, whether the brain is at rest (“resting-state”, when the individual lets his or her mind wander without thinking about anything) or active (when the individual is engaged in cognitive activities such as reading, calculating, learning or problem-solving). Not only does the brain remain constantly active, but its resting activity, described as spontaneous, requires the majority of the brain’s energy consumption, i.e. 18%. The remaining 2% is attributed to neuronal activity following sensory stimuli from the external environment when the individual is performing cognitive tasks. Why does the brain at rest consume so much energy? Some answers will be given. We’ll look at the 10% myth, the dark energy of the brain, silent neurons and synaptic vesicles. We will also highlight the interest of resting-state electroencephalography as a potential biomarker for various pathologies, notably chronic pain, which could contribute to the development of therapeutic neuromodulation techniques.