My research focuses on how the brain represents the space surrounding us, how it allows us to explore it and finally how it allows us to prepare goal directed actions within this space. Specifically, I am interested in the following questions (more information can be found in the research section of the lab's web site): Each of us constructs an internal representation of space that integrates diverse information collected by our different sense organs. I am interested in how these different sensory modalities (visual, tactile, vestibular, auditory) contribute to the construction of an internal representation of space and of ourselves within this space. The sensory information that reaches our brain is too dense to be analyzed in detail by the brain. A key cognitive function, attention, allows us to select the most crucial information for an enhanced processing. I am interested in how this cognitive function is implemented in the brain, both at the single neuron level and at the functional neuronal network level. I am particularly interested in the role of neuromodulators in the tuning up or down of this cognitive function. Today, neuroprostheses allow tetraplegic patients to control robotic arms or wheel chairs, thus regaining some degree of freedom. In comparison, cognitive brain machine interfaces are still being investigated, due to more complex requirements. I am interested in achieving a real time access to spatial attention orientation signals. This will allow us to gain important insights in how attention is implemented in the brain. Additionally, it is expected to allow us to develop therapeutical communication aids for patients with reduced communication, such as locked in patients. We perceive the world surrounding us as stable. However, converging evidence suggest that our internal representation of space is dynamic (i.e. rapidly changing as a function of the sensory or cognitive context) and plastic (i.e. changing, more slowly, as a function of learning, or following cortical lesions). I seek to understand how this dynamics and this plasticity is implemented at the single neuron level as well as the neuronal functional network level, and what neuromodulators contribute to these short- and long-term changes. The final objective of this work is to be able to control and orient these dynamic and plastic mechanisms so as to maximize the consequences of learning or of functional rehabilitation.