Welcome to the LINP2

This research area brings together researchers and lecturers in Sports and Human Movement Sciences, Life Sciences, and Psychology. The theoretical approaches used by researchers in this research area primarily fall within the disciplinary fields of Neuroscience, Physiology, and Psychology. This research area addresses motor performance in an integrative manner, from preparation (initiation) to motor execution. Its objective is to understand the neural mechanisms and psychophysiological processes that contribute to the motor and cognitive control of movement and to the improvement of physical, athletic, and cognitive performance, as well as mental and physical health. Physical activity is also addressed as a means of prevention and health promotion in patients with neurodegenerative diseases and those with specific needs.

Several research projects are being addressed within this research area:
An integrative project on the mechanisms and interactions of the brain-body-muscle system in healthy, athletic, and special needs subjects, as well as the determining factors of physical and cognitive performance during a task or short- or long-term exercise. The role and effect of the environmental context (regulation and disruption of biological rhythms) and emotions are highlighted in the exploration of physiological and neuropsychological processes. The results of this work are being transposed to the fields of physical activity, sport, and health;
Identification and role of psychosociological factors associated with behavioral change related to physical activity (from physical inactivity to problematic practice, while eliminating sedentary behaviors). This project also aims to better understand the effects of physical activity on mental health in the context of psychiatric disorders (anorexia nervosa and schizophrenia), in the general population, and in specific populations (students and the elderly);

Studying the effects of mindfulness-based interventions on improving performance in endurance sports, and on the motivation to engage in adapted physical activity;
Imaging work is being conducted in relation to the role of motor, executive, and attentional control resources in mental preparation and training tasks. We are attempting to explain, at the cerebral level, the mechanisms and mental processes involved in the motor and cognitive control of goal-directed action and their mental representations. The active components of mental, cognitive and motor processes, understood from the point of view of the central, autonomic and peripheral nervous systems, are examined in populations of patients suffering from neurodegenerative diseases (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's). Machine learning techniques, brain-computer interfaces as well as electrical/magnetic stimulation make it possible to probe different brain states and to explore normal/altered mental representations and their influence on perceptual-cognitive-motor performance. Functional imaging work, at the level of dynamic neural networks, provides new insight into the concept of motor imagery as well as current knowledge of cerebral states of consciousness.

Positive psychology is based on the observation, made explicit by Seligman and Csikszentmihalyi in 2000, that 20th-century psychology focused primarily on human pathology, resulting in a model of the human being lacking the positive characteristics that make life worth living. However, the research topics that can now be linked to positive psychology, such as well-being or optimism, are not new.

One of the objectives of positive psychology is precisely to unite these studies, which are more interested in what goes well than what goes wrong in humans. The "positive psychology" research area of ​​the "Interdisciplinary Laboratory in Neuroscience, Physiology and Psychology: Learning, Physical Activity and Health" (LINP2-AAPS) is also part of this unifying spirit, both in terms of topics and disciplines. The goal is to develop research on motivation, mindfulness, positive emotions, flow, passion, well-being, and all research topics that aim to explain optimal human functioning, not only from a psychological perspective but also from the perspectives of neuroscience and human physiology.

The goal is also to analyze the effect of these research topics on other aspects of human beings and their behavior, such as learning with and without technology, as well as health and physical activity. A study conducted in collaboration with the Garches and Poissy hospitals in the Paris region is currently underway on the effects of psychological support on increasing and maintaining physical activity in patients with MS.

The LINP2 "ergonomics" research axis brings together researchers in cognitive psychology and human movement sciences to conduct research on object manipulation, digital tool design, and interactions with new technologies. Within this framework, researchers in the ergonomics axis are interested in the cognitive and physiological mechanisms involved in learning and the dynamics involved in adapting to the constraints of an activity or environment.

The cognitive processes studied in this thematic axis are primarily considered in light of theoretical concepts from cognitive science (positive psychology, psychology, and cognitive neuroscience). The research projects implemented by the ergonomics axis address and promote cognitive work and physical performance. In this approach, our team uses a variety of experimental techniques and methods. For example, recording eye behavior allows us to understand the visual strategies and/or attentional processes used during a task. This information then allows us to make adjustments to learning situations in training or improve interface configurations for digital documents. For example, we offer solutions for adult education, rehabilitation, and the IT sector, in collaboration with partners in the educational, clinical, and engineering fields. We compare digital interfaces from an emotional and aesthetic perspective and assess the extent to which this type of interface could influence training evaluation (interest, satisfaction, emotion) (Research agreement between Paris-Nanterre University and IFIS Lab). Another project entitled "Meditation and Multimedia Learning" is also underway.

In terms of human-machine interactions, we develop models and implement biomechanical analysis methods that allow for a better understanding of movement control. These techniques are optimized in various contexts, such as the learning of technical gestures or the study of human-exoskeleton interactions. An ANR project in collaboration with Paris-Sud University, Sorbonne University, CEA, and ENS Paris-Saclay is currently underway. This symbiotic project focuses on the human dimension and musculoskeletal disorders, which are reduced through the optimization of robotic exoskeletons for the upper limbs.