Institute

The INT is a joint research unit of the CNRS and Aix-Marseille University, located on the Timone Campus of the Faculty of Medicine, in the heart of Marseille.

reated in 2012, the INT was established to develop a center devoted to neuroscience research, combining basic and clinical approaches. Our goal is to understand the mechanisms that shape the structure and functioning of the nervous system throughout life.
Our approach is integrative, spanning from the identification of molecular mechanisms underlying the properties of neurons and cortical, subcortical, and spinal circuits, to the study of higher cognitive functions such as visual and auditory perception, decision-making, and the adaptive control of actions.
Bridging levels of analysis—from animal models to human research—requires focusing on a small number of functional questions. This defines the scientific strategy of the INT: to uncover the neuronal, cognitive, and computational mechanisms underlying
(i) the adaptive control of cortical and spinal motor systems,
(ii) visual and auditory perception, and
(iii) the emotional regulation essential for cognitive and social interactions.

Starting from fundamental research to understand the mechanisms and functional organization of the nervous system is essential for addressing another major challenge of our time: understanding the origins and dynamics of neurological and psychiatric diseases.
The creation of the INT within the Faculty of Medicine, and in the immediate vicinity of Marseille’s largest university hospital (CHU Timone), was intended to strengthen the link between basic and clinical research.
Our teams bring together researchers and clinicians to identify the pathophysiological mechanisms that disrupt normal nervous system function. We study neurological disorders (such as stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and spinal cord injuries), psychiatric conditions (such as addiction and depression), and neurodevelopmental disorders (such as autism).