PhD grant in Cognitive Science (M/F)

Job Description

Thesis Subject

As part of the ANR FRONTOP project, led by Céline Amiez (SBRI INSERM U1208 Lyon-Bron) in collaboration with the ISC-Marc Jeannerod (CNRS UMR 5229, Lyon-Bron) and the LPNC (CNRS UMR 5105, Grenoble), we are recruiting a PhD student for a 3-year thesis in cognitive sciences, starting in October/November 2026 at the Université Grenoble Alpes, within the Laboratory of Psychology and NeuroCognition (LPNC).
The thesis will explore the role of the prefrontal extent of the frontal operculum (PFOp), a unique anatomical feature potentially linked to the emergence of speech control in humans, yet its function remains poorly understood. The central hypothesis of the project is that the PFOp—the only region of the frontal cortex without a homologue in non-human primates—may be specifically involved in the control of endophasia (or inner speech, commonly referred to as the "little voice in the head"), while Broca's area is more associated with the control of externalized speech.
The PhD project aims to test this hypothesis and consists of three components:

Behavioral tasks to assess variations in the condensation of inner speech in adults and children (ages 4–10) using questionnaires, neuropsychological tests, and phenomenological experience sampling;
Computational modeling to extend the ConDialInt model and describe the neural correlates of different degrees of inner speech condensation at various stages of cognitive control development, using a probabilistic framework;
fMRI experiments (potentially supplemented with Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation, TUS) to investigate the involvement (and potentially the causal role) of the PFOp in inner speech control, including participants with auditory verbal aphantasia (the absence of a perceived inner voice).
The thesis will benefit from collaboration with members of the Aphantasia Project (Grenoble and Lyon) and access to the advanced neuroimaging platforms of IRMaGe in Grenoble.

Your Work Environment

Environment:
The PhD will take place at the LPNC (Laboratory of Psychology and NeuroCognition), affiliated with the CNRS (UMR 5105), at Université Grenoble Alpes and Université Savoie Mont-Blanc: https://lpnc.univ-grenoble-alpes.fr/.
The laboratory consists of over 50 researchers and teacher-researchers, as well as approximately 60 PhD students and postdoctoral fellows. The LPNC is renowned for its expertise in cognitive neuroscience, particularly in the fields of perception, action, spatial cognition, vision, memory, consciousness, metacognition, development, learning, and language. It is committed to a resolutely interdisciplinary approach, combining experimental neuropsychology, developmental studies, modeling, cognitive psychiatry, and neuroimaging.
The successful candidate will join the Language Team, whose research focuses on the neurocognitive mechanisms of spoken and written language production and comprehension. The team has access to various experimental platforms, including EEG, TMS, fMRI, as well as computational resources and high-performance computing and data management platforms (Gricad).
PhD Supervision:
• Thesis Director: Hélène Loevenbruck – helene.loevenbruck@univ-grenoble-alpes.fr (70% time allocation)
• Co-Director: Monica Baciu – monica.baciu@univ-grenoble-alpes.fr (30% time allocation)
• Co-Supervisor: Irene Cristofori – irene.cristofori@univ-lyon1.fr
• Co-Supervisor: Julien Diard – julien.diard@univ-grenoble-alpes.fr

Constraints and risks

None

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

2300 € gross monthly

Annual leave and RTT

44 jours

Remote Working practice and compensation

Pratique et indemnisation du TT

Transport

Prise en charge à 75% du coût et forfait mobilité durable jusqu’à 300€

About the offer

About the CNRS

The CNRS is a major player in fundamental research on a global scale. The CNRS is the only French organization active in all scientific fields. Its unique position as a multi-specialist allows it to bring together different disciplines to address the most important challenges of the contemporary world, in connection with the actors of change.

CNRS

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