They make the Université de Lyon: meet Laura Ferreri

Tell us about your career path.

After finishing my Master's degree in Cognitive Neuroscience at the San Raffaele University in Milan, Italy, I completed my PhD in Cognitive Psychology at the CNRS LEAD laboratory in Dijon as part of the Marie Curie ITN "EBRAMUS” (European Brain and Music) project. From 2015 to 2018, I completed my post-doctorate in Spain, at the University of Barcelona’s Cognition & Brain Plasticity research unit.

Tell us about your research project

I study the cognitive mechanisms behind the benefits of music on our memory, an aspect that has become particularly interesting in a society dealing with age-related memory impairment. This project aims to investigate the emotional and pleasure responses related to music, as well as their ability to improve memory encryption and information retrieval. More specifically, this project’s main objective is to study the modulation of prefrontal cortex activity in young people as well as in the elderly, using an innovative and non-invasive neuroimaging technique known as functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).

What did you gain from the IMPULSION initiative?

The IMPULSION initiative helps establish the foundations required for starting a research project, which is essential for those who, like me, are new to the site. As for me, IMPULSION enabled me to invest in a neuroimaging technique, fNIRS, and to hire more staff to support this new project. This initiative also gave me the opportunity to develop major local and international scientific partnerships, namely with the University of Barcelona.

What do you think this type of attractiveness program can bring to the Lyon Saint-Étienne site?

A program such as IMPULSION encourages the establishment of new research and exchanges between universities. It gives the Lyon Saint-Étienne site a sense of momentum and openness.

Why did you choose the Lyon Saint-Étienne site over other European cities?

Lyon has allowed me to work as a lecturer, focusing on compelling topics, as part of an excellent team at the Laboratory for Cognitive Mechanisms Studies (EMC). Lyon is a vibrant city, strategically located in Europe, and I discover more of its cultural and artistic richness every day.