Current members
Principal Investigators
Irene Cristofori
I have completed my PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience in Lyon, France, and continued my research as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Kessler Rehabilitation Institute (West Orange, USA), and at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago/Northwestern University (Chicago, USA). My research focuses on social cognition and behavior, with the goal of better understanding human relationships, beliefs, and their complex cognitive and neural foundations. To this aim, my work integrates insights and methods from psychology and social/affective neuroscience. I use a range of multimodal neuroscience techniques—from behavioral experiments to functional and structural brain imaging—to investigate the mechanisms underlying individual differences in social interactions. As a Associate Professor at the University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, I am the director of the Master 2 Sensory Neurosciences and Analysis and I am at the head of the International Fellowship Program of the Neurosciences Graduate School “from Neurons to Brains” part of the Graduate PLUS initiative SFRI ANR program.
Scholar | E-mail: irene.cristofori [at] isc.cnrs.fr
Pierre-Aurelian Beuriat
I am a pediatric neurosurgeon specialized in the treatment of brain pathologies in children, including brain tumors and epilepsy. My expertise includes innovative neurosurgical techniques and the application of advanced imaging methods for surgical planning. I am also interested in the plasticity following brain resection for treating epilepsy and tumors. The neurological approach offers a unique window for understanding the functioning of the brain during development.
E-mail: pierre-aurelian.beuriat [at] chu-lyon.fr
Post-doctoral Researchers
Bertrand Beffara
I am a postdoctoral researcher under the supervision of Irene Cristofori. My current research focuses on the psychophysiological underpinnings of social pain in humans, investigated using eye-tracking, transauricular vagal nerve stimulation, pupillometry, questionnaires, and psychophysics. I am committed to scientific integrity.
OSF | E-mail: bertrand.beffara [at] gmail.com
Neuropsychologist
Laurencia Clain
I have a master’s degree in psychology, neuropsychology, and cognitive psychology from the Université Lumière Lyon 2 since July 2024. My position involves both clinical and research work. I’m mainly involved in a research protocol led by Dr. Beuriat and Dr. Cristofori on factors predictive of cognitive, motor, and social functional recovery after tumor resection. I’m also taking part in research projects on quality of life in patients after cavernoma resection, as well as various projects on social cognition.
E-mail: laurencia.clain [at] isc.cnrs.fr
Graduate Students
Daniele Spica
I’m a PhD student at the ISCMJ supervised by Irene Cristofori with a master and bachelor degree in Psychology. My current focus is the analysis of brain lesions. Specifically, I’m investigating the neural circuits causally involved in inner speech via tools such as Voxel-based Lesion Symptom Mapping.
E-mail: daniele.spica [at] isc.cnrs.fr
Undergraduate Students
Zahra Zareei
I am a Research Engineer at the Institute for Cognitive Sciences Marc Jeannerod, affiliated with Claude Bernard University Lyon 1. I hold a Master’s degree in Neurosciences, a Master’s degree in Cognitive Science, and a Bachelor’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Iran. My research focuses on psychosomatic and social pain, with a particular interest in their cognitive and neural mechanisms, as well as the development of multidisciplinary approaches at the intersection of neuroscience and psychotherapy.
OSF | E-mail: zahra.zareei [at] isc.cnrs.fr
Lab Alumni
Graduate Students
2022-2024 Marine Veyrie, UCBL (Direction, 50% PA. Beuriat)
2020-2024 Axel Mouille, UCBL (co-direction, 50% S. Ben Hamed)
2019-2022 Chunmiao Mai, UCBL (co-direction, 50% A. Sirigu)
Undergraduate Students (Master 2 Neurosciences)
2025 Alya Abderrahmane, M2 FCN, UCBL
2025 Camille Dante, M2 Neuropsychology & Neurosciences, Lyon 2
2024 Camille Bonvalet, M2 Université Tours
2020 Sarah Godchaux, M2 FCN, UCBL
2012 Joanne Kim Yi, Northwestern University, USA
2007 Mirella Donato, Samantha Russo, Aldeghieri Laura, Bologna Unviversity
2007 Lucia Cretella, Valeria Cortesi, Università di Bologna, Italy
Undergraduate Students (Master 1 Neurosciences)
2025 Insaf Mokhtari, M1 Psychologie, Lyon2
2025 Mahaut Lafont Baldauf, M1 Psychologie, Lyon2
2025 Zahra Zareei, M1 Neurosciences, UCBL
2024 Myriam Machkour, M1 Neurosciences, UCBL
2024 Alya Abderrahmane, M1 Neurosciences, UCBL
2024 Selina Adouri, M1 Neurosciences, UCBL
2023 Myriam Machkour, M1 Neurosciences, UCBL
2023 Tison Vivian, M1 Neurosciences, UCBL
2022 Laura Maudit, M1 Neurosciences, UCBL
2020 Anna Athanassi, M1 Neurosciences, UCBL
2020 Baptiste van Eeckhout, M1 Neurosciences, UCBL
Undergraduate Students (Bachelor)
2023 Alya Abderrahmane, L3 Neurosciences, UCBL
2023 Noah Janin, Medical School, UCBL
2022 Camille Dante, L3 Psychology, Lyon2
2022 Maxence Andrieux, L3 Medical School, UCBL
2022 Giulia Marin, L3 Physiology, UCBL
2022 Enola Boisseleau, L2 Science of life, UCBL
2022 Selina Adouri, L2 Science of life, UCBL
2021 Laurine Millon, L3 Physiology, UCBL
2020 Gino Diez, L3 Physiolology, UCBL
2019 Tristan Sybord, L3 Physiology, UCBL
2018 Paul Susini, L3 Physiology, UCBL
2014 Giulia Pompili, L3, Northwestern University (USA)2009 Laurie Bayet, L3, École Normale Supérieure de Paris