Julie GOSEZ soutiendra sa thèse réalisée à l'institut PPrime le 27 mai 2026 à 9h30 au H1 SP2MI – Campus Futuroscope. Cette soutenance est également accessible par visioconférence.
Titre : Analysis and optimization of neuromodulation procedures for the treatment of OCD based on computational models
Encadrement : Arnaud GERMANEAU ; Ghina HARIKA-GERMANEAU ; Karim EL HOUARI
Résumé : Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a disabling psychiatric condition for which some patients do not respond sufficiently to standard treatments. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a promising noninvasive neuromodulation approach, but its effects remain highly variable across patients. This variability may be related to interindividual differences in anatomy and current distribution in the brain, which are rarely considered in standard protocols. Using anatomical MRI data, modeling was applied to estimate the electric field induced by tDCS in each patient. The analysis considered both field magnitude and local field direction in order to better characterize the biophysical mechanisms of stimulation. The simulated electric field distributions were compared with clinical data from patients with OCD. These analyses identified associations between specific electric field features and symptom improvement, particularly in prefrontal and orbitofrontal regions. A strategy for optimizing electrode placement was also developed and tested in the motor cortex using motor evoked potentials. This made it possible to link modeling predictions with measurable neurophysiological effects. Finally, a complete pipeline integrating anatomical segmentation, numerical simulation, and post-processing was developed and validated through comparison with reference data and published intracranial measurements. These results support the development of a more targeted, quantitative, and personalized use of tDCS in OCD.
Lien visio : Contacter