CORAIL

BACKGROUND

The COraIL project (Interdisciplinary Oral Comprehension in Languages) is an interdisciplinary doctoral research initiative combining language pedagogy and cognitive neuroscience. It is led by the LiDiLEM laboratory (Linguistics and Didactics of Foreign and Native Languages) in collaboration with the GIN (Grenoble Institute of Neurosciences), and funded for three years (October 2022 – September 2025) by IDEX UGA through the IRGA2022 call. This project aims to study the neurophysiological response of French-speaking learners when performing listening comprehension tasks in Italian as a second language at intermediate (A2) and advanced (B2) levels. Two main studies are being conducted: the first focuses on the reactions of the autonomic nervous system, and the second on the central nervous system, when faced with obstacles in listening to and understanding audio materials.

This project marks the first scientific partnership between LiDiLEM and GIN. It also benefited from the support of the Platipus and IRMaGe experimental platforms, as well as collaboration from engineers at the Gipsa-Lab and LPNC laboratories. Financially, the project received support from the EDLLSH and Labex CerCoG, particularly for the development of stimuli and the analysis of data from both studies.

The studies, classified as RIPH2, required a request for approval from the Human Research Protection Committee (CPP). After an initial unsuccessful attempt to obtain approval from Inserm, a new application was submitted through the DRCI at Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Grenoble Alpes, which delayed the start of the studies, particularly with regard to participant recruitment.

Study 2 requires the use of the 3T MRI scanner on the IRMaGe platform. Due to high demand and limited availability of the scanner (resulting from staff reductions), scans will take place, at best, between April and June 2025, causing a delay that jeopardizes the analysis and interpretation of the results for Ms. Biagiotti’s thesis.

The support provided by Labex CerCoG over the past two years Labex CerCoG been essential, particularly in hiring a research engineer to lead the development of analytical tools for Study 1 and an intern to assist with Study 2.

GOING THE EXTRA MILE WITH THE SUPPORT OF LABEX CerCoG

To bring this interdisciplinary research project to a successful conclusion, we are requesting short-term funding to complete the study on the central nervous system (data collection and analysis). This funding will cover a three-month fixed-term contract for PhD student Triscia Biagiotti, as well as a budget allocated to the scientific dissemination of the results.