In this thesis, we conduct functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) data analysis with the aim of grouping the brain voxels depending on their responsiveness to a neural task. We mathematically treat the fMRI signals as the convolution of the neural stimulus with the hemodynamic response function (HRF). We first estimate a time series including HRFs for each of the observed fMRI signals from a given set and we cluster them in order to identify the groups of brain voxels. The HRF estimation problem is studied within the Bayesian framework through a blind deconvolution algorithm using MAP approach under completely unsupervised and model-free settings, i.e, stimulus is assumed to be unknown and also no particular shape is assumed for the HRF. Only using a given fMRI signal together with a weak Gaussian prior distribution imposed on HRF favoring &lsquo / smoothness&rsquo / , our method successfully estimates all the components of our framework: the HRF, the stimulus and the noise process. Then, we propose to use a modified version of Hausdorff distance to detect similarities within the space of HRFs, spectrally transform the data using Laplacian Eigenmaps and finally cluster them through EM clustering. According to our simulations, our method proves to be robust to lag, sampling jitter, quadratic drift and AWGN (Additive White Gaussian Noise). In particular, we obtained 100% sensitivity and specificity in terms of detecting active and passive voxels in our real data experiments. To conclude with, we propose a new framework for a mathematical treatment for voxel-based fMRI data analysis and our findings show that even when the HRF is unpredictable due to variability in cognitive processes, one can still obtain very high quality activation detection through the method proposed in this thesis.

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) is one of the most popular neuroimaging methods for investigating the activity of the human brain during cognitive tasks. The main objective of the thesis is to identify this underlying brain activation over time, using fMRI signal by detecting active and passive voxels. We performed two sub goals sequentially in order to realize the main objective. First, by using simple, data-driven Fourier Wavelet Regularized Deconvolution (ForWaRD) method, we extracted hemodynamic response function (HRF) which is the information that shows either a voxel is active or passive from fMRI signal. Second, the extracted HRFs of voxels are classified as active and passive using Laplacian Eigenmaps. By this, the active and passive voxels in the brain are identified, and so are the activation areas. The ForWaRD method is directly applied to fMRI signals for the first time. The extraction method is tested on simulated and real block design fMRI signals, contaminated with noise from a time series of real MR images. The output of ForWaRD contains the HRF for each voxel. After HRF extraction, using Laplacian Eigenmaps algorithm, active and passive voxels are classified according to their HRFs. Also with this study, Laplacian Eigenmaps are used for HRF clustering for the first time. With the parameters used in this thesis, the extraction and clustering methods presented here are found to be robust to changes in signal properties. Performance analyses of the underlying methods are explained in terms of sensitivity and specificity metrics. These measurements prove the strength of our presented methods against different kinds of noises and changing signal properties.

Dans le but de mieux comprendre le rôle et le fonctionnement des régions cérébrales impliquées dans le traitement et la modulation de la perception douloureuse, la première partie de cette thèse s’intéresse à l’évaluation en IRMf des modifications de la réponse cérébrale à la douleur grâce à deux modulations de la perception douloureuse. La première s’intéresse à l’effet d’un contexte émotionnel négatif sur la perception douloureuse afin de dissocier des aires cérébrales répondant à la douleur, les réponses liées à la composante émotionnelle. La deuxième s’intéresse à l’effet d’une manipulation de l’appréciation de la durée d’une stimulation douloureuse sur la perception de la douleur. L’utilisation d’une illusion permet, pour une intensité de stimulation thermique donnée, de modifier la perception douloureuse et d’évaluer les zones cérébrales impliquées dans ce type de modulation. Nous avons modulé la douleur perçue et pu observer que l’émotion met en jeu la partie prégénuale du cortex cingulaire antérieur, tandis que l’illusion d’une durée raccourcie met en jeu un réseau occipito-pariétal attentionnel. La seconde partie de cette thèse s’intéresse à la caractérisation du décours temporel de la réponse hémodynamique dans deux régions importantes pour le traitement de l’information douloureuse qui sont l’insula et le cortex cingulaire. La douleur est caractérisée par une latence de la réponse plus courte, par rapport à une stimulation non-douloureuse, dans l’insula antérieure et le cortex cingulaire moyen, tandis qu’il est possible de différencier une stimulation douloureuse d’une stimulation non-douloureuse grâce à l’amplitude de la réponse dans l’insula postérieure. / Pain is a complex and multidimensional experience that can be modulated by many factors. In order to better understand the respective role and function of the brain regions involved in the processing and the modulation of pain perception, the first part of this thesis focuses on the evaluation with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of changes in the brain response to pain through two modulations of pain perception. The first study examines the effect of a negative emotional context on pain perception in order to dissociate the brain areas responding to pain from that related to the emotional context. The second study focuses on the effect of the manipulation of perceived duration of a painful stimulation on the perception of pain. The use of this illusion allows us to change the perceived intensity of pain and to assess the brain areas involved in this type of modulation at given intensity of thermal stimulation. We succeeded to increase or decrease perceived pain intensity and we observed that emotion involves pregenual part of the anterior cingulate cortex, while the illusion of a shortened duration involves an occipito-parietal attentional network. The second part of this thesis focuses on characterizing the time course of the hemodynamic response recorded with fMRI in two important areas processing pain that are the insula and the cingulate cortex. Painful sensation is characterized by a shortened latency of hemodynamic response compared to a non-painful sensation in the anterior insula and the midcingulate cortex, while it is possible to differentiate painful and non-painful sensation by the amplitude of the hemodynamic response in the posterior insula.

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) is one of the best techniques for neuroimaging and has revolutionized the way to understand the brain functions. It measures the changes in the blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal which is related to the neuronal activity. Complexity of the data, presence of different types of noises and the massive amount of data makes the fMRI data analysis a challenging one. It demands efficient signal processing and statistical analysis methods.  The inference of the analysis is used by the physicians, neurologists and researchers for better understanding of the brain functions.      The purpose of this study is to design a toolbox for fMRI data analysis. It includes methods to detect the brain activity maps, estimation of the hemodynamic response (HDR) and the connectivity of the brain structures. This toolbox provides methods for detection of activated brain regions measured with Bayesian estimator. Results are compared with the conventional methods such as t-test, ordinary least squares (OLS) and weighted least squares (WLS). Brain activation and HDR are estimated with linear adaptive model and nonlinear method based on radial basis function (RBF) neural network. Nonlinear autoregressive with exogenous inputs (NARX) neural network is developed to model the dynamics of the fMRI data.  This toolbox also provides methods to brain connectivity such as functional connectivity and effective connectivity.  These methods are examined on simulated and real fMRI datasets.

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bytes, checksum: c19e6c295ef7da43f03f7806066961c9 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Minervina Teixeira Lopes null (vina_lopes@bauru.unesp.br) on 2017-11-30T11:39:13Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 ngomane_ay_me_bauru.pdf: 2295778 bytes, checksum: dba007f9b3523a14fa681d827b6b4c1b (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-11-30T11:39:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ngomane_ay_me_bauru.pdf: 2295778 bytes, checksum: dba007f9b3523a14fa681d827b6b4c1b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-09-26 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Introdução: A promoção da prática regular de exercícios físicos é uma das principais metas globais de inúmeras sociedades médicas para prevenção e controle de doenças crônicas não transmissíveis, sendo uma das principais terapêuticas para o paciente com hipertensão arterial sistêmica. O exercício físico em piscina aquecida tem surgido como uma potencial alternativa ao exercício físico em solo para a redução da pressão arterial (PA) de pacientes hipertensos. Entretanto, seus efeitos agudos sobre a PA ambulatorial, bem como sobre variáveis hemodinâmicas envolvidas no controle da PA de idosos hipertensos não têm sido investigados. Objetivo: Avaliar os efeitos agudos de uma sessão de exercício físico em piscina aquecida (EPA) versus exercício físico em solo (ES) sobre a PA, rigidez arterial, função endotelial e variabilidade da frequência cardíaca em idosos hipertensos. Metodologia: 15 idosos hipertensos (idade superior a 60 anos) de ambos os sexos, sedentários e em tratamento farmacológico anti-hipertensivo, foram submetidos a uma sessão de EPA, ES e controle sem exercício (CON) em ordem randomizada (2 a 5 dias de intervalo entre as intervenções) e tiveram a PA, rigidez arterial, função endotelial e variabilidade da frequência cardíaca analisadas antes, imediatamente após e 45 minutos após cada intervenção, enquanto que a PA ambulatorial foi analisada durante 24 horas após cada intervenção. As sessões de EPA e ES consistiram de 30 min de exercícios aeróbios com intensidade entre relativamente fácil e ligeiramente cansativo na escala de percepção subjetiva de esforço de Borg, enquanto que a sessão CON consistiu de 30 min de repouso na posição sentada. Resultados: Houve redução da PA (9,9 ± 3,1 mmHg; P < 0,01) 45 min após EPA, mas não após ES e CON, quando comparado aos valores pré-intervenção. A análise da PA ambulatorial demonstrou que apenas a sessão de EPA reduziu (P < 0.05) a PA sistólica 24-h (EPA: 118 ± 3,0 mmHg; ES: 123 ± 3,3 mmHg; CON: 123 ± 3,7 mmHg), de vigília (EPA: 120 ± 3,1 mmHg; ES: 124 ± 3,2 mmHg; CON: 125 ± 3,5 mmHg) e sono (EPA: 114 ± 3,1 mmHg; ES: 120 ± 3,9 mmHg; CON:119 ± 4,3 mmHg), bem como a PA diastólica 24-h (EPA: 72 ± 2,4 mmHg; ES:75 ± 2,9 mmHg; CON: 74 ± 2,9 mmHg) e de vigília (EPA: 74 ± 2,9 mmHg; ES: 77 ± 3,0 mmHg; CON 76 ± 2,9 mmHg), enquanto que a PA diastólica de sono não reduziu após ambas as sessões de exercício. A magnitude de redução da PA após EPA em comparação a sessão CON variou de 4,5 ± 1,3 mmHg (PA diastólica 24-h) à 9,5 ± 3,0 mmHg (PA sistólica de sono), e perdurou de maneira significativa até a 17a hora pós-intervenção, para a PA sistólica e até a 10a hora pós-intervenção, para a PA diastólica. Não houve alteração significativa VOP carótido-femoral, função endotelial e VFC durante as intervenções, bem como entre as intervenções. Conclusão: Apenas a sessão de EPA foi efetiva para reduzir a PA de repouso e ambulatorial, sugerindo que o exercício físico em piscina aquecida pode ter importantes implicações para controle da PA de idosos hipertensos em tratamento farmacológico. / Background: Physical exercise promotion is one of the main global goals of innumerous health and medical societies for preventing and managing non communicable chronic diseases, being one of the main therapeutic for the patient with hypertension. Exercise in heated swimming pool has emerged as a potential alternative to physical exercise on the ground for the reduction of blood pressure (BP) of hypertensive patients, however, its effects on BP and about hemodynamic variables of hypertensive elderly patients have not been investigated. Purpose: Evaluate the acute effects of physical exercise in a heated pool (Hex) versus in land-based (Lb) on pressure, arterial stiffness, endothelial function, and heart rate variability in older hypertensive adults. Methods: 15 hypertensive elderly ( older than 60 years) of both sexes, sedentary and in antihypertensive drug treatment were submitted to a session of Hex, Lb and control without exercise (CON) in random order (2 to 5 days the interval between interventions) and had BP, arterial stiffness, endothelial function and heart rate variability were analyzed before, immediately after and 45 minutes after each intervention, whereas outpatient PA was analyzed for 24 hours after each intervention. The sessions of Hex and Lb consisted of 30 minutes of aerobic exercise with intensity between relatively easy and slightly tiring on the scale of subjective perception of Borg effort, while the CON session consisted of 30 minutes of rest in the sitting position. Results: There was a reduction in BP (9,9 ± 3,1 mmHg; P< 0,01) 45 min after Hex, but not after Lb and CON, when compared to pre-intervention values. Outpatient BP analysis showed that only the Hex session reduced (P < 0.05) systolic BP 24 h (Hex: 118 ± 3,0 mmHg; Lb: 123 ± 3,3 mmHg; CON: 123 ± 3,7 mmHg), daytime systolic (Hex: 120 ± 3,1 mmHg; Lb: 124 ± 3,2 mmHg; CON: 125 ± 3,5 mmHg) and nighttime systolic (Hex: 114 ± 3,1 mmHg; Lb: 120 ± 3,9 mmHg; CON:119 ± 4,3 mmHg), as well as 24-h diastolic BP (Hex: 72 ± 2,4 mmHg; Lb:75 ± 2,9 mmHg; CON: 74 ± 2,9 mmHg) and daytime systolic (Hex: 74 ± 2,9 mmHg; Lb: 77 ± 3,0 mmHg; CON 76 ± 2,9 mmHg), while nighttime diastolic BP did not decrease after both exercise sessions. The magnitude of BP reduction after EPA compared to the CON session ranged from 4.5 ± 1.3 mmHg (24-h diastolic BP ) to 9.5 ± 3.0 mmHg (nighttime systolic BP), and persisted significant difference up to the 17th postoperative hour for systolic BP and up to the 10th postoperative hour for diastolic BP. There was no significant change in carotid-femoral VOP, endothelial function and HRV during interventions, as well as between interventions. Conclusion: Only the Hex session was effective in reducing BP at rest and in the outpatient setting, suggesting that physical exercise in a heated pool may have important implications for BP control of elderly hypertensive patients undergoing pharmacological treatment. / 2015/09259-2

Infinite-Dimensional Systems (IDSs) which have been made possible by recent advances in mathematical and computational tools can be used to model complex real phenomena. However, due to physical, economic, or stringent non-invasive constraints on real systems, the underlying characteristics for mathematical models in general (and IDSs in particular) are often missing or subject to uncertainty. Therefore, developing efficient estimation techniques to extract missing pieces of information from available measurements is essential. The human brain is an example of IDSs with severe constraints on information collection from controlled experiments and invasive sensors. Investigating the intriguing modeling potential of the brain is, in fact, the main motivation for this work. Here, we will characterize the hemodynamic behavior of the brain using functional magnetic resonance imaging data. In this regard, we propose efficient estimation methods for two classes of IDSs, namely Partial Differential Equations (PDEs) and Fractional Differential Equations (FDEs). This work is divided into two parts. The first part addresses the joint estimation problem of the state, parameters, and input for a coupled second-order hyperbolic PDE and an infinite-dimensional ordinary differential equation using sampled-in-space measurements. Two estimation techniques are proposed: a Kalman-based algorithm that relies on a reduced finite-dimensional model of the IDS, and an infinite-dimensional adaptive estimator whose convergence proof is based on the Lyapunov approach. We study and discuss the identifiability of the unknown variables for both cases. The second part contributes to the development of estimation methods for FDEs where major challenges arise in estimating fractional differentiation orders and non-smooth pointwise inputs. First, we propose a fractional high-order sliding mode observer to jointly estimate the pseudo-state and input of commensurate FDEs. Second, we propose a modulating function-based algorithm for the joint estimation of the parameters and fractional differentiation orders of non-commensurate FDEs. Sufficient conditions ensuring the local convergence of the proposed algorithm are provided. Subsequently, we extend the latter technique to estimate smooth and non-smooth pointwise inputs. The performance of the proposed estimation techniques is illustrated on a neurovascular-hemodynamic response model. However, the formulations are efficiently generic to be applied to a wide set of additional applications.

The ability to maintain balance is based on various processes of motor control in complex neural networks of subcortical and cortical brain structures. However, knowledge on brain processing during the execution of whole-body balance tasks is still limited. In the present study, we investigated brain activity during slacklining, a task with a high demand on balance capabilities, which is frequently used as supplementary training in various sports disciplines as well as for lower extremity prevention and rehabilitation purposes in clinical settings. We assessed hemodynamic response alterations in sensorimotor brain areas using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) during standing (ST) and walking (WA) on a slackline in 16 advanced slackliners. We expected to observe task-related differences between both conditions as well as associations between cortical activity and slacklining experience. While our results revealed hemodynamic response alterations in sensorimotor brain regions such as primary motor cortex (M1), premotor cortex (PMC), and supplementary motor cortex (SMA) during both conditions, we did not observe differential effects between ST and WA nor associations between cortical activity and slacklining experience. In summary, these findings provide novel insights into brain processing during a whole-body balance task and its relation to balance expertise. As maintaining balance is considered an important prerequisite in daily life and crucial in the context of prevention and rehabilitation, future studies should extend these findings by quantifying brain processing during task execution on a whole-brain level.

A lombalgia mecânica comum (LMC) representa um problema particularmente importante no ambiente ocupacional, muitas vezes associado a incapacidade, afastamento do trabalho e alto custo socioeconômico. O surgimento da neuroimagem funcional permitiu novos conhecimentos sobre a estrutura cerebral e a fisiologia da dor crônica. Embora os aspectos relacionados ao trabalho sejam importantes fatores de risco para a cronicidade, existem poucos estudos que abordam especificamente a fisiopatologia da LMC em indivíduos afastados do trabalho. A esse respeito, questionamos se um fator como a atenção, conhecida como um importante modulador da dor, poderia desempenhar um papel distintivo na modulação da dor nos indivíduos com LMC afastados do trabalho. Objetivos: comparar os correlatos neuronais entre indivíduos com lombalgia mecânica comum com afastamento do trabalho, com indivíduos lombálgicos sem afastamento. Métodos: Foram selecionados 74 indivíduos com LMC crônica, divididos em três grupos: indivíduos com LMC e afastamento do trabalho (LMC/A); indivíduos com LMC sem afastamento do trabalho (LMC) e indivíduos sem qualquer tipo de dor crônica e sem afastamento do trabalho (Controle). O estudo foi realizado no Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein (HIAE). A ressonância magnética funcional (RMf) foi utilizada durante o desempenho de dois paradigmas (dor e atenção). Resultados: Após a estimulação dolorosa, na comparação entre os grupos, verificamos diferença significativa na condição estimulação > repouso, sendo que o contraste LMC > LMC/A mostrou maior resposta hemodinâmica (efeito BOLD) no córtex cingulado anterior e giro frontal superior e médio direito (p < 0,001). No contraste controles > LMC/A, o grupo controle apresentou maior efeito BOLD em região do polo frontal e paracingulado (p = 0,002). Conclusão: Nosso estudo corrobora o conceito de que a presença de dor crônica está associada a uma alteração na plasticidade neuronal em áreas cerebrais que se estendem além das regiões somatossensoriais, para incluir áreas que processam emoções / Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a particularly important problem in the occupational environment, often associated with incapacity, sick leave and high socioeconomic cost. The emergence of functional neuroimaging allowed new insights into the brain structure and physiology of chronic pain. Although work-related aspects are important risk factors for chronicity, there are few studies that specifically address the pathophysiology of CLBP in individuals with sick leave. In this regard, we questioned whether a factor such as the attention known as an important pain modulator could play a distinctive role in modulating pain in individuals with CLBP with sick leave. Objective The overall objective of this study is to compare the neuronal correlates between groups of individuals CLBP with or without sick leave. Methods We selected 74 individuals, divided into three groups: individuals with CLBP, functional incapacity and sick leave (CLBP_L); individuals with CLBP, functional disability without sick leave (CLBP_NL); individuals without any form of chronic pain and without sick leave (Control). Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used during the performance of two paradigms (pain and attention).Results After painful stimulation, a significant difference was observed in the stimulation > rest condition, while the CLBP > CLBP_L contrast showed a higher hemodynamic response in the anterior cingulate cortex and the right medium /superior frontal gyrus (p < 0.001) and in contrast controls > CLBP_L, the control group presented higher hemodynamic response in the frontal pole and paracingulate region (p = 0.002).Conclusions Our study corroborates the idea that the presence of chronic pain is associated with an alteration in neuronal plasticity involving brain areas linked to emotions and not just somatosensory areas

A lombalgia mecânica comum (LMC) representa um problema particularmente importante no ambiente ocupacional, muitas vezes associado a incapacidade, afastamento do trabalho e alto custo socioeconômico. O surgimento da neuroimagem funcional permitiu novos conhecimentos sobre a estrutura cerebral e a fisiologia da dor crônica. Embora os aspectos relacionados ao trabalho sejam importantes fatores de risco para a cronicidade, existem poucos estudos que abordam especificamente a fisiopatologia da LMC em indivíduos afastados do trabalho. A esse respeito, questionamos se um fator como a atenção, conhecida como um importante modulador da dor, poderia desempenhar um papel distintivo na modulação da dor nos indivíduos com LMC afastados do trabalho. Objetivos: comparar os correlatos neuronais entre indivíduos com lombalgia mecânica comum com afastamento do trabalho, com indivíduos lombálgicos sem afastamento. Métodos: Foram selecionados 74 indivíduos com LMC crônica, divididos em três grupos: indivíduos com LMC e afastamento do trabalho (LMC/A); indivíduos com LMC sem afastamento do trabalho (LMC) e indivíduos sem qualquer tipo de dor crônica e sem afastamento do trabalho (Controle). O estudo foi realizado no Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein (HIAE). A ressonância magnética funcional (RMf) foi utilizada durante o desempenho de dois paradigmas (dor e atenção). Resultados: Após a estimulação dolorosa, na comparação entre os grupos, verificamos diferença significativa na condição estimulação > repouso, sendo que o contraste LMC > LMC/A mostrou maior resposta hemodinâmica (efeito BOLD) no córtex cingulado anterior e giro frontal superior e médio direito (p < 0,001). No contraste controles > LMC/A, o grupo controle apresentou maior efeito BOLD em região do polo frontal e paracingulado (p = 0,002). Conclusão: Nosso estudo corrobora o conceito de que a presença de dor crônica está associada a uma alteração na plasticidade neuronal em áreas cerebrais que se estendem além das regiões somatossensoriais, para incluir áreas que processam emoções / Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a particularly important problem in the occupational environment, often associated with incapacity, sick leave and high socioeconomic cost. The emergence of functional neuroimaging allowed new insights into the brain structure and physiology of chronic pain. Although work-related aspects are important risk factors for chronicity, there are few studies that specifically address the pathophysiology of CLBP in individuals with sick leave. In this regard, we questioned whether a factor such as the attention known as an important pain modulator could play a distinctive role in modulating pain in individuals with CLBP with sick leave. Objective The overall objective of this study is to compare the neuronal correlates between groups of individuals CLBP with or without sick leave. Methods We selected 74 individuals, divided into three groups: individuals with CLBP, functional incapacity and sick leave (CLBP_L); individuals with CLBP, functional disability without sick leave (CLBP_NL); individuals without any form of chronic pain and without sick leave (Control). Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used during the performance of two paradigms (pain and attention).Results After painful stimulation, a significant difference was observed in the stimulation > rest condition, while the CLBP > CLBP_L contrast showed a higher hemodynamic response in the anterior cingulate cortex and the right medium /superior frontal gyrus (p < 0.001) and in contrast controls > CLBP_L, the control group presented higher hemodynamic response in the frontal pole and paracingulate region (p = 0.002).Conclusions Our study corroborates the idea that the presence of chronic pain is associated with an alteration in neuronal plasticity involving brain areas linked to emotions and not just somatosensory areas

Le cadre neuroconstructiviste du développement cognitif, en considérant la variabilité des contraintes qui agissent dès la conception et façonnent le développement, apparaît pertinent pour considérer l’influence des expériences sensorielles précoces sur le développement neurocomportemental des nouveau-nés prématurés. Ils évoluent dans un environnement particulier et ont une vulnérabilité aux troubles neurodéveloppementaux, auxquels des atypies du traitement tactile et temporel sont associées. L’objectif de ce travail de thèse est d’étudier les compétences tactiles et temporelles des nouveaux nés prématurés, et d’évaluer l’effet de l’environnement précoce sur ces perceptions. La perception tactile passive et la cognition ont été étudié auprès de 61 nouveau-nés prématurés (nés entre 32 et 34SA) à 35 semaines d’âge corrigé. Les réponses d’orientation manuelle lors de stimulations tactiles passives du membre supérieur ont été mesurées lors d'un paradigme d’habituation et de déshabituation (changement de localisation ou pause dans la séquence de stimulation). Les prématurés montrent une réponse d'orientation manuelle aux stimuli, qui diminue lors de la répétition, indépendamment de son emplacement sur le bras. L'habituation est retardée chez les sujets nés le plus tôt, à un petit poids et ayant vécu davantage d’expériences douloureuses. Enfin, les prématurés perçoivent les changements de localisation du stimulus et l'intervalle interstimulus, ce qui suggère un développement prénatal des capacités de traitement temporel. Ces capacités de traitement temporel et leur utilisation pour générer une prédiction sensorielle ont été évaluées au cours d’une seconde étude. 19 nouveau-nés prématurés (nés entre 31 et 32 SA) ont été soumis à une séquence tactile (régulière ou irrégulière) aux âges corrigés de 33 et 35 SA. Les variations de flux sanguin cérébral été mesurées. Aux deux âges corrigés, les stimuli tactiles sont associés à une réponse hémodynamique au sein du cortex somatosensoriel. À 33 semaines d’âge gestationnel corrigé les omissions dans la séquence sont associées à une augmentation du flux sanguin cérébral, qui indique que les prématurés forment des prédictions sensorielles, indépendamment du groupe expérimental. Ce travail de thèse permet de mieux caractériser les capacités de traitement tactile et temporel des nouveau-nés prématurés, qui manquent d’investigations récentes et approfondies. De plus, il apporte des arguments rationnels qui pourraient permettre de proposer des thérapies sensorielles à ces patients, basées sur leurs capacités de perception. / The neuroconstructivist theoretical framework of cognitive development, taking into account the variability of the constraints that act from the conception to shape development, is relevant to consider the early influence of sensory experiences on the neurobehavioral development of preterm neonates. They evolve in a particular environment and are vulnerable to neurodevelopmental disorders, to which atypical tactile and temporal processing are associated. The aim of the thesis is to study tactile and temporal abilities in preterm newborns and to evaluate the effect of the early environment on these perceptions. We included 61 preterm neonates (born between 32 and 34 weeks of gestational age (wGA)). At 35 weeks of corrected gestational age, we measured orienting responses (forearm, hand, and fingers movements) during vibrotactile stimulation of their hand and forearm, during a habituation and dishabituation paradigm, the dishabituation being either a location change or a pause in the stimulation sequence. Preterm newborns displayed a manual orienting response to vibrotactile stimuli which significantly decreased when the stimulus was repeated, regardless of the stimulated location on the limb. Habituation was delayed in subjects born at a younger gestational age, smaller birth weight, and having experienced more painful care procedures. Preterm neonates perceived changes in stimulus location and interstimulus time interval, suggesting a prenatal development of temporal processing capacities. These temporal processing abilities and their use to generate sensory prediction are being evaluated in a second study. 19 premature neonates (born between 31 and 32wGA) were presented with a tactile sequence (regular or irregular) at 33 and 35 weeks of corrected GA. Variations in cerebral blood flow were measured. At both corrected GA, tactile stimuli are associated with a hemodynamic response in the primary somatosensory cortex. At 33 weeks of corrected GA, omissions in the sequence are associated with an increase in cerebral blood flow, which indicates that premature neonates form sensory predictions, regardless of their experimental group. This thesis work allows to better characterize the tactile and temporal processing abilities in premature neonates, which lack recent and thorough investigation. In addition, it provides rational arguments that could help to propose sensory therapies to these patients, based on their perceptual abilities.