An efficient integration of sensory and motor processes is crucial to goal-directed behavior. Despite this high relevance, and although cognitive theories provide clear conceptual frameworks, the neurobiological basis of these processes remains insufficiently understood. In a double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled pharmacological study, we examine the relevance of catecholamines for perception-motor integration processes. Using EEG data, we perform an in-depth analysis of the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms, focusing on sensorimotor integration processes during response inhibition. We show that the catecholaminergic system affects sensorimotor integration during response inhibition by modulating the stability of the representational content. Importantly, catecholamine levels do not affect the stability of all aspects of information processing during sensorimotor integration, but rather—as suggested by cognitive theory—of specific codes in the neurophysiological signal. Particularly fronto-parietal cortical regions are associated with the identified mechanisms. The study shows how cognitive science theory-driven pharmacology can shed light on the neurobiological basis of perception-motor integration and how catecholamines affect specific information codes relevant to cognitive control.

Dans cette mémoire nous discutons l´élaboration d´électrodes poreuses par un processus de type “template” et leur application potentielle dans le domaine de l´analyse environnementale et neurobiologique. La première partie de ce travail est dédiée à l'élaboration d’électrodes poreuses de bismuth et d'antimoine. Ces électrodes montrent des limites de détection améliorées par rapport à des électrodes non poreuses, ouvrant ainsi des applications prometteuses dans le domaine de l'analyse de trace. La deuxième partie vise à surmonter des facteurs limitants de micro-électrodes dans le cadre de l'enregistrement de signaux extracellulaires et la stimulation de réseaux neuronaux en culture, qui peut donner des informations sur des interactions et des phénomènes synergétiques dans les systèmes nerveux. / In the present dissertation thesis the elaboration of porous electrodes via templating methods and their potential application in the field of environmental and neurobiological analysis are discussed. The electrodes of controlled porosity are characterized by an increased internal electroactive area and thus they can be used to enhance significantly the electrochemical performance. High surface area materials are promising for biosensing and more generally in electrochemical experiments. The first part of this work is focused on the elaboration of porous bismuth and antimony film electrodes. These porous electrodes show improved detection limits compared to non-porous one and thus open up promising applications in the field of trace analysis. The second part deals with overcoming limiting factors of microelectrode arrays in the context of extracellular recording and stimulating cellular neuronal networks or neural tissues in culture that can reveal information about interactions and synergetic features of nervous systems.