Dragana Manasova, PhD

I'm a postdoctoral researcher at the Paris Brain Institute (ICM) in the DreamTeam - Sleep Lab, working with Dr. Thomas Andrillon. My research focuses on systems and cognitive neuroscience, particularly in the context of global states of consciousness (such as sleep and disorders of consciousness). Specifically, I explore the emerging paradigm of understanding global states of consciousness as a heterogeneous continuum. Examples of phenomena within this framework include local sleep-like activity during wakefulness and perception or cognition during unconscious states. (While referring to this as a paradigm shift may be somewhat strong—many of these phenomena have been recognized for years—it is now possible to study them more comprehensively thanks to improved methods.)

In my research, I'm committed to advancing our understanding of consciousness from a multidisciplinary perspective. I use various methods, from behavioral investigations to advanced multimodal neuroimaging (EEG, MEG, fMRI, PET), and machine learning. 

I completed my PhD at the Paris Brain Institute (ICM), building on a dual background in biomedical engineering and cognitive neuroscience. My academic journey has been enriched by international experiences, including PhD exchanges and lab visits at McGill University in Canada, the University of Buenos Aires in Argentina, Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona, Spain, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States.

Volunteering has been an integral part of my studies and academic career. I strive to create positive changes in my environment through active participation in various organizations and initiatives.  Currently, I'm part of the Young Researchers Organization at ICM (Ajités).