About the Lab

Led by Catherine Duclos, PhD, the Neurophysiology of Altered Consciousness and Critical Care (NAC3) lab aims to elucidate the functional mechanisms of consciousness, and how neural oscillations and networks can be modulated to improve health outcomes. Our lab records the brain activity of patients in altered states of consciousness (e.g. coma, disorders of consciousness, sleep, lucid dreaming, and anesthesia) using high-density electroencephalography (hd-EEG) combined with advanced computational tools, directly in surgical and critical care units. The NAC3 lab is affiliated with the Université de Montréal’s Faculty of Medicine, as well as with the Center for Advanced Research in Sleep Medicine (CARSM) and the Integrated Trauma Centre (ITC) of Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, at the Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux du Nord-de-l’île-de-Montréal (CIUSSS-NIM).

Our Vision

To develop novel neurocomputational and electrophysiological signal processing tools that (i) improve understanding of the functional and network mechanisms that drive consciousness in the human brain, and (ii) manipulate consciousness by modulating the oscillatory and functional properties of the brain.

Research Collaborators

McGill University Health Centre
Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, CIUSSS de l’Est-de-l’île-de-Montréal
Western University
Massachusetts General Hospital
Tufts Universty
Coma Science Group, Université de Liège
University of California Irvine

CATHERINE DUCLOS

, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator and Director of the NAC3 Lab

Catherine Duclos is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, and in the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Montreal. She is also CIFAR-Azrieli Global Scholar in the Brain, Mind & Consciousness program an Associate Editor for the Brain Connectivity journal, an IVADO Researcher, a member of UNIQUE (the Quebec Neuro-AI Network), and a member of the Québec Sleep Research Network.

Dr. Duclos completed her doctorate in biomedical sciences at the University of Montreal (2018) and her postdoctoral fellowship in computational neuroscience of consciousness at McGill University (2021). Dr. Duclos leads the Neurophysiology of Altered Consciousness and Critical Car (NAC3) Lab at Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal (HSCM), CIUSSS du Nord-de-l’Île-de-Montréal (CIUSSS-NIM).

Duclos C, Maschke C, Mahdid Y, Nadin D, Rokos A, Arbour C, Badawy M, JLétourneau J, Owen AM, Plourde G, Blain-Moraes S. Brain Responses to Propofol in Advance of Recovery from Coma and Disorders of Consciousness: A Preliminary Study. American Journal in Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. 2022:205(2);171-82. https://dx.doi.org/10.1164/rccm.202105-1223OC.
Duclos C, Nadin D, Mahdid Y, Tarnal V, Picton P, Vanini G, Golmirzaie G, Janke E, Avidan MS, Kelz MB, Mashour GS, Blain-Moraes S.Brain Network Motifs Are Markers of Loss and Recovery of Consciousness. Scientific Reports. 2021:11(1);3892. https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-83482-9.
Duclos C, Maschke C, Mahdid Y, Berkun K, Da Silva Castanheira J, Tarnal V, Picton P, Vanini G, Golmirzaie G, Janke E, Avidan MS, Kelz MB, Liuzzi L, Brookes MJ, Mashour GS, Blain-Moraes S. Differential Classification of States of Consciousness Using Envelope- and Phase-Based Functional Connectivity. Neuroimage. 2021:118171. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118171.
Duclos C, Norton L, Laforge G, Frantz A, Maschke C, Badawy M, Letourneau J, Slessarev M, Gofton T, Debicki D, Owen AM, Blain-Moraes S. Protocol for the Prognostication of Consciousness Recovery Following a Brain Injury. Study Protocol, Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 2020:14(491):582125. https://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2020.582125.
Duclos C, M. Dumont M, Paquet J, Blais H, Van der Maren S, Menon DK, Bernard F, Gosselin N. Sleep-Wake Disturbances in Hospitalized Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury: Association with Brain Trauma but Not with an Abnormal Melatonin Circadian Rhythm. Sleep. 2020:43(1). https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsz191.
Duclos C, Dumont M, Arbour C, Paquet J, Blais H, Menon DK, De Beaumont L, Bernard F, Gosselin N. Parallel Recovery of Consciousness and Sleep in Acute Traumatic Brain Injury. Neurology. 2017:88(3);268-75. https://dx.doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0000000000003508.