We meet pioneering Liège neuroscientist Emmanuelle Wilhelm

How did you get into neuroscience?

At school, I was always interested in human biology, the basic functioning of the human body. I studied medicine at the Brussels campus of the Université catholique de Louvain (UCL), and in my third year, we studied neurophysiology. I was totally drawn to it: it’s amazing to learn about the workings of the brain, the body’s most complex and noble organ.

You won a grant from Unesco and the L’Oréal Foundation to promote women in
science. What caught their eye?

You should probably ask them! But I know my CV matches their criteria. Medical graduates don’t often become researchers – only two people from my year did. And I come from a very tiny country, Luxembourg. This is an unusual mix, so I guess they said to themselves, “She’s worth it” [laughs]!

What obstacles do women face in science that men tend not to?

I actually work with many female researchers, and I have not personally had problems that other women might face. However, through L’Oréal-Unesco, I have learned how difficult it can be for woman to be taken seriously in science. Women are sometimes seen as too emotional and not rational enough, and their work is expected to be less well thought through. I think women have to work harder than men to earn the same recognition. I was shocked by a L’Oréal Foundation survey that said 90% of Europeans feel women have the talent for everything but science.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I see myself practising neurology, taking part in research projects and giving classes – which is something that I really like. In addition, I hope to have started a family. It may sound ambitious but I hope to manage it all!

What is your PhD project studying?

We’re looking at the role of the basal ganglia in preparatory motor inhibition. The basal ganglia are deep in the brain and play an important role in functions like movement. We’re looking at their role in mechanisms controlling our actions of daily life. Imagine being at a cocktail party and waiters are running around with plates of glasses of champagne. What determines whether you reach out for that glass? Will you take one, two, three glasses? Our simplest actions are controlled by fine neurophysiological mechanisms that have to behave appropriately and not yield to every little impulse. We are working with Parkinson’s patients who have undergone neurosurgery. By turning on and off electrodes in one of the ganglia (the subthalamic nucleus), we can see the effect on motor inhibition.

How could this lead to new treatments for diseases like Parkinson’s?

If we understand better the mechanisms of motor control, which exist in every human being, we might also understand why they don’t function properly. This is the case in diseases like addictions, obsessive-compulsive disorders, ADHD and – to a lesser extent – Parkinson’s disease, which are all characterised by a lack of motor control over impulses.