Inès Leproult

Inès Leproult

Postdoctoral research

After completing a master’s degree in neuropsychology and clinical neurosciences, I obtained a PhD in cognitive psychology from Grenoble-Alpes University (France, 2022-2025). Driven by a strong interest in the cognitive mechanisms that allow us to memorize new information, I devoted my doctoral research to improving our understanding of how working memory functions in young and older adults. More specifically, I investigated how semantic knowledge can support the temporary maintenance of information in working memory. To address these questions, my doctoral research drew on the interdisciplinary nature of cognitive sciences by combining behavioral, computational, and neuropsychological approaches.

Since January 2026, I have been a member of the Working Memory, Cognition and Development Lab, led by Professor Evie Vergauwe at the University of Geneva (Switzerland). I am now continuing my research on working memory, with a particular interest in how task demands and characteristics shape the cognitive processes involved in information maintenance. For instance, one of my ongoing projects examines the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effect of free time on working-memory performance. I also investigate how test format (e.g., recall vs. recognition) influences the encoding and maintenance strategies that individuals spontaneously use during working-memory tasks. To address these questions, I combine behavioral and psychophysiological measures, including pupillometry, as part of a collaboration with Professor Timothy Ricker (University of South Dakota, United States). I also pursue a developmental approach by studying working memory in both young adults and children.

Alongside my research activities, I place great importance on teaching and mentoring students, from the bachelor’s to the master’s level (see the detailed list below). Finally, convinced of the importance of building links between scientific research and society, I am committed to disseminating knowledge to education professionals and the general public. I therefore regularly engage in outreach activities to make current knowledge about human memory accessible to a broader audience.

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