Joël Bockaert's work has been devoted to the study of intercellular communications and in particular those involved in the brain.
Joël Bockaert was one of the pioneers in the study of molecules responsible for recognizing and interpreting the messages of intercellular communication known as "receptors". He specialized in the study of a family of receptors called "G-protein coupled receptors or GPCGs". He will discover some of them, including oxytocin, vasopressin,metabotropic brain glutamate and serotonin receptors. The latter modulate cognitive and emotional functions. The family of GPCRs is of considerable physiological importance. It is these receptors that capture light (ensuring vision), which recognize bitter, sweet or umami tastes, smells but also the majority of hormones and neurotransmitters1,2.