Specialized glial cells within the hippocampus of the brain regulate important morphological events in embryonic development. Memories of past experiences, and our ability to learn new information, is processed in a region of the brain called the hippocampus. In order for this to occur, the cells that make up the hippocampus must form correctly during embryonic development. This proposal investigates the cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating hippocampal formation. The national benefit of ....Specialized glial cells within the hippocampus of the brain regulate important morphological events in embryonic development. Memories of past experiences, and our ability to learn new information, is processed in a region of the brain called the hippocampus. In order for this to occur, the cells that make up the hippocampus must form correctly during embryonic development. This proposal investigates the cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating hippocampal formation. The national benefit of this work is to provide basic knowledge about the processes that underlie correct brain formation and function, and to understand what processes are disrupted when the brain fails to function correctly. Such disruptions lead to mental retardation and learning difficulties, and in the aged, an inability to form and store new memories, as occurs in dementia.Read moreRead less
Deconstructing the neural circuits regulating appetite. This project aims to expand our knowledge about the neural circuits that influence a feeding response in the absence of emotional or cognitive obstacles. Feeding behaviour is a fundamental physiological process in all animals. Despite the seemingly simple endpoint, feeding behaviour is affected by numerous factors including stress and motivation that can inhibit feeding behaviour. This knowledge is critical to maximise growth and survival i ....Deconstructing the neural circuits regulating appetite. This project aims to expand our knowledge about the neural circuits that influence a feeding response in the absence of emotional or cognitive obstacles. Feeding behaviour is a fundamental physiological process in all animals. Despite the seemingly simple endpoint, feeding behaviour is affected by numerous factors including stress and motivation that can inhibit feeding behaviour. This knowledge is critical to maximise growth and survival in many Australian sectors including agriculture, conservation and basic science.Read moreRead less
A common sub-cortical system for human eye and limb control. This project aims to discover how the human brain controls reaching movements via structures and control mechanisms used for rapid eye movements, and for prey capture by lower vertebrates such as fish. Fast and accurate visually-guided movement was crucial for survival long before animals evolved a cerebral cortex, suggesting that basic control systems may be conserved across species. The notion that primitive sub-cortical systems can ....A common sub-cortical system for human eye and limb control. This project aims to discover how the human brain controls reaching movements via structures and control mechanisms used for rapid eye movements, and for prey capture by lower vertebrates such as fish. Fast and accurate visually-guided movement was crucial for survival long before animals evolved a cerebral cortex, suggesting that basic control systems may be conserved across species. The notion that primitive sub-cortical systems can control complex, human limb movements challenges conventional thinking about movement-related brain activity, and has important implications for the design of human-machine interfaces and training protocols in rehabilitation, industry and sport.Read moreRead less