Neural circuit control of effort under stress . This Project aims to investigate how the ‘decision’ to persist in exerting effort to obtain a reward is encoded in the the brain and affected by stress. This work will generate new knowledge on the neural mechanisms through which stress modifies neural activity to control decision making processes underpinning adaptive behaviours essential for survival. The expected outcomes of this work include enhanced capacity at the interface of behavioural a ....Neural circuit control of effort under stress . This Project aims to investigate how the ‘decision’ to persist in exerting effort to obtain a reward is encoded in the the brain and affected by stress. This work will generate new knowledge on the neural mechanisms through which stress modifies neural activity to control decision making processes underpinning adaptive behaviours essential for survival. The expected outcomes of this work include enhanced capacity at the interface of behavioural and computational neuroscience, that will in turn provide significant benefits through greater insight into brain functions essential for survival, with long ranging implications for performance optimisation and brain-inspired computing. Read moreRead less
Can the Relational Account predict search in multiple-element displays? . This project provides evidence of a novel mechanism that guides visual attention. Our results confirm the existence of a mechanism that can rapidly and automatically assess the dominant feature(s) in a visual scene and radically change how attention is tuned to a target object. Moreover, this attention-guiding target template can change systematically as observers search through different items in visual search, possibly d ....Can the Relational Account predict search in multiple-element displays? . This project provides evidence of a novel mechanism that guides visual attention. Our results confirm the existence of a mechanism that can rapidly and automatically assess the dominant feature(s) in a visual scene and radically change how attention is tuned to a target object. Moreover, this attention-guiding target template can change systematically as observers search through different items in visual search, possibly due to a re-shaping and narrowing of the target template. These are both ground-breaking discoveries that have not been described before. Work on this project promises to lead to important theoretical breakthroughs, resolve current discrepancies in the literature and advance methods of Cognitive Psychology and Neuroscience.Read moreRead less
Midbrain hunger signalling modifies decision making under conflict. Decision-making is one of the most important and fundamental biological processes executed by the mammalian brain. Environmental threats and physiological pressures, such as hunger, can influence decision-making processes skewing the risk/reward ratio, yet how the brain integrates these conflicting goals to determine action selection is unknown. This project aims to investigate brain chemistry and circuitry controlling decision ....Midbrain hunger signalling modifies decision making under conflict. Decision-making is one of the most important and fundamental biological processes executed by the mammalian brain. Environmental threats and physiological pressures, such as hunger, can influence decision-making processes skewing the risk/reward ratio, yet how the brain integrates these conflicting goals to determine action selection is unknown. This project aims to investigate brain chemistry and circuitry controlling decision making under conflict using a multidisciplinary approach combining behaviour, pharmacogenetics, and sophisticated molecular and functional profiling. The expected outcomes will advance theories regarding the neural organisation and computation of decision making under conflict.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230100171
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$438,560.00
Summary
Integrated models of learning and decision making in complex tasks. How do people learn to make decisions in complex work systems when assisted by automation? This project will develop computational models of human learning and decision making that explain and predict complex decisions relevant to industries such as aviation and defence. It will examine how humans learn to use automated advice, how learning affects remembering to perform planned (deferred) actions, and factors that pose a risk t ....Integrated models of learning and decision making in complex tasks. How do people learn to make decisions in complex work systems when assisted by automation? This project will develop computational models of human learning and decision making that explain and predict complex decisions relevant to industries such as aviation and defence. It will examine how humans learn to use automated advice, how learning affects remembering to perform planned (deferred) actions, and factors that pose a risk to learning and adaptation. The expected outcome is a significant theoretical advance in human factors and cognitive psychology, and a tool for informing work design (e.g., computer interface, task allocation) and training, with the potential to reduce human error in safety-critical workplaces.Read moreRead less
What is the role of striatal dopamine in value-based decision-making? The aim of this project is to understand the role of dopamine in the brain circuits controlling goal-directed action. Its significance lies in our use of newly developed tools to measure dopamine release and cellular activity concurrently to assess the causal role of this interaction in choice and decision-making. The expected outcome of this project is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the role of dopamine release i ....What is the role of striatal dopamine in value-based decision-making? The aim of this project is to understand the role of dopamine in the brain circuits controlling goal-directed action. Its significance lies in our use of newly developed tools to measure dopamine release and cellular activity concurrently to assess the causal role of this interaction in choice and decision-making. The expected outcome of this project is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the role of dopamine release in striatal cellular activity and in the psychological processes mediating goal-directed decision-making. This outcome will have the benefit of filling a gap in our knowledge of the brain processes mediating decision-making, a fundamental capacity that contributes to our physical and psychological wellbeing (wellness). Read moreRead less
Towards a cognitive process model of how attention and choice interact. Before making any decision, we must gather information on what options are available. This process may influence the choices we make: if we do not notice an option, we will not choose it even if it would have been valuable. This project aims to examine how prior experience can produce attentional biases that influence decisions, and will develop a new computational model of this interaction of attention and choice as an outc ....Towards a cognitive process model of how attention and choice interact. Before making any decision, we must gather information on what options are available. This process may influence the choices we make: if we do not notice an option, we will not choose it even if it would have been valuable. This project aims to examine how prior experience can produce attentional biases that influence decisions, and will develop a new computational model of this interaction of attention and choice as an outcome. This new knowledge will enhance the world-class status of Australian cognitive psychology. Moreover, it should provide significant benefits through improving our ability to predict and shape behaviour, and shedding light on the role of biases in healthy cognition and in the context of compulsive behaviours.Read moreRead less
Early Career Industry Fellowships - Grant ID: IE230100380
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$390,574.00
Summary
Enhancing comprehension of forensic science in the justice system. Failures to effectively communicate the accuracy and reliability of forensic evidence to courts can lead to unreliable convictions and miscarriages of justice. This project aims to understand how best to distil complex information about error and uncertainty in forensic expert opinion evidence for enhanced comprehension of forensic science in the justice system. Outcomes include evidence-based strategies for communicating error a ....Enhancing comprehension of forensic science in the justice system. Failures to effectively communicate the accuracy and reliability of forensic evidence to courts can lead to unreliable convictions and miscarriages of justice. This project aims to understand how best to distil complex information about error and uncertainty in forensic expert opinion evidence for enhanced comprehension of forensic science in the justice system. Outcomes include evidence-based strategies for communicating error and uncertainty in forensic science and an accessible online dashboard for visualising known error rates in forensic disciplines. The knowledge gained from the project will help forensic experts to calibrate how they present their conclusions to courts for improved comprehension and evaluation of forensic evidence.Read moreRead less
The Misinformation Future—Confronting Emerging Threats. Misinformation presents challenges to public health and democracy. Though psychological research has explored processing mechanisms and countermeasures, new threats are arising that need to be confronted. This project aims to help meet these threats by (a) investigating misinformation impacts on future-oriented cognition and behaviours, with a focus on global long-term issues and (b) addressing the unique challenges posed by visual and synt ....The Misinformation Future—Confronting Emerging Threats. Misinformation presents challenges to public health and democracy. Though psychological research has explored processing mechanisms and countermeasures, new threats are arising that need to be confronted. This project aims to help meet these threats by (a) investigating misinformation impacts on future-oriented cognition and behaviours, with a focus on global long-term issues and (b) addressing the unique challenges posed by visual and synthetic (AI-generated) misinformation. The expected outcome is new knowledge on the processing and impacts of emerging types of misinformation and translation into practical interventions. These promise to benefit consumers, educators and policymakers, contributing to a healthier information environment.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE240100883
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$452,777.00
Summary
The cognitive science of farsighted deliberation. Many fundamental decisions in life require us to deliberate about sooner versus later consequences. This cognitive psychology project aims to determine how the capacities that enable people to think about the future (prospection) and reflect on their own thinking (metacognition) influence how they manage such decisions. By using innovative methods, this project is expected to advance our understanding of future-oriented cognition across the lifes ....The cognitive science of farsighted deliberation. Many fundamental decisions in life require us to deliberate about sooner versus later consequences. This cognitive psychology project aims to determine how the capacities that enable people to think about the future (prospection) and reflect on their own thinking (metacognition) influence how they manage such decisions. By using innovative methods, this project is expected to advance our understanding of future-oriented cognition across the lifespan. Expected outcomes include new knowledge about how people deliberate through important everyday decisions. This should provide significant benefits by laying the foundation for improving effective choices about the future.Read moreRead less