Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354793
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$10,000.00
Summary
A Neural Network: Understanding Brain Function. This proposal focuses on the mechanisms that regulate brain function, particularly those underpinning the changes in circuitry (plasticity) caused by altered inputs. As such, its core goal is to create an interface between researchers in the neurosciences, computational modelling, robotics and cognitive sciences in order to facilitate optimum collaborative interactions, identify key research questions and promote training opportunities across a mul ....A Neural Network: Understanding Brain Function. This proposal focuses on the mechanisms that regulate brain function, particularly those underpinning the changes in circuitry (plasticity) caused by altered inputs. As such, its core goal is to create an interface between researchers in the neurosciences, computational modelling, robotics and cognitive sciences in order to facilitate optimum collaborative interactions, identify key research questions and promote training opportunities across a multidisciplinary spectrum. This will drive an integrated and accelerated program of discovery and technological development, enhancing Australia's leadership in this crucial field and helping to highlight new biotechnology opportunities and capture social and economic benefits for the nation. Read moreRead less
Olfactory signal transduction in Drosophila melanogaster. This project will strengthen Australia's research capabilities in the areas of molecular neurobiology and neurogenetics. The project will equip students with the intellectual and technical skills needed to work in priority areas such as genomics and biotechnology, as well as in medical and agricultural research, and education. The research has possible long term applications in modifying the behaviour of insects of agricultural or medical ....Olfactory signal transduction in Drosophila melanogaster. This project will strengthen Australia's research capabilities in the areas of molecular neurobiology and neurogenetics. The project will equip students with the intellectual and technical skills needed to work in priority areas such as genomics and biotechnology, as well as in medical and agricultural research, and education. The research has possible long term applications in modifying the behaviour of insects of agricultural or medical importance. For example, by inhibiting the ability of insects to perceive specific odours it may ultimately be possible to prevent insects that carry disease from identifying target animals, or plant pests from locating their host plants.Read moreRead less
Unravelling the sub-nuclear complexity of the brain. Understanding the function of the brain is a major frontier of scientific research. The ability to increase knowledge of brain function is reliant upon the development of novel methods. This application will develop a novel approach for understanding the function of particular nerve cells. One outcome will be demonstration of the applicability of a novel method of benefit to all brain researchers. Another outcome will be increased understandin ....Unravelling the sub-nuclear complexity of the brain. Understanding the function of the brain is a major frontier of scientific research. The ability to increase knowledge of brain function is reliant upon the development of novel methods. This application will develop a novel approach for understanding the function of particular nerve cells. One outcome will be demonstration of the applicability of a novel method of benefit to all brain researchers. Another outcome will be increased understanding of one brain region that is known to contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease. It is expected that increased knowledge of brain function will lead to novel theories of brain disease and therapeutic strategies.Read moreRead less
Synaptic and network properties underlying neural coding in the mammalian visual cortex. This study will:
(1) Increase our basic understanding of visual function that can help to explain many clinical perceptual disturbances. (2) Help in providing a detailed picture of intracortical neuronal networks that can form the basis for a prosthesis for the blind. (3) Discover the principles of neural organization underlying functions such as figure-ground segregation and perceptual learning which can i ....Synaptic and network properties underlying neural coding in the mammalian visual cortex. This study will:
(1) Increase our basic understanding of visual function that can help to explain many clinical perceptual disturbances. (2) Help in providing a detailed picture of intracortical neuronal networks that can form the basis for a prosthesis for the blind. (3) Discover the principles of neural organization underlying functions such as figure-ground segregation and perceptual learning which can inspire practical algorithms for robotic vision. (4) Train graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in state of the art techniques in a stimulating intellectual environment.Read moreRead less
Olfactory signalling and coding in Drosophila and other insects. Animals rely on olfactory cues to detect food, danger, and others of the same species. The olfactory systems of Drosophila and other insects are simpler than those of mammals, yet complex enough to offer fascinating systems for studying neural information processing. This project aims to investigate the role of the Drosophila odorant receptors in olfactory coding, and to use multiple approaches to isolate components of the poorly u ....Olfactory signalling and coding in Drosophila and other insects. Animals rely on olfactory cues to detect food, danger, and others of the same species. The olfactory systems of Drosophila and other insects are simpler than those of mammals, yet complex enough to offer fascinating systems for studying neural information processing. This project aims to investigate the role of the Drosophila odorant receptors in olfactory coding, and to use multiple approaches to isolate components of the poorly understood insect olfactory signal transduction pathway. In addition, the role of the NO/cGMP pathway in olfactory signalling will be studied using an olfactory mutant that has nitric oxide synthase defects.Read moreRead less
Gain modulation and stability in biological neural systems. This project is relevant to the National Research Priority area of Frontier Technologies and addresses fundamental cross-disciplinary issues of control and information processing in large, distributed neural systems that are at the cutting edge of intelligent processing systems. Applications are in rapidly growing fields of robotics, machine learning, adaptive control and intelligent systems, all with applications in diverse areas of ec ....Gain modulation and stability in biological neural systems. This project is relevant to the National Research Priority area of Frontier Technologies and addresses fundamental cross-disciplinary issues of control and information processing in large, distributed neural systems that are at the cutting edge of intelligent processing systems. Applications are in rapidly growing fields of robotics, machine learning, adaptive control and intelligent systems, all with applications in diverse areas of economic importance. Applications to cochlear implant speech processing will provide benefit for the hearing impaired. The project will provide students with training at an international level within Australia, thus helping ensure Australia maintains and extends its science and technology base into the futureRead moreRead less
Understanding how the primate brain processes visual information. Being able to see is a crucial aspect of our daily lives, which happens so effortlessly that it tends to be taken for granted. In comparison with other animals and artificial systems, the primate visual cortex is unsurpassed in its capacity to interpret complex and dynamic environments, in a manner that is fast and computationally robust. Discovering how this happens in terms of interactions between cells in the brain can help us ....Understanding how the primate brain processes visual information. Being able to see is a crucial aspect of our daily lives, which happens so effortlessly that it tends to be taken for granted. In comparison with other animals and artificial systems, the primate visual cortex is unsurpassed in its capacity to interpret complex and dynamic environments, in a manner that is fast and computationally robust. Discovering how this happens in terms of interactions between cells in the brain can help us design more efficient artificial systems capable of vision. This in turn can have profound implications for the creation of new technologies such as artificial eyes, autonomous robots, and intelligent sensors, and may also result in future benefits for medical science.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354767
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$20,000.00
Summary
Intelligent Sensors, Sensor Networks and Information Processing. Recent emergence of very large number of diverse sensors and sensor networks has the potential to impact on the quality of all areas of life. Scientific challenges in realizing this potential is significant because of the multidisciplinary nature and complexities involved. This research network builds on the best scientific talent available in the interdisciplinary areas (biology, mathematics, statistics, computing, electrical en ....Intelligent Sensors, Sensor Networks and Information Processing. Recent emergence of very large number of diverse sensors and sensor networks has the potential to impact on the quality of all areas of life. Scientific challenges in realizing this potential is significant because of the multidisciplinary nature and complexities involved. This research network builds on the best scientific talent available in the interdisciplinary areas (biology, mathematics, statistics, computing, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering) with the best overseas scientific teams to solve the underlying scientific problems to enable the Australian industry to exploit and apply this technology in areas of defense, health care and environment.Read moreRead less
Thalamo-cortical organisation in visual information processing. This study will: (1) Increase our basic understanding of visual function that can help to explain many clinical perceptual disturbances. (2) Help in providing a detailed picture of intracortical neuronal networks that can form the basis for a prosthesis for the blind. (3) Discover the principles of neural organization underlying functions such as figure-ground segregation and perceptual learning which can inspire practical algorithm ....Thalamo-cortical organisation in visual information processing. This study will: (1) Increase our basic understanding of visual function that can help to explain many clinical perceptual disturbances. (2) Help in providing a detailed picture of intracortical neuronal networks that can form the basis for a prosthesis for the blind. (3) Discover the principles of neural organization underlying functions such as figure-ground segregation and perceptual learning which can inspire practical algorithms for robotic vision. (4) Train graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in state of the art techniques in a stimulating intellectual environmentRead moreRead less
The role of omega-3 fatty acids in brain mechanisms that regulate water and salt balance. The ability of mammals to survive is heavily dependent upon their ability to maintain body fluid balance. This project aims to elucidate brain mechanisms for the behavioural regulation of water and salt balance, with specific investigation of the role of dietary fatty acids within these processes. It is hypothesised that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) affect intake of water and salt by affecti ....The role of omega-3 fatty acids in brain mechanisms that regulate water and salt balance. The ability of mammals to survive is heavily dependent upon their ability to maintain body fluid balance. This project aims to elucidate brain mechanisms for the behavioural regulation of water and salt balance, with specific investigation of the role of dietary fatty acids within these processes. It is hypothesised that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) affect intake of water and salt by affecting the sensitivity of various receptors, or the hormones used by this body system. Omega-3 PUFA are known to play a role in regulating genes, and therefore, may also affect the production of key proteins, such as receptors, hormones or enzymes involved in the regulation of salt and water intake.Read moreRead less