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Neural and cognitive studies of reward sensitivity and its influence on addiction-related behaviour. The proposed research aims to contribute to current scientific thinking on the influence of reward sensitivity on cognitive performance. Cognitive neuroscience research on this relationship is of major scientific interest because heightened reward sensitivity is a significant predictor of risk for a number of Australia's major social and economic problems. The findings of this project will contri ....Neural and cognitive studies of reward sensitivity and its influence on addiction-related behaviour. The proposed research aims to contribute to current scientific thinking on the influence of reward sensitivity on cognitive performance. Cognitive neuroscience research on this relationship is of major scientific interest because heightened reward sensitivity is a significant predictor of risk for a number of Australia's major social and economic problems. The findings of this project will contribute to the debate about how to manage such problems.Read moreRead less
Experimental and computational assessment of the mechanical, musculo-skeletal and neuromuscular contributions to rhythmic multi-joint arm movements. The human body is a complex mechanical system that is controlled by a vast neural network comprising many millions of connections. To date, realistic descriptions of the interactions between these neuro-mechanical features have proved elusive. This project seeks to develop a mathematical model that accurately describes the essential features of the ....Experimental and computational assessment of the mechanical, musculo-skeletal and neuromuscular contributions to rhythmic multi-joint arm movements. The human body is a complex mechanical system that is controlled by a vast neural network comprising many millions of connections. To date, realistic descriptions of the interactions between these neuro-mechanical features have proved elusive. This project seeks to develop a mathematical model that accurately describes the essential features of the control system for human movement, and yet is simple enough to inform the design of artificial devices to generate or assist movement. The knowledge derived should improve mechanical and neural prosthetic systems, and guide rehabilitation protocols. The work will ultimately provide a considerable benefit to the community by reducing the social cost of a range of movement disorders.Read moreRead less
Social psychological, personality, and neural processes underlying anger, aggression, and health. The Australian Institute of Criminology estimates the cost of assault, sexual assault, and homicide in Australia at over $2.5 billion per annum. Despite these enormous costs, very little is known about the cognitive and neural mechanisms guiding these phenomena. This research will also provide cues regarding risk for domestic violence. Understanding domestic violence is especially significant bec ....Social psychological, personality, and neural processes underlying anger, aggression, and health. The Australian Institute of Criminology estimates the cost of assault, sexual assault, and homicide in Australia at over $2.5 billion per annum. Despite these enormous costs, very little is known about the cognitive and neural mechanisms guiding these phenomena. This research will also provide cues regarding risk for domestic violence. Understanding domestic violence is especially significant because it is the leading cause of homicide among women in Australia. The insights gained from this research may lead to substantial social (e.g., stronger social fabric, reduced crime) and economic benefit (e.g., reduced spending on healthcare and crime).Read moreRead less
An inverse control approach to resolving the neural basis of spatial and muscular dependencies in coordinated multi-limb movements. Each year 48,000 Australians suffer from stroke with many survivors left with problems that limit limb function. With reduced duration of hospital care, the opportunities for retraining in the period immediate following stroke are rapidly diminishing. Effective and efficient strategies of rehabilitation that will maximise the level of recovery following stroke will ....An inverse control approach to resolving the neural basis of spatial and muscular dependencies in coordinated multi-limb movements. Each year 48,000 Australians suffer from stroke with many survivors left with problems that limit limb function. With reduced duration of hospital care, the opportunities for retraining in the period immediate following stroke are rapidly diminishing. Effective and efficient strategies of rehabilitation that will maximise the level of recovery following stroke will result in benefits expressed in terms of enhanced quality of life and functional life-span, as well as significantly reduced costs of health care. In understanding the fundamental principles underlying the stability and adaptability of movement coordination, this research is likely to make a significant contribution to the design of programs for movement rehabilitation.Read moreRead less
The role of context in the acquisition, extinction and reinstatement of fear. Behavioural studies have identified a role for context in the development, extinction and reactivation of fear memories. Although there has been significant progress in delineating the neural pathways for fear conditioning, less is known about the substrates that represent the context of conditioning. This project studies the neural substrates of the processes by which context controls the acquisition, extinction and r ....The role of context in the acquisition, extinction and reinstatement of fear. Behavioural studies have identified a role for context in the development, extinction and reactivation of fear memories. Although there has been significant progress in delineating the neural pathways for fear conditioning, less is known about the substrates that represent the context of conditioning. This project studies the neural substrates of the processes by which context controls the acquisition, extinction and reactivation of fear memories. Specifically, it examines the role of information flow between the dorsal subiculum and the accumbens nucleus in the processes by which rats learn about environmental context and the control exerted by such contexts on fear memories.Read moreRead less
Dissociating facial processing pathways for static and dynamic information. Abnormalities in social cognition are increasingly recognised as representing core features of a number of psychiatric disorders including autism, Aspberger's syndrome, and schizophrenia, however, the brain mechanisms underlying such abilities in the healthy brain are still not well understood. The current proposal aims to use Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to explore the role of specific brain regions in subserving a ....Dissociating facial processing pathways for static and dynamic information. Abnormalities in social cognition are increasingly recognised as representing core features of a number of psychiatric disorders including autism, Aspberger's syndrome, and schizophrenia, however, the brain mechanisms underlying such abilities in the healthy brain are still not well understood. The current proposal aims to use Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to explore the role of specific brain regions in subserving an important aspect of social functioning; the processing of facial information. As such, the study will significantly enhance our understanding of the neural mechanisms of such processes in healthy brains, thus also informing our understanding of the pathological mechanisms associated with these psychiatric conditions.Read moreRead less
Interceptive Action: Performance, Neuromotor Control and Learning. Natural, everyday environments are dynamic. People, animals and other objects move around and human behaviour must be geared to these motions: people must anticipate where things are going and when they will get there so that undesirable collisions and contacts can be avoided and desirable ones achieved. This project investigates basic modes of interacting with dynamic environments - intercepting and evading objects in motion. T ....Interceptive Action: Performance, Neuromotor Control and Learning. Natural, everyday environments are dynamic. People, animals and other objects move around and human behaviour must be geared to these motions: people must anticipate where things are going and when they will get there so that undesirable collisions and contacts can be avoided and desirable ones achieved. This project investigates basic modes of interacting with dynamic environments - intercepting and evading objects in motion. The aim is to extend our understanding of the principles, control mechanisms and brain structures involved. Such understanding has the potential to contribute to areas such as road safety, autonomous robotics, sports training and neurological rehabilitation.Read moreRead less
Cortical Mechanisms Mediating Bilateral Interactions Between the Upper Limbs. Each year 40,000 Australians suffer from stroke with many survivors left with problems that limit limb function. With reduced duration of hospital care, the opportunities for retraining in the period immediate following stroke are rapidly diminishing. Effective and efficient strategies of rehabilitation that will maximise the level of recovery following stroke will result in benefits expressed in terms of enhanced qual ....Cortical Mechanisms Mediating Bilateral Interactions Between the Upper Limbs. Each year 40,000 Australians suffer from stroke with many survivors left with problems that limit limb function. With reduced duration of hospital care, the opportunities for retraining in the period immediate following stroke are rapidly diminishing. Effective and efficient strategies of rehabilitation that will maximise the level of recovery following stroke will result in benefits expressed in terms of enhanced quality of life and functional life-span, as well as significantly reduced costs of health care. In understanding the fundamental principles underlying the stability and adaptability of movement coordination, this research is likely to make a significant contribution to the design of programs for rehabilitation of the upper limb.Read moreRead less
Facilitatory and inhibitory mechanisms during interlimb coordination in young and older adults. The project seeks to understand how people coordinate their limbs and the factors which limit and enhance this capacity. This is of critical importance because coordination is a dominant deficit in aging and in patients suffering brain insult and neurodegenerative diseases. Disruption of this capacity compromises individual work productivity, mobility and independence. Proficient motor functioning is ....Facilitatory and inhibitory mechanisms during interlimb coordination in young and older adults. The project seeks to understand how people coordinate their limbs and the factors which limit and enhance this capacity. This is of critical importance because coordination is a dominant deficit in aging and in patients suffering brain insult and neurodegenerative diseases. Disruption of this capacity compromises individual work productivity, mobility and independence. Proficient motor functioning is an important lifestyle factor as humans age and deficits in coordinated muscle activity will increase the risk of falls which are the leading cause of injury in elderly adults. Identification of changes in brain processes involved in interlimb coordination will allow for the development of strategies to improve motor functions in the aged.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0560916
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$323,400.00
Summary
Magnetic resonance in humans: Equipment for neuroscience studies. The structure, function and biochemistry of the human brain can now be assessed non-invasively using magnetic resonance (MR) techniques. A 3 Tesla MR facility with half its time available for research has recently been established at POWMRI. This application seeks state-of-the-art equipment so that the facility can optimise its research potential and enhance its scientific output. Research is directed to understanding how the nor ....Magnetic resonance in humans: Equipment for neuroscience studies. The structure, function and biochemistry of the human brain can now be assessed non-invasively using magnetic resonance (MR) techniques. A 3 Tesla MR facility with half its time available for research has recently been established at POWMRI. This application seeks state-of-the-art equipment so that the facility can optimise its research potential and enhance its scientific output. Research is directed to understanding how the normal brain functions, how deficits in function develop, and how the function and structure of the brain change with age. This grant will help establish an internationally-competitive, broadly-based facility which is dedicated to understanding the human brain.Read moreRead less