VISUAL TESTS TO INVESTIGATE ALTERED CORTICAL FUNCTION IN MIGRAINE
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$293,062.00
Summary
Migraine is a very common and disabling neurological condition that often involves visual symptoms. This project will study vision in people who experience migraine, to determine whether brain function is altered by a migraine event or in between migraines. Understanding the visual consequences of migraine provides insight to the neural processes causing migraine, and also those underlying less common but more sinister outcomes of migraine such as stroke and peripheral vision loss.
Mechanisms Controlling The Excitability Of Corneal Nociceptor Nerve Terminals
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$364,759.00
Summary
The project uses a new approach that allows, for the first time, electrical activity to be recorded and analysed from the very fine nerve endings of nerves whose activation results in painful sensations. Using this technique the mechanisms by which substances released in damaged and inflamed tissues lead to discharge of action potentials and the sensation of pain will be investigated. In particular the project investigates the role of a population of sodium ion selective pores (channels) that ar ....The project uses a new approach that allows, for the first time, electrical activity to be recorded and analysed from the very fine nerve endings of nerves whose activation results in painful sensations. Using this technique the mechanisms by which substances released in damaged and inflamed tissues lead to discharge of action potentials and the sensation of pain will be investigated. In particular the project investigates the role of a population of sodium ion selective pores (channels) that are uniquely expressed in pain sensing nerves. These channels have been hypothesised to play an important role in determining the behaviour of these nerves. In addition, the project investigates how some substances released in inflamed tissues sensitize pain sensing nerves, causing them to more readily discharge action potentials. This change is the major cause of pain associated with inflammatory diseases such as arthritis. In summary, the proposed project will provide new insight into how pain sensing nerves function. This knowledge is essential for the development of more effective strategies for treating pain resulting from inflamed and damaged tissue.Read moreRead less