Central pathways regulating visceral pain. This project aims to investigate the neural pathways within the spinal cord and brain processing colorectal pain perception. The project aims to identify the spinal cord neurons relaying colorectal signalling into the brain and the influence of descending modulation from the brainstem upon these pathways. The outcomes will greatly benefit fundamental understanding of the central pathways processing visceral pain.
The jugular vagal sensory connectome regulating visceral function. Internal body organs have a rich supply of sensory nerve fibres that serve important roles in monitoring the local environment for normal and abnormal sensory stimuli. These nerve fibres have different origins and wire into brain circuits that regulate widely diverse physiological responses. In this study we aim to study the neural circuits and responses mediated by a group of these sensory nerves which has not been investigated ....The jugular vagal sensory connectome regulating visceral function. Internal body organs have a rich supply of sensory nerve fibres that serve important roles in monitoring the local environment for normal and abnormal sensory stimuli. These nerve fibres have different origins and wire into brain circuits that regulate widely diverse physiological responses. In this study we aim to study the neural circuits and responses mediated by a group of these sensory nerves which has not been investigated appreciably in the past. We believe that these sensory neural circuits will reveal important new insights into how internal organs perform their diverse and essential functions to sustain life.Read moreRead less
How the brain regulates blood pressure. This project will test whether a group of nerve cells in the rostral ventrolateral medulla generate sympathetic activity in blood vessels. The brain regulates blood pressure through several pathways, including nerves in the sympathetic nervous system that constrict blood vessels and increase the heart rate. Activity of these sympathetic nerves regulates blood pressure, but it is unknown which nerve cells in the brain cause this activity. This information i ....How the brain regulates blood pressure. This project will test whether a group of nerve cells in the rostral ventrolateral medulla generate sympathetic activity in blood vessels. The brain regulates blood pressure through several pathways, including nerves in the sympathetic nervous system that constrict blood vessels and increase the heart rate. Activity of these sympathetic nerves regulates blood pressure, but it is unknown which nerve cells in the brain cause this activity. This information is essential to understand how blood pressure is controlled under healthy conditions.Read moreRead less
The cortical location of hunger and thirst: a multifunctional study in sheep. The escalating problems associated with obesity are immense. These effects contribute to a global epidemic that now eclipses both infectious diseases and (ironically) undernutrition in its proportions. The effects of disorders of thirst are less apparent but potentially devastating albeit on a smaller scale. The elderly and psychotic in the community have impaired thirst mechanisms which impacts on their life in a dra ....The cortical location of hunger and thirst: a multifunctional study in sheep. The escalating problems associated with obesity are immense. These effects contribute to a global epidemic that now eclipses both infectious diseases and (ironically) undernutrition in its proportions. The effects of disorders of thirst are less apparent but potentially devastating albeit on a smaller scale. The elderly and psychotic in the community have impaired thirst mechanisms which impacts on their life in a dramatic way particularly during prolonged hot weather. The aims of these experiments are to understand the basic brain mechanisms that underpin these drives. This understanding will have far reaching repercussions for the community both in terms of promoting good health and in preventative health care.
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The processing of sensory information within cortical circuits. This project aims to improve our knowledge of neuronal activity during sensory perception and therefore shed light on overall brain function during behaviour. Understanding how dendrites receive and process this information is crucial to understanding brain function during sensory processing and perception. This proposal aims to characterise dendritic activity during sensory input and discover how this activity contributes to behavi ....The processing of sensory information within cortical circuits. This project aims to improve our knowledge of neuronal activity during sensory perception and therefore shed light on overall brain function during behaviour. Understanding how dendrites receive and process this information is crucial to understanding brain function during sensory processing and perception. This proposal aims to characterise dendritic activity during sensory input and discover how this activity contributes to behavioural tasks. In particular, the project plans to investigate activity of different dendritic domains during sensory perception and sensory-based behaviour. The project seeks to improve our knowledge of the importance of dendrites in transforming information from the sensory environment and highlight the cellular and network mechanisms contributing to behaviour.Read moreRead less
Comparison of Techniques for the Removal of Ocular Artefact from the Electroencephalogram: A Validation Study. Although employed extensively for both research and clinical purposes, the utility of the electroencephalograph (EEG) is hampered by the contaminating effects of eye movements on these 'brain waves'. If it can be validated, the recent Australian development of a solution to this problem will mean that the EEG can be measured more quickly and accurately. This purpose of this research is ....Comparison of Techniques for the Removal of Ocular Artefact from the Electroencephalogram: A Validation Study. Although employed extensively for both research and clinical purposes, the utility of the electroencephalograph (EEG) is hampered by the contaminating effects of eye movements on these 'brain waves'. If it can be validated, the recent Australian development of a solution to this problem will mean that the EEG can be measured more quickly and accurately. This purpose of this research is to perform this validation, and its success would mean both more efficient EEG recording for the country, as well as an enhanced scientific reputation.Read moreRead less
Studying the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation with near Infrared spectroscopy. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is increasingly being used as a tool in studying human and animal brain function and in the treatment of brain disorders but there are fundamental gaps in our understanding of its basic mechanisms of action and hence our capacity to optimise protocols. This research will use near infrared spectroscopy to study the range of potential ways of alt ....Studying the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation with near Infrared spectroscopy. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is increasingly being used as a tool in studying human and animal brain function and in the treatment of brain disorders but there are fundamental gaps in our understanding of its basic mechanisms of action and hence our capacity to optimise protocols. This research will use near infrared spectroscopy to study the range of potential ways of altering brain activity with rTMS. It will substantially enhance the applicability of the technique ultimately improving our knowledge of human and animal brain function and outcomes for patients with depression and other disorders. It will help reinforce Australia as a leading country in the development of brain stimulation techniques.Read moreRead less
The central nucleus of the amygdala and alcohol-seeking behaviour. Alcohol abuse and alcoholism is a significant problem in Australia (and throughout the world). However, pharmacological interventions remain limited due to our poor understanding of the neural networks underlying addictive processes. These experiments will explain how the positive rewarding and negative reinforcing aspects of alcohol are transduced within the brain. We believe that our research will facilitate the ability to trea ....The central nucleus of the amygdala and alcohol-seeking behaviour. Alcohol abuse and alcoholism is a significant problem in Australia (and throughout the world). However, pharmacological interventions remain limited due to our poor understanding of the neural networks underlying addictive processes. These experiments will explain how the positive rewarding and negative reinforcing aspects of alcohol are transduced within the brain. We believe that our research will facilitate the ability to treat alcoholism at a pharmacological level, enabling the continuation of abstinence or the prevention of relapse, while allowing other factors such as social support structure and coping skills to be developed for each individual, with flow-on social and economic benefits for society as a whole. Read moreRead less
Brain sodium channel: functional role of developmentally regulated alternative splicing. This project will identify the roles of neonatal and adult forms of a sodium channel in the function of neurons in the developing brain. Sodium channels are vital for brain function and this study will improve our understanding of the function of healthy brain as well as of underlying mechanisms of some neurological disorders.
Subcellular recruitment of a RhoA ubiquitination complex by Rnd proteins. This study addresses a novel molecular mechanism through which members of the Rnd family of GTP-binding proteins regulate the morphology and migration of immature nerve cells of the developing nervous system. This study has broad implications for the understanding of cell migration during embryo development, as well as in health and disease.