How the brain generates robust behaviour in noisy sensory environments. This project aims to investigate the origins of variability in the control of movements. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of sensory and motor neuroscience by determining how variability in the activity of sensory and motor neurons accounts for variability in the initiation and control of eye movements. Expected outcomes of this project include international collaboration, development of new methods ....How the brain generates robust behaviour in noisy sensory environments. This project aims to investigate the origins of variability in the control of movements. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of sensory and motor neuroscience by determining how variability in the activity of sensory and motor neurons accounts for variability in the initiation and control of eye movements. Expected outcomes of this project include international collaboration, development of new methods for imaging neural activity in vivo, and refinement of theories concerning the cause and implications of noise in the brain. This should provide significant benefits such as a better understanding of why our movements are variable, and whether it is desirable or possible to minimise this variability. Read moreRead less
Assessment and treatment software for developmental disabilities based on neuroscientific theories for information processing. Performance on tasks relating to fluency of reading, language and sensory motor integration is impaired to some degree in children with dyslexia, ADHD, autism, and intellectual disability (ID). Thus our aim is to develop and test, to the point of commercial release, software for assessment of visual and auditory performance relating to social, language and literacy diff ....Assessment and treatment software for developmental disabilities based on neuroscientific theories for information processing. Performance on tasks relating to fluency of reading, language and sensory motor integration is impaired to some degree in children with dyslexia, ADHD, autism, and intellectual disability (ID). Thus our aim is to develop and test, to the point of commercial release, software for assessment of visual and auditory performance relating to social, language and literacy difficulties for young children. Furthermore software which aims to train attention and improve speed of visual object recognition will be developed and if effective as a treatment to improve reading and social interactions in ID, will be released by Fildes Foundation as an easily accessible multi-media based home/school therapy.Read moreRead less
Centre-surround interactions in ageing human vision. Australia has a rapidly ageing population. This project will study how ageing affects the visual perception of objects presented on non-uniform backgrounds. Our ability to discriminate objects from their backgrounds is key to most natural visual tasks. The visual processes involved are known as centre-surround interactions, and are considered fundamental building blocks to human perception. This project will significantly advance our knowledge ....Centre-surround interactions in ageing human vision. Australia has a rapidly ageing population. This project will study how ageing affects the visual perception of objects presented on non-uniform backgrounds. Our ability to discriminate objects from their backgrounds is key to most natural visual tasks. The visual processes involved are known as centre-surround interactions, and are considered fundamental building blocks to human perception. This project will significantly advance our knowledge of which spatial visual mechanisms are altered due to age, supplying key information for understanding and improving visual environments for the elderly, as well as increasing knowledge of the brain mechanisms susceptible to the ageing process.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140100099
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$389,575.00
Summary
The importance of glia in the development of healthy blood vessels in the eye. The formation of healthy blood vessels in the eye is critical for vision. An important peptide in blood vessel formation throughout the body, including the eye, is Angiotensin II. Specific retinal cells named astrocytes and microglia are suggested to be involved in vessel formation. However, the way these cells control this formation is unknown. Using innovative techniques, this project will investigate how retinal as ....The importance of glia in the development of healthy blood vessels in the eye. The formation of healthy blood vessels in the eye is critical for vision. An important peptide in blood vessel formation throughout the body, including the eye, is Angiotensin II. Specific retinal cells named astrocytes and microglia are suggested to be involved in vessel formation. However, the way these cells control this formation is unknown. Using innovative techniques, this project will investigate how retinal astrocytes and microglia control glial-vascular communication and blood vessel formation via Angiotensin II. The information gained from this proposal is critical to our understanding of both normal retinal development and blood vessel maintenance in both infants and those of older ages.Read moreRead less
Thalamic inputs and cortical microcircuitry underlying the functional architecture of the visual cortex. This project seeks to reveal the fundamental circuitry of the visual cortex that enables visual perception. Such understanding is essential not only for explaining many perceptual disturbances, but also for providing a neuronal basis for developing functionally useful prostheses for the blind.
Natural form, aesthetics and the human brain. This project aims to study how the brain represents the emotion of aesthetic experience. This project will establish the characteristics of flowers and floral design that govern their appeal using large scale web based data collection, and identify the neural representation of floral beauty using integrative data analysis. Outcomes of the project are expected to help flower growers and designers with product planning, supporting industry sustainabili ....Natural form, aesthetics and the human brain. This project aims to study how the brain represents the emotion of aesthetic experience. This project will establish the characteristics of flowers and floral design that govern their appeal using large scale web based data collection, and identify the neural representation of floral beauty using integrative data analysis. Outcomes of the project are expected to help flower growers and designers with product planning, supporting industry sustainability. The project will also establish how the brain generates positive experience in response to our visual environment, promoting well-being by enabling informed visual design decisions.Read moreRead less
Neural plasticity in older adult human vision. This project aims to expand our understanding of age related changes in brain function, specifically plasticity. The project will increase knowledge of the role of an inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA in visual plasticity. Expected outcomes include new knowledge regarding the regulation of brain function in adulthood, enabling future research and planning for societal benefit to older Australia.
Dynamic ocular imaging: New tools to study neurodegenerative disease. Neurovascular uncoupling occurs when blood supply and energy production is no longer responsive to the metabolic of nervous tissue. Neurovascular uncoupling is thought to be a key mechanism in the development of debilitating neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and glaucoma. This project will be the first study to develop, validate and employ a comprehensive suite to simultaneously image blood flow, oxygen sa ....Dynamic ocular imaging: New tools to study neurodegenerative disease. Neurovascular uncoupling occurs when blood supply and energy production is no longer responsive to the metabolic of nervous tissue. Neurovascular uncoupling is thought to be a key mechanism in the development of debilitating neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and glaucoma. This project will be the first study to develop, validate and employ a comprehensive suite to simultaneously image blood flow, oxygen saturation, metabolic activity and retinal function to understand neurovascular uncoupling in aging and age-related neurodegeneration. Read moreRead less
Histamine and non-visual regulation of retinal signalling. This project is internationally competitive, asking basic biological questions about the brain and vision. Of direct national benefit, the new knowledge generated may alter the way we understand how vision works. Ultimately this knowledge may give insight into particular health issues, such as the persistence of visual memory in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and age related diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Further this new kno ....Histamine and non-visual regulation of retinal signalling. This project is internationally competitive, asking basic biological questions about the brain and vision. Of direct national benefit, the new knowledge generated may alter the way we understand how vision works. Ultimately this knowledge may give insight into particular health issues, such as the persistence of visual memory in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and age related diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Further this new knowledge will flow directly into the reputation of our major institutes of higher education and strengthen their place on the world stage. Through both CIs, this research will contribute to the education of both undergraduate and postgraduate science students at The University of Melbourne. Read moreRead less