Exploring the nature of lexical representation. In order to comprehend and produce the words that we know, whether in speech or in writing, we must possess mental representations of each of those words (i.e., "lexical" representations). The aim of the proposed research is to elaborate on the nature of these representations in an attempt to understand more fully the cognitive mechanisms involved in proficient language use. The central idea to be explored is that underlying all lexical functioning ....Exploring the nature of lexical representation. In order to comprehend and produce the words that we know, whether in speech or in writing, we must possess mental representations of each of those words (i.e., "lexical" representations). The aim of the proposed research is to elaborate on the nature of these representations in an attempt to understand more fully the cognitive mechanisms involved in proficient language use. The central idea to be explored is that underlying all lexical functioning is an abstract phonological representation that is influenced by orthography. Furthermore, the possibility will be examined that poorer readers possess less abstract representations than do better readers.Read moreRead less
Flash Point in the Third Sector: A longitudinal follow up study of the clergy care 'battle' within The Salvation Army. Increasing community demands for social support from clergy, along with organisational pressures is thought to underlie the repeated observation that clergy work is highly stressful. The Salvation Army specifically is alarmed by current low retention and recruitment rates.
This innovative longitudinal study of clergy well-being and productivity uses a participatory action re ....Flash Point in the Third Sector: A longitudinal follow up study of the clergy care 'battle' within The Salvation Army. Increasing community demands for social support from clergy, along with organisational pressures is thought to underlie the repeated observation that clergy work is highly stressful. The Salvation Army specifically is alarmed by current low retention and recruitment rates.
This innovative longitudinal study of clergy well-being and productivity uses a participatory action research design to follow-up army officers over a one year period, during which time one-third will be required to relocate to various Australian states in accord with their vocation. Findings will be important for increasing awareness and implications for clergy care in both The Salvation Army and clergy universally.
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Investigating the role of Zona Incerta RXFP3+ cells in learning and memory. Learning and memory are fundamental to human and animal behaviour. We identified a specific population of cells in the zona incerta of the brain, where activation inhibits expression of memory, and facilitates the acquisition of new learning. Aside from our observations, nothing is currently known about the anatomy and function of these cells. This project aims to map how they connect to the rest of the brain, to observe ....Investigating the role of Zona Incerta RXFP3+ cells in learning and memory. Learning and memory are fundamental to human and animal behaviour. We identified a specific population of cells in the zona incerta of the brain, where activation inhibits expression of memory, and facilitates the acquisition of new learning. Aside from our observations, nothing is currently known about the anatomy and function of these cells. This project aims to map how they connect to the rest of the brain, to observe how these connections are recruited during learning and memory, and then to test their function experimentally. The outcomes will extend the known neural circuitry that controls learning by defining how and where these unexplored pathways fit within it; thus advancing knowledge regarding neural regulation of behaviour.
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Unravelling Leadership Development: Evaluating outcomes, contrasting interventions, and exploring processes. This project investigates how leadership development interventions translate into effective outcomes for organizations. We compare how distinct interventions (transformational leadership vs. 360 degree feedback) and different modes of delivery (face-to-face vs. videoconferencing) lead to change in leader behavior. We investigate the cognitive/motivational mechanisms (e.g., self-efficacy, ....Unravelling Leadership Development: Evaluating outcomes, contrasting interventions, and exploring processes. This project investigates how leadership development interventions translate into effective outcomes for organizations. We compare how distinct interventions (transformational leadership vs. 360 degree feedback) and different modes of delivery (face-to-face vs. videoconferencing) lead to change in leader behavior. We investigate the cognitive/motivational mechanisms (e.g., self-efficacy, perspective-taking) by which these interventions affect leader behavior, as well as the multilevel processes by which change in leader behavior affects team performance and team well-being. The project will provide a more accurate assessment on the return of investment in leadership development, as well as guidance for enhancing the effectiveness of leadership development programs.
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Filters reveal what flicker conceals: temporal processing in the human visual system. I have recently discovered a new form of camouflage using 10Hz luminance flicker. This project will quantify this effect and examine the extent to which it generalises across colour and spatial dimensions and to video sequences depicting natural scenes. This information is expected to provide foundational information to technologies relating to national security that rely on visual concealment. This research wi ....Filters reveal what flicker conceals: temporal processing in the human visual system. I have recently discovered a new form of camouflage using 10Hz luminance flicker. This project will quantify this effect and examine the extent to which it generalises across colour and spatial dimensions and to video sequences depicting natural scenes. This information is expected to provide foundational information to technologies relating to national security that rely on visual concealment. This research will examine the extent to which filtering out these camouflaging frequencies enhances our sensitivity to low temporal frequency information. This decamouflaging aspect of my research is expected to improve the clarity of digital video-based technologies including ultrasound, educational, info-tainment and defence applicationsRead moreRead less
Making sense of ambiguity: brain system interactions and visual uncertainty. This project aims to identify and characterise the interactions between brain regions underlying a fundamental process in visual perception: interpreting sensory input that is unclear or ambiguous. It will use two complementary neuroimaging techniques and cutting-edge analysis methods. The intended outcomes include new insights into a fundamental but poorly characterised aspect of brain function: how brain regions inter ....Making sense of ambiguity: brain system interactions and visual uncertainty. This project aims to identify and characterise the interactions between brain regions underlying a fundamental process in visual perception: interpreting sensory input that is unclear or ambiguous. It will use two complementary neuroimaging techniques and cutting-edge analysis methods. The intended outcomes include new insights into a fundamental but poorly characterised aspect of brain function: how brain regions interact, and advanced analysis methods with wide application. Expected benefits include important advances in knowledge that lay foundations for future study of neural disorders, international collaboration, and new methods placing Australia at the forefront of the international effort to understand the human brain. Read moreRead less
Improved decoding of human brain activity using advanced functional magnetic resonance imaging at ultra-high field strength. Using advanced MRI methods at ultra-high field, this project aims to enable the decoding and reconstruction of visual stimuli, as well as imagined ones from small functional units (layers and columns) in the human brain in vivo. This will be made possible by the use of a new functional MRI method, concurrent high temporal and spatial resolution and whole brain coverage as ....Improved decoding of human brain activity using advanced functional magnetic resonance imaging at ultra-high field strength. Using advanced MRI methods at ultra-high field, this project aims to enable the decoding and reconstruction of visual stimuli, as well as imagined ones from small functional units (layers and columns) in the human brain in vivo. This will be made possible by the use of a new functional MRI method, concurrent high temporal and spatial resolution and whole brain coverage as well as high sensitivity and specificity. Additionally, it will advance the development of functional connectomics and the aid the parcellation of the human cortex.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Training Centres - Grant ID: IC210100019
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$4,583,816.00
Summary
ARC Training Centre for Optimal Ageing. The ARC Training Centre for Optimal Ageing aims to address issues identified by older adults as essential for quality of life. With our industry partners, we aim to train the next generation of researchers to understand, detect and improve psychosocial factors that support mental activity, physical health and social connectedness, and embrace advances in artificial intelligence, digital-enriched environments and adaptive workplaces to deliver effective dig ....ARC Training Centre for Optimal Ageing. The ARC Training Centre for Optimal Ageing aims to address issues identified by older adults as essential for quality of life. With our industry partners, we aim to train the next generation of researchers to understand, detect and improve psychosocial factors that support mental activity, physical health and social connectedness, and embrace advances in artificial intelligence, digital-enriched environments and adaptive workplaces to deliver effective digital solutions. By developing new capacity and capability to drive the digital transformation of industries supporting our ageing population, our Centre seeks to deliver economic and social benefits that enable Australians to live enriched, healthy and independent lives as they age.Read moreRead less
When immigrants and converts are not truly one of us: Examining the social psychology and developmental antecedents of marginalizing racism. Marginalizing Racism, the simultaneous acceptance and rejection of others, is clearly present in Australia. It is not just a matter of thugs on the streets of Cronulla, but of elected politicians expressing Marginalizing Racist views. We believe that examining the social psychology and developmental causes of this insidious form of racism will pave the way ....When immigrants and converts are not truly one of us: Examining the social psychology and developmental antecedents of marginalizing racism. Marginalizing Racism, the simultaneous acceptance and rejection of others, is clearly present in Australia. It is not just a matter of thugs on the streets of Cronulla, but of elected politicians expressing Marginalizing Racist views. We believe that examining the social psychology and developmental causes of this insidious form of racism will pave the way for positive social change. This is not just an academic exercise, but a chance to expose and tackle a form of racism to which the broader public and our own profession appears to turn a blind eye. Moreover, as we expect this research to yield timely and influential discoveries, it will help maintain Australia's position as a world leader in the field of social psychology.Read moreRead less
Captions for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired: Availability versus Accessibility. The availability of educational, informational and recreational services for deaf and hearing-impaired people has been dramatically facilitated by (i) increased television captioning due to the 2001 introduction of the Television Broadcasting Services Act; and (ii) trial introduction of real-time captioning in educational settings. These innovations must be matched by equally innovative ways of increasing the accessib ....Captions for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired: Availability versus Accessibility. The availability of educational, informational and recreational services for deaf and hearing-impaired people has been dramatically facilitated by (i) increased television captioning due to the 2001 introduction of the Television Broadcasting Services Act; and (ii) trial introduction of real-time captioning in educational settings. These innovations must be matched by equally innovative ways of increasing the accessibility of captions, which is currently limited by English literacy, caption speed, and caption reduction techniques. Here, systematic manipulation of these factors in experiments on television captioning with adults and educational captioning with children will determine how resources might best be directed to improving caption accessibility.Read moreRead less