Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120100729
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Brain connectivity during movement planning and execution in young and older adults. Ageing is associated with a reduced ability to undertake everyday movement tasks, resulting in loss of independence and frequent injuries due to falls. This research will improve our understanding of the brain mechanisms underlying movement control, with the aim of maintaining older people's quality of life and reducing health costs to the nation.
Social acceptability of forest management options: Landscape level visualisation and evaluation. Sustainable forest policy requires social acceptance. Prior research has investigated relative acceptability of options at a forest stand level. However, we have insufficient understanding of public acceptance of forest management systems implemented across the wider landscape. Only detailed knowledge of public reaction to social, environmental and economic impacts and the trade-offs involved can red ....Social acceptability of forest management options: Landscape level visualisation and evaluation. Sustainable forest policy requires social acceptance. Prior research has investigated relative acceptability of options at a forest stand level. However, we have insufficient understanding of public acceptance of forest management systems implemented across the wider landscape. Only detailed knowledge of public reaction to social, environmental and economic impacts and the trade-offs involved can reduce the divisive nature of the forest management debate. This project will use interactive, still and animated computer representations of landscapes to examine social acceptability of alternatives to clearfell harvesting. This knowledge will be integrated with biophysical data to improve management of forested landscapes.Read moreRead less
Acceptability of Forest Harvesting Systems. Fierce public debate over forest management has prompted forest agencies to develop and test alternative harvesting systems. This project will examine community response to these harvesting and regeneration options. It will avoid the biases of existing research by developing an interactive simulation of the forest environment that will allow participants to view visual, ecological and economic outcomes of harvest options, as well as changes over time ....Acceptability of Forest Harvesting Systems. Fierce public debate over forest management has prompted forest agencies to develop and test alternative harvesting systems. This project will examine community response to these harvesting and regeneration options. It will avoid the biases of existing research by developing an interactive simulation of the forest environment that will allow participants to view visual, ecological and economic outcomes of harvest options, as well as changes over time as forest regenerates. Public judgements of the acceptability of harvesting options will be integrated with the outcomes of related biophysical studies to identify socially and ecologically sustainable management options for Australian native forests.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
Evaluation of a multidimensional cognitive enhancement training program for healthy older adults. The percentage of the Australian population aged 65 years and over is projected to increase considerably over the next 50 years. The increased number of older Australians will have a major economic cost in terms of income support and the provision of health services. It is of high socioeconomic importance, therefore, to promote functional independence in this group. The implementation of cognitive e ....Evaluation of a multidimensional cognitive enhancement training program for healthy older adults. The percentage of the Australian population aged 65 years and over is projected to increase considerably over the next 50 years. The increased number of older Australians will have a major economic cost in terms of income support and the provision of health services. It is of high socioeconomic importance, therefore, to promote functional independence in this group. The implementation of cognitive enhancement programs that may slow age-related cognitive decline and, thereby, maximise quality of life and independence for a long as possible will have significant national benefit.Read moreRead less
Age-related changes in brain activation: Indicators of deficiency, maturity, or compensation? It is well established that cognitive and motor performance decline with advancing age. With an aging population, it is of significant socioeconomic importance to facilitate healthy ageing. To promote functional independence in everyday life for as long as possible, a better understanding of brain changes associated with aging is essential. The project will use state-of-the-art neurophysiological techni ....Age-related changes in brain activation: Indicators of deficiency, maturity, or compensation? It is well established that cognitive and motor performance decline with advancing age. With an aging population, it is of significant socioeconomic importance to facilitate healthy ageing. To promote functional independence in everyday life for as long as possible, a better understanding of brain changes associated with aging is essential. The project will use state-of-the-art neurophysiological techniques to examine individual differences in the brain's response to cognitive aging and their association with task performance. Determination of why some individuals show resilience to aging will inform the development of intervention techniques to improve cognitive and motor functions in the aged.Read moreRead less