Cognitive neuroscience of spatial asymmetry: behaviour, genes and brain imaging. When humans distribute their attention in space, biases or asymmetries of spatial attention exist. Healthy individuals exhibit a processing advantage favouring left space but this advantage is lost in disorders such as unilateral spatial neglect, ADHD and dyslexia. This project will develop novel electrophysiological methods to dissociate the sensory, attentional, decision-making and motoric contributions to spatial ....Cognitive neuroscience of spatial asymmetry: behaviour, genes and brain imaging. When humans distribute their attention in space, biases or asymmetries of spatial attention exist. Healthy individuals exhibit a processing advantage favouring left space but this advantage is lost in disorders such as unilateral spatial neglect, ADHD and dyslexia. This project will develop novel electrophysiological methods to dissociate the sensory, attentional, decision-making and motoric contributions to spatial asymmetries. By interfacing electrophysiology with genetic, neurochemical and brain imaging methods, this project will comprehensively map the biology of spatial asymmetry. This knowledge is vital to developing effective treatments for disorders where atypical patterns of spatial asymmetry index neurological vulnerability.Read moreRead less
The processing of fear in the medial temporal lobe. The aim of this project is to identify how fear affects information processing in the medial temporal lobe (MTL). It is significant in providing the first systematic assessment of how fear alters processing of different types of information in the MTL, including the innocuous; and how fear affects processing of memories in MTL networks, including their integration. The expected outcomes are basic knowledge regarding these effects of fear, and a ....The processing of fear in the medial temporal lobe. The aim of this project is to identify how fear affects information processing in the medial temporal lobe (MTL). It is significant in providing the first systematic assessment of how fear alters processing of different types of information in the MTL, including the innocuous; and how fear affects processing of memories in MTL networks, including their integration. The expected outcomes are basic knowledge regarding these effects of fear, and a theory of MTL function in which they are explained. The benefit of this knowledge is a better understanding of how information is processed in a normal brain, and therefore, disturbances to information processing in fear-related disorders (e.g., over-generalization of fear in post-traumatic stress).Read moreRead less
Constructing a unified model of human memory. This project aims to systematically map the interplay between the episodic and semantic systems of memory across such functions as new learning, remembering the past, imagining the future and creative cognition. Memory is the cornerstone of adaptive functioning, yet models of human memory are incomplete. Episodic and semantic processes are typically treated as dissociable entities, despite mounting evidence of their interaction. Using experimental ta ....Constructing a unified model of human memory. This project aims to systematically map the interplay between the episodic and semantic systems of memory across such functions as new learning, remembering the past, imagining the future and creative cognition. Memory is the cornerstone of adaptive functioning, yet models of human memory are incomplete. Episodic and semantic processes are typically treated as dissociable entities, despite mounting evidence of their interaction. Using experimental tasks and advanced neuroimaging techniques in human lesion groups, this project will contribute data about the nature of episodic-semantic interactions. Expected outcomes include a refined model of human memory which will inform the capacity to optimise cognitive function.Read moreRead less
Placing prediction into the fear circuit. How do we predict danger in our world? This project will identify the psychological mechanisms and brain pathways that allow us to learn to fear and to also overcome fear when it becomes pathological.
Mapping, understanding and manipulating the human brain connectome with MRI. The human brain is an extraordinarily complex network, comprising millions of nerve cells connected by trillions of fibres. Understanding this intricate web of connectivity – the so-called human connectome – has become a central goal of neuroscience and is comparable in scale to the human genome project. This project will develop new brain imaging methods for accurately mapping the connectome. It will investigate how in ....Mapping, understanding and manipulating the human brain connectome with MRI. The human brain is an extraordinarily complex network, comprising millions of nerve cells connected by trillions of fibres. Understanding this intricate web of connectivity – the so-called human connectome – has become a central goal of neuroscience and is comparable in scale to the human genome project. This project will develop new brain imaging methods for accurately mapping the connectome. It will investigate how information is communicated between its different regions and how individual differences in brain network function relate to our genetic make-up. It will also determine whether we can manipulate the function of specific circuits of the connectome in a targeted way, in the hope of developing new treatments for brain disorders.Read moreRead less
Examining the neural mechanisms underlying cognitive control and its application to clinical syndromes featuring dyscontrol. This project will examine the cognitive control and its underlying neural mechanisms. Understanding this relationship is of major scientific interest because cognitive control dysfunction is related to a number of Australia's major social and economic problems, including drug dependence.
Enhancing Australia's Social Connectedness and Emotional Well-being. This project aims to redefine scientific understanding of why social connections are good for well-being, conceptualizing it as a process that involves successful regulation of emotions and behaviour. Effective social interventions require precise understanding of psychological process: the project will supply this understanding and leverage it to develop evidence-based interventions that grow social and emotional skills. Expec ....Enhancing Australia's Social Connectedness and Emotional Well-being. This project aims to redefine scientific understanding of why social connections are good for well-being, conceptualizing it as a process that involves successful regulation of emotions and behaviour. Effective social interventions require precise understanding of psychological process: the project will supply this understanding and leverage it to develop evidence-based interventions that grow social and emotional skills. Expected outcomes include generation of a novel literature at the intersection of social- and self-regulation and methodological innovations in the study of social connections. Significant benefits include creation of applied interventions with the potential to provide a ‘social cure’ for Australia’s loneliness problem.Read moreRead less
A new pathway to self-control: Testing a social-neurocognitive model of aggressive desires. One universal human desire is the urge to hurt another person when angry. This project aims to identify the psychological and neural mechanisms that will reduce the likelihood that people will experience the desire to hurt others when angered. Recent advances in self-regulation, have produced models sophisticated enough to develop and test predictions about how to stop harmful desires from arising.
Racism, Wellbeing and Extremist Identification in Australia. Drawing on established social psychological theories of prejudice, the project aims to combat racism by ascertaining how it is maintained within a multicultural society and how its damaging consequences can be diminished. Racism is a pervasive problem and its harmful effects cost Australia an estimated $46.4 billion each year. The project plans to investigate how small negative interracial interactions can perpetuate racial hostility a ....Racism, Wellbeing and Extremist Identification in Australia. Drawing on established social psychological theories of prejudice, the project aims to combat racism by ascertaining how it is maintained within a multicultural society and how its damaging consequences can be diminished. Racism is a pervasive problem and its harmful effects cost Australia an estimated $46.4 billion each year. The project plans to investigate how small negative interracial interactions can perpetuate racial hostility and segregation; how negative interracial interactions might lead to extremist identification and sympathies; and how prejudice and discrimination develops between different minority groups. It also plans to investigate how positive interactions with majority groups (eg White Australians) might promote wellbeing and healthy behaviours in minority group members. Project outcomes may lead to solutions that promote social cohesion in Australia.Read moreRead less
The multitasking brain: training and individual differences. Difficulties with doing two things at once are experienced by everyone, but are particularly common as we get older and in the context of many neurological and psychiatric conditions. This project will examine how training changes the brain to improve multitasking performance and why some individuals are better at multitasking than others.