Temporal interactions of dorsal/ventral visual streams. This project aims to understand the temporal interactions between the dorsal and ventral visual streams that control skilled actions. The neural pathways for visual perception of objects may be distinct from those associated with movements towards the object, but the speed of activation and interactions of these two cortical visual streams have not been investigated. This project will use the temporal sensitivity of neuroscience brain imagi ....Temporal interactions of dorsal/ventral visual streams. This project aims to understand the temporal interactions between the dorsal and ventral visual streams that control skilled actions. The neural pathways for visual perception of objects may be distinct from those associated with movements towards the object, but the speed of activation and interactions of these two cortical visual streams have not been investigated. This project will use the temporal sensitivity of neuroscience brain imaging techniques (MEG, EEG, fMRI) to measure the real-time sequence of interactions between the two visual streams during goal-directed grasping. It intends to extend the most influential model of visual processing by discovering ‘when’ these pathways activate and interact. Such knowledge will affect delivery of social and commercial outcomes, by providing new directions for the rehabilitation of sensorimotor performance in many neurodevelopmental disorders, and by improving design of control systems for robotic effectors, prosthetic limbs, and more seamless human-machine interfaces.Read moreRead less
The neural bases of decision-making. The aim of this project is to understand the brain circuits controlling voluntary or goal-directed actions and particularly the memory processes that contribute to such actions. Goal-directed action is a fundamental capacity necessary for normal decision-making that is significantly attenuated by normal aging. This project aims to establish the neural circuits engaged in encoding new goal-directed actions, how this encoding is accomplished without interfering ....The neural bases of decision-making. The aim of this project is to understand the brain circuits controlling voluntary or goal-directed actions and particularly the memory processes that contribute to such actions. Goal-directed action is a fundamental capacity necessary for normal decision-making that is significantly attenuated by normal aging. This project aims to establish the neural circuits engaged in encoding new goal-directed actions, how this encoding is accomplished without interfering with pre-existing memories and how these memories are later retrieved to guide planning and performance. Understanding the determinants of such actions will enable the development of novel ways to treat ageing-related deficits in decision-making with significant economic benefits. Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE200101468
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$413,614.00
Summary
Context matters: from sensory processing to decision making. Contextual modulation refers to prominent changes in the processing of information in brain and perception caused by interactions across space and time. Over the past two decades, an enormous amount of work has shown that spatial contextual effects occur throughout the sensory processing hierarchy. However, there has been little work examining how temporal context effects affect information processing and operate for high-level attribu ....Context matters: from sensory processing to decision making. Contextual modulation refers to prominent changes in the processing of information in brain and perception caused by interactions across space and time. Over the past two decades, an enormous amount of work has shown that spatial contextual effects occur throughout the sensory processing hierarchy. However, there has been little work examining how temporal context effects affect information processing and operate for high-level attributes of stimuli as well as interactions of self and environment. The project aims to fill this gap to further understand the nature and mechanisms of temporal contextual modulation on sensory information processing, perception, perceptual judgement and decision making at cellular, circuit and cognitive levels.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230100401
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$393,903.00
Summary
Deconstructing the brain circuits of reward-seeking. This project aims to deconstruct the brain circuits that shape reward-seeking behaviour in different environments. The anticipated significance of this project is to provide mechanistic insights into why we choose to seek rewards in safe, but not dangerous environments. Expected outcomes include answering fundamental questions about how the environment shapes our behaviour by identifying projection cell subtypes important for reward-seeking, c ....Deconstructing the brain circuits of reward-seeking. This project aims to deconstruct the brain circuits that shape reward-seeking behaviour in different environments. The anticipated significance of this project is to provide mechanistic insights into why we choose to seek rewards in safe, but not dangerous environments. Expected outcomes include answering fundamental questions about how the environment shapes our behaviour by identifying projection cell subtypes important for reward-seeking, characterising their neuronal activity and precisely defining their molecular phenotype. The benefits of this project are expected to provide a new knowledge base for understanding decision-making in a constantly changing world.Read moreRead less
Evaluating the Network Neuroscience of Human Cognition to Improve AI. This project will translate the brain’s inherent complexity into a set of explorable networks that will test the network theory of intelligence, and also be used to drive advances in next generation artificial neural networks. Our approach will catalyse new knowledge regarding how the complexity of the brain gives rise to cognition using innovative analyses inspired by physics and engineering. This fresh perspective on cogniti ....Evaluating the Network Neuroscience of Human Cognition to Improve AI. This project will translate the brain’s inherent complexity into a set of explorable networks that will test the network theory of intelligence, and also be used to drive advances in next generation artificial neural networks. Our approach will catalyse new knowledge regarding how the complexity of the brain gives rise to cognition using innovative analyses inspired by physics and engineering. This fresh perspective on cognition will accelerate understanding of normal cognitive function and also advance the development of advances in artificial neural network performance. Expected outcomes include methods to describe the computational signature of how cognition emerges from dynamic brain network activity and novel AI algorithms. Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180100433
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$365,058.00
Summary
Cortical layer specific functional imaging of the human brain. This project aims to record layer specific cortical activity in humans by leveraging ultra-high field magnetic resonance imaging. It expects to yield robust techniques for the general analysis of neuroimaging-based, layer-specific measurements. This project will progress the fields of cognitive neuroscience and neuroimaging as well as bring the field of neuroimaging closer to that of neurophysiology and thus facilitate collaboration ....Cortical layer specific functional imaging of the human brain. This project aims to record layer specific cortical activity in humans by leveraging ultra-high field magnetic resonance imaging. It expects to yield robust techniques for the general analysis of neuroimaging-based, layer-specific measurements. This project will progress the fields of cognitive neuroscience and neuroimaging as well as bring the field of neuroimaging closer to that of neurophysiology and thus facilitate collaboration among researchers.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210100508
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$462,948.00
Summary
How predictions affect visual processing across the cortical hierarchy . Unlike traditional theories of visual perception, recent evidence suggests what a person expects can fundamentally change how they see the world. However, the neuronal mechanisms which would allow expectation to affect perception are poorly understood. This project will use revolutionary recording techniques to determine how multiple brain regions interact to use predictions about the future to change visual processing. The ....How predictions affect visual processing across the cortical hierarchy . Unlike traditional theories of visual perception, recent evidence suggests what a person expects can fundamentally change how they see the world. However, the neuronal mechanisms which would allow expectation to affect perception are poorly understood. This project will use revolutionary recording techniques to determine how multiple brain regions interact to use predictions about the future to change visual processing. The expected outcome is understanding a fundamental theory of brain function for the first time at the level of single neurons. This project will contribute to a new understanding of central theories of how the brain allows us to see which will significantly enhance basic vision science.Read moreRead less
Network activity and the role of NMDA receptors in associative learning. The brain is the most complex machine we know, and its activity shapes every aspect our lives. Studies over decades using tools from molecular and cellular neuroscience and behavioural experiments have discovered the parts of the brain involved in learning and memory formation. Much is understood about the neural circuits that mediate learning but how memories are formed and stored are not understood. The aim of this proj ....Network activity and the role of NMDA receptors in associative learning. The brain is the most complex machine we know, and its activity shapes every aspect our lives. Studies over decades using tools from molecular and cellular neuroscience and behavioural experiments have discovered the parts of the brain involved in learning and memory formation. Much is understood about the neural circuits that mediate learning but how memories are formed and stored are not understood. The aim of this project is to understand learning and memory formation using a simple Pavlovian learning paradigm, fear conditioning. Using cutting-edge molecular tools we will label the circuits in the amygdala that mediate this learning and the nature of the memory trace. In the long term, these results may drive novel storage devices.Read moreRead less
The role of spike patterning in shaping human perception of tactile stimuli. Every touch sensation from our fingertips is conveyed to the brain through the nerves by means of electrical impulses similar to any digital device. Using unique technology developed in our lab we can intercept this neural communication and insert our own messages to test how these signals are interpreted and converted into perceptual experiences. We aim to reveal the rules by which timing of neural signal patterns shap ....The role of spike patterning in shaping human perception of tactile stimuli. Every touch sensation from our fingertips is conveyed to the brain through the nerves by means of electrical impulses similar to any digital device. Using unique technology developed in our lab we can intercept this neural communication and insert our own messages to test how these signals are interpreted and converted into perceptual experiences. We aim to reveal the rules by which timing of neural signal patterns shapes the perception of touch - specifically intensity and frequency of vibration. By recording signals from neurons and by testing human perception, we will learn about neural processing mechanisms. The new knowledge generated about sensory coding will be essential for rendering a virtual sense of touch.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190100157
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$416,134.00
Summary
Involvement of the claustrum in coordinating brain circuits. This project aims to reveal how the claustrum coordinates information flow across other brain areas. The project will test the hypothesis that the Claustrum, a structure in the brain’s temporal lobe, coordinates the brains resting state networks. The project expects to characterise how the claustrum interacts with different networks, using a combination of anatomical, physiological and mathematical analysis techniques. The project expe ....Involvement of the claustrum in coordinating brain circuits. This project aims to reveal how the claustrum coordinates information flow across other brain areas. The project will test the hypothesis that the Claustrum, a structure in the brain’s temporal lobe, coordinates the brains resting state networks. The project expects to characterise how the claustrum interacts with different networks, using a combination of anatomical, physiological and mathematical analysis techniques. The project expects to advance knowledge about the function of one of the least understood parts of the brain. This will provide benefits that include new analysis techniques for integrative brain function, and may form the basis of future biotechnologies for modulating brain activity using neuroengineering or pharmacological approaches.Read moreRead less