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
Processing of social communication calls in primate auditory cortex. This research will advance our understanding of the brain mechanisms involved in perception of sound. This will help to understand disorders of speech and hearing following brain damage and may assist in efforts to develop better hearing aids, as well as other speech recognition technologies. In addition, we will develop a primate for studying processing of sound in the brain that will be useful in future research to develop ....Processing of social communication calls in primate auditory cortex. This research will advance our understanding of the brain mechanisms involved in perception of sound. This will help to understand disorders of speech and hearing following brain damage and may assist in efforts to develop better hearing aids, as well as other speech recognition technologies. In addition, we will develop a primate for studying processing of sound in the brain that will be useful in future research to develop improved cochlear implants.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: 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: DE130101393
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Neurobiological mechanisms of decision under uncertainty. The purpose of this project is to understand the behavioural and brain mechanisms underlying decision under uncertainty. This research will uncover the effect that normal variation in brain networks has on choice and contribute to a better understanding of disorders linked to intolerance of uncertainty.
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
Application of high resolution functional brain imaging to the topographic organisation of object perception. This project will translate recent technological advancements for imaging the cortical areas responsible for visual perception such as object recognition and reading. It will produce brain maps of unprecedented detail, closing gaps in our present knowledge.
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
The neuronal basis of visual consciousness: how brain rhythms control the doors of perception. Slow oscillatory brain wave activity may control the incoming flow of visual information from the world and modulate our perception. While recording neuronal activity directly from the brain, this project will modulate this rhythmic influence using novel visual illusions and brain stimulation techniques to control subjective visual perception.