Linking human brain structure to function with ultra-high resolution fMRI. This project will examine the structure and function of the sensory cortex of the human brain using ultra-high resolution functional magnetic resonance imaging (7 Tesla MRI). The project pushes new boundaries for resolution with ultra-high field MRI (7 Tesla) and, as such, will advance techniques for the acquisition, analysis, and computational modelling of high-resolution fMRI brain imaging, providing detail of the funct ....Linking human brain structure to function with ultra-high resolution fMRI. This project will examine the structure and function of the sensory cortex of the human brain using ultra-high resolution functional magnetic resonance imaging (7 Tesla MRI). The project pushes new boundaries for resolution with ultra-high field MRI (7 Tesla) and, as such, will advance techniques for the acquisition, analysis, and computational modelling of high-resolution fMRI brain imaging, providing detail of the functional organisation of the sensory cortex at a level never previously possible in the living human brain. This will provide new understanding of the neural-level networks that underpin attention and touch perception in the human brain.Read moreRead less
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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ARC Research Network for Enabling Human Communication. The Human Communication Network promotes interdisciplinary research in speech, language, and sound by and between humans and machines. The network connects leading and emerging researchers across disciplines, exploits previously unrecognised intersections, supports interdisciplinary graduate training and exchanges, provides database storage infrastructure, and consults with industry and government to set, not follow, research agendas. By ge ....ARC Research Network for Enabling Human Communication. The Human Communication Network promotes interdisciplinary research in speech, language, and sound by and between humans and machines. The network connects leading and emerging researchers across disciplines, exploits previously unrecognised intersections, supports interdisciplinary graduate training and exchanges, provides database storage infrastructure, and consults with industry and government to set, not follow, research agendas. By generating an explosion of new approaches and knowledge, the network will build Australia's reputation as a leader in communication science and technology via advances in automatic speech recognition, distress call monitoring, hearing prostheses, web interfaces, and data retrieval and data mining systems.Read moreRead less
Managing the risks posed by Artificial General Intelligence. It is widely acknowledged that a failure to implement appropriate controls for the next generation of Artificial Intelligence, Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), could have catastrophic consequences, including in the worst case - the extinction of the human race. This research aims to forecast the risks associated with AGI systems and identify the controls required to ensure that risks and existential threats are minimised. The exp ....Managing the risks posed by Artificial General Intelligence. It is widely acknowledged that a failure to implement appropriate controls for the next generation of Artificial Intelligence, Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), could have catastrophic consequences, including in the worst case - the extinction of the human race. This research aims to forecast the risks associated with AGI systems and identify the controls required to ensure that risks and existential threats are minimised. The expected outputs will provide designers, organisations, regulators and governments with a framework to support the design, implementation, and management of safe and efficient AGI systems. This will ensure that the potential far-reaching benefits of AGI are realised without undue threat to society.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
Children's Intergroup Prejudice: The Roles of Cognitive Representations and Self-presentation. Research indicates that intergroup prejudice remains a problem in most Australian schools. For example, children as young as 5-6 years assign negative attributes to indigenous Australians and Pacific Islander children, they prefer not to play with these children, and they do not even want them living nearby. The proposed research will examine the possible basis of age effects in these attitudes. It wi ....Children's Intergroup Prejudice: The Roles of Cognitive Representations and Self-presentation. Research indicates that intergroup prejudice remains a problem in most Australian schools. For example, children as young as 5-6 years assign negative attributes to indigenous Australians and Pacific Islander children, they prefer not to play with these children, and they do not even want them living nearby. The proposed research will examine the possible basis of age effects in these attitudes. It will have a substantial national benefit because it will increase our understanding of this insidious social phenomenon and provide a basis for developing an intervention that will minimise a problem that has the potential to devastate community relations.
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Rejection sensitivity in children and adolescents: Antecedents, consequences, and the promotion of rejection resilience. Increasing our understanding of children's rejection sensitivity and its effects, as well as identifying the central processes involved, will contribute to a healthy start, preventative healthcare, and strengthening social and economic fabric. It will allow for a new intervention to build children's competencies, coping and resilience. This will protect from negative intrapers ....Rejection sensitivity in children and adolescents: Antecedents, consequences, and the promotion of rejection resilience. Increasing our understanding of children's rejection sensitivity and its effects, as well as identifying the central processes involved, will contribute to a healthy start, preventative healthcare, and strengthening social and economic fabric. It will allow for a new intervention to build children's competencies, coping and resilience. This will protect from negative intrapersonal (e.g., depression) and interpersonal outcomes (e.g., loneliness, victimisation). It also will improve the social and learning contexts for students, benefit the environment in which teachers work, and strengthen the fabric of families and communities by contributing to the development of harmonious, cooperative environments.Read moreRead less
Peer Rejection and the Maladaptive Social Behaviour of Children and Adolescents. Research indicates that peer rejection has serious negative effects on child and adolescent victims. However, little research has addressed the likelihood that peer rejection also has negative consequences for others in the social environment, through its instigation of maladaptive social behaviours such as bullying and ethnic prejudice. Given the incidence of the latter behaviours in primary and secondary schools, ....Peer Rejection and the Maladaptive Social Behaviour of Children and Adolescents. Research indicates that peer rejection has serious negative effects on child and adolescent victims. However, little research has addressed the likelihood that peer rejection also has negative consequences for others in the social environment, through its instigation of maladaptive social behaviours such as bullying and ethnic prejudice. Given the incidence of the latter behaviours in primary and secondary schools, the aim of this project is to conduct a program of research to test an integrative model of the impact of peer rejection on the maladaptive social behaviours of children and adolescents, with a particular focus on ethnic prejudice and bullying.Read moreRead less
Learning and Deciding Under Low Levels of Awareness: Representation Issues and Memory Processes. Human decision making is frequently sub-optimal and can be influenced by factors of which we are only dimly aware. At times, this sub-optimality produces large social, economic, and health costs. We address decisions made under low levels of awareness including those typically influenced by advertising and other marketing activities, such as pairing brands with images of attractive people. We examine ....Learning and Deciding Under Low Levels of Awareness: Representation Issues and Memory Processes. Human decision making is frequently sub-optimal and can be influenced by factors of which we are only dimly aware. At times, this sub-optimality produces large social, economic, and health costs. We address decisions made under low levels of awareness including those typically influenced by advertising and other marketing activities, such as pairing brands with images of attractive people. We examine the cognitive processes invoked by this pairing in order to determine how it competes with the provision of factual information. We aim to improve decision making in areas such as food choice and consumer understanding, as well as provide the knowledge base to support policy for regulating marketing communications.Read moreRead less
Development of rapid, online motor control in children. Movement is the primary means by which young children develop understanding of the world. The studies described in this project will provide important insights into the development of movement skill in children and the underlying causes of motor impairment. In particular we aim to understand how thought and action are coordinated in children, supporting the ability to perform more efficient movements. Hence, our work will inform the traini ....Development of rapid, online motor control in children. Movement is the primary means by which young children develop understanding of the world. The studies described in this project will provide important insights into the development of movement skill in children and the underlying causes of motor impairment. In particular we aim to understand how thought and action are coordinated in children, supporting the ability to perform more efficient movements. Hence, our work will inform the training and practice of movement educators and physical therapists, transcending some of the myths of clinical theory. This work will have important implications for identifying and training children at risk for motor impairment. Read moreRead less