Identifying the basis for perceptual stability and perceptual omission during saccadic eye movements. The ability to explore the world via eye movements is an important feature of visual capabilities. This project will establish how the brain maintains the perception of a stable and stationary world despite the several eye movements made each second. This knowledge will fill a conspicuous gap in the understanding of the human visual system.
The brain in real time: a neural model of rhythmic action and perception. This project aims to study a fundamental function of the human brain: its temporal architecture. It will provide an innovative perspective on the neural mechanisms underlying and relating perception, intention, and voluntary action in real time, though a combination of eye-tracking, behaviour, and neural recordings. By providing a common language with which to relate perception, cognition, volition and action, this will ....The brain in real time: a neural model of rhythmic action and perception. This project aims to study a fundamental function of the human brain: its temporal architecture. It will provide an innovative perspective on the neural mechanisms underlying and relating perception, intention, and voluntary action in real time, though a combination of eye-tracking, behaviour, and neural recordings. By providing a common language with which to relate perception, cognition, volition and action, this will provide significant benefits that will transform the way we think about brain function.Read moreRead less
Plasticity of gastrointestinal vagal afferents. The aim of this project is to identify how leptin modulates specific subtypes of vagal afferent within the gut and the plasticity of this system under different dietary conditions. This proposed project will substantially increase understanding of the interactions between leptin, known to influence food intake, and vagal afferent satiety signals. It will also increase understanding of how these interactions alter in obesity and ultimately provide t ....Plasticity of gastrointestinal vagal afferents. The aim of this project is to identify how leptin modulates specific subtypes of vagal afferent within the gut and the plasticity of this system under different dietary conditions. This proposed project will substantially increase understanding of the interactions between leptin, known to influence food intake, and vagal afferent satiety signals. It will also increase understanding of how these interactions alter in obesity and ultimately provide targets and/or concepts for the pharmacotherapy of obesity.Read moreRead less
Central pathways regulating visceral pain. This project aims to investigate the neural pathways within the spinal cord and brain processing colorectal pain perception. The project aims to identify the spinal cord neurons relaying colorectal signalling into the brain and the influence of descending modulation from the brainstem upon these pathways. The outcomes will greatly benefit fundamental understanding of the central pathways processing visceral pain.
Real-time friction sensing, feedback and control for dexterous prosthetic and robotic manipulation. Prosthetic and robotic hands demonstrate poor dexterity during object manipulation, often dropping objects. Humans rarely allow objects to slip because we can sense when an object is slippery and adjust our grip. Exceptionally little research has been directed at replicating this ability to sense friction. This project aims to enable artificial hands to estimate frictional properties while graspin ....Real-time friction sensing, feedback and control for dexterous prosthetic and robotic manipulation. Prosthetic and robotic hands demonstrate poor dexterity during object manipulation, often dropping objects. Humans rarely allow objects to slip because we can sense when an object is slippery and adjust our grip. Exceptionally little research has been directed at replicating this ability to sense friction. This project aims to enable artificial hands to estimate frictional properties while grasping an object. Non-invasive methods to feed back this frictional information to an amputee will also be investigated. Finally, the friction-sensing system will be used to improve robotic gripper control. The outcomes of this research will significantly advance the fields of prosthetics, telesurgery, and service and manufacturing robotics.Read moreRead less
Thalamic inputs and cortical microcircuitry underlying the functional architecture of the visual cortex. This project seeks to reveal the fundamental circuitry of the visual cortex that enables visual perception. Such understanding is essential not only for explaining many perceptual disturbances, but also for providing a neuronal basis for developing functionally useful prostheses for the blind.
Atypical cognition in autism: preference for nonverbal coding and impaired connectivity? This project will investigate whether individuals with autism prefer to think 'in pictures' rather than use words, and whether their thinking shows evidence of limited connections across brain regions. Establishing either characteristic for autism would provide important direction in improving diagnosis and intervention for affected children.
Probing norepinephrine transporter (NET) structure-function. More selective drugs are needed to improve the treatment of a range of diseases including pain, depression and anxiety. This project will apply advanced molecular pharmacology approaches to better understand how the norepinephrine transporter functions and where small molecules and conotoxins bind to inhibit its activity.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120100907
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
The brain, maths and space: their interaction in health and disease. This project investigates how thinking about numbers affects how we think about the space that surrounds us - and vice versa. Investigations of commonalities in the neural and cognitive processing of space and numbers may lead to the development of innovative therapies for people suffering from attentional disorders after brain damage.
Using the eye as a window to the central nervous system for improved drug testing. The annual cost of treating brain illnesses is US$250 billion. Each new drug costs about US$900 million to develop. This research will give Pfizer Pty Ltd, the project’s industry partner, a more efficient and direct way of testing whether drugs can get into and affect the brain. This will reduce the cost of drug development, which ultimately means cheaper drugs. The project will develop new technologies to put Aus ....Using the eye as a window to the central nervous system for improved drug testing. The annual cost of treating brain illnesses is US$250 billion. Each new drug costs about US$900 million to develop. This research will give Pfizer Pty Ltd, the project’s industry partner, a more efficient and direct way of testing whether drugs can get into and affect the brain. This will reduce the cost of drug development, which ultimately means cheaper drugs. The project will develop new technologies to put Australia at the forefront of neuropharmaceutical and neuroscience research. A new research platform will foster collaborations with the pharmaceutical industry both within Australia and overseas. This industrial link will promote a unique post-graduate experience by providing exposure to academic and industrial environments for Australian scientists.Read moreRead less