How human vision separately determines object and scene motion. This project aims to enhance understanding of how people process visual scenes containing multiple moving objects of interest. The project intends to measure human visual performance to determine how the brain processes multiple motion signals simultaneously. Expected outcomes include an increased understanding of how we are able to use an evolving visual scene to distinguish between changes due to self-motion and those due to the m ....How human vision separately determines object and scene motion. This project aims to enhance understanding of how people process visual scenes containing multiple moving objects of interest. The project intends to measure human visual performance to determine how the brain processes multiple motion signals simultaneously. Expected outcomes include an increased understanding of how we are able to use an evolving visual scene to distinguish between changes due to self-motion and those due to the motion of multiple moving objects such as crowded city footpaths and busy roads. The results will improve our understanding of failures to see moving objects in challenging viewing conditions (for example, high density traffic), and inform work in the design of autonomous driving and augmented reality display systems.Read moreRead less
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
Neural plasticity in older adult human vision. This project aims to expand our understanding of age related changes in brain function, specifically plasticity. The project will increase knowledge of the role of an inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA in visual plasticity. Expected outcomes include new knowledge regarding the regulation of brain function in adulthood, enabling future research and planning for societal benefit to older Australia.
The secret of tiny hand movements to feel and manipulate objects. This study aims to reveal some of the fundamental sensory mechanisms underlying the uniquely human ability to manipulate objects and use tools. Signals from touch receptors are crucial for controlling grip forces so that delicate objects are held without slipping, or being crushed by excessive force. Yet we know little about how such sensory information is obtained and how it is used for the motor control. By analysing hand moveme ....The secret of tiny hand movements to feel and manipulate objects. This study aims to reveal some of the fundamental sensory mechanisms underlying the uniquely human ability to manipulate objects and use tools. Signals from touch receptors are crucial for controlling grip forces so that delicate objects are held without slipping, or being crushed by excessive force. Yet we know little about how such sensory information is obtained and how it is used for the motor control. By analysing hand movements during object manipulation and recording sensory signals from single human nerve fibres we will investigate how certain types of movement shape richness of available sensory information. This knowledge will facilitate the development of next generation sensory-controlled prosthetics and robotic manipulators.Read moreRead less
Understanding and improving sustained attention under vigilance conditions. This project aims to address a major global challenge caused by technological advances: human operators have to monitor computer-control (e.g., in autonomous vehicles, rail and airtraffic control) but sustaining attention is very difficult under these conditions. Developing innovative behavioural and neural methods, this internationally collaborative project bridges basic and applied science to understand lapses of atten ....Understanding and improving sustained attention under vigilance conditions. This project aims to address a major global challenge caused by technological advances: human operators have to monitor computer-control (e.g., in autonomous vehicles, rail and airtraffic control) but sustaining attention is very difficult under these conditions. Developing innovative behavioural and neural methods, this internationally collaborative project bridges basic and applied science to understand lapses of attention under monitoring conditions. It creates a novel intervention, based on brain activity patterns, to improve performance. Outcomes will increase our neural understanding of attention and lay a foundation for a novel system to detect lapses of attention in high-risk environments, preventing errors before they occur.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
The neural dynamics of real-time processing in the brain. The aim of this project is to investigate a new model for predictive coding of sensory processing in the brain in which the brain compensates for the time delays in neural transmission by maintaining a real-time temporal alignment of the neural activity. This results in a representation of sensory information that is aligned in time across the cortex, offering a new fundamental principle for how the brain functions in a highly dynamic wor ....The neural dynamics of real-time processing in the brain. The aim of this project is to investigate a new model for predictive coding of sensory processing in the brain in which the brain compensates for the time delays in neural transmission by maintaining a real-time temporal alignment of the neural activity. This results in a representation of sensory information that is aligned in time across the cortex, offering a new fundamental principle for how the brain functions in a highly dynamic world whose outcomes would provide a deeper understanding of brain function. It could also have profound significance for artificial intelligence and brain-inspired technologies, as well as benefit neural sensory prostheses and brain-machine interfaces.Read moreRead less
Natural form, aesthetics and the human brain. This project aims to study how the brain represents the emotion of aesthetic experience. This project will establish the characteristics of flowers and floral design that govern their appeal using large scale web based data collection, and identify the neural representation of floral beauty using integrative data analysis. Outcomes of the project are expected to help flower growers and designers with product planning, supporting industry sustainabili ....Natural form, aesthetics and the human brain. This project aims to study how the brain represents the emotion of aesthetic experience. This project will establish the characteristics of flowers and floral design that govern their appeal using large scale web based data collection, and identify the neural representation of floral beauty using integrative data analysis. Outcomes of the project are expected to help flower growers and designers with product planning, supporting industry sustainability. The project will also establish how the brain generates positive experience in response to our visual environment, promoting well-being by enabling informed visual design decisions.Read moreRead less
Contextual modulation in high-level vision. This project aims to understand the nature and mechanisms of spatial contextual modulation and the relationship between spatial and temporal context. Contextual modulation refers to the sometimes profound changes in the appearance of the visual image caused by interactions across space and time. Little work has been done to examine whether spatial context effects exist for high-level attributes of objects, and socially relevant stimuli such as heads an ....Contextual modulation in high-level vision. This project aims to understand the nature and mechanisms of spatial contextual modulation and the relationship between spatial and temporal context. Contextual modulation refers to the sometimes profound changes in the appearance of the visual image caused by interactions across space and time. Little work has been done to examine whether spatial context effects exist for high-level attributes of objects, and socially relevant stimuli such as heads and bodies. This project expects to provide new knowledge regarding the way that contextual modulation is mediated by interactions within the normal human visual system. This will provide significant societal benefits as contextual interactions in sensory processing can have profound consequences for our perceptual experience.Read moreRead less
Redefining the immune landscape of the human ocular surface. At the ocular surface, the cornea and limbus need to mount effective immune responses to maintain corneal transparency for clear vision. The current paradigm is that the human cornea houses the same innate immune cell subsets (dendritic cells and macrophages) as naïve mice in pathogen-free facilities. Our pilot data challenge this premise, with early evidence that innate and adaptive cells (T cells) coexist in normal human corneas. Int ....Redefining the immune landscape of the human ocular surface. At the ocular surface, the cornea and limbus need to mount effective immune responses to maintain corneal transparency for clear vision. The current paradigm is that the human cornea houses the same innate immune cell subsets (dendritic cells and macrophages) as naïve mice in pathogen-free facilities. Our pilot data challenge this premise, with early evidence that innate and adaptive cells (T cells) coexist in normal human corneas. Integrating state-of-the-art techniques, we will advance understanding of immune regulation at the human ocular surface by comprehensively defining immune cell biology and dynamics. We will define the effect of age on immune cells in these tissues, and relationships between the tear proteome and cell behaviours.Read moreRead less