Insights from brain imaging to study the neural basis of cognition. This project aims to address a major challenge - the need for a better understanding of the basis for human cognition. Humans have a unique capacity for diverse, complex, thought and behaviour. To achieve this our brains need to rapidly and flexibly reconfigure, directing attention to different aspects of the world moment-to-moment as we think and act. The project will combine innovative analysis methods with state-of-the-art n ....Insights from brain imaging to study the neural basis of cognition. This project aims to address a major challenge - the need for a better understanding of the basis for human cognition. Humans have a unique capacity for diverse, complex, thought and behaviour. To achieve this our brains need to rapidly and flexibly reconfigure, directing attention to different aspects of the world moment-to-moment as we think and act. The project will combine innovative analysis methods with state-of-the-art neuroimaging and brain stimulation to understand how key brain regions drive this process. Insights from this project will link brain activation to behaviour, improve insights from brain imaging, and contribute a better understanding of the neural basis of cognition. Such insights can ultimately benefit the development of evidence based approaches to key areas of public concern such as health and education.Read moreRead less
Human Vision: Predicting the present? Suppressing the past? When dealing with moving objects, how does the human brain cope with lags between exposure to retinal images depicting physical events and consequent activity in cortex? Obviously motor planning plays a role, with people reaching toward predicted locations when intercepting moving objects, but what, if any, compensation for informational delays is provided by perception? This project will explore situations wherein moving objects are er ....Human Vision: Predicting the present? Suppressing the past? When dealing with moving objects, how does the human brain cope with lags between exposure to retinal images depicting physical events and consequent activity in cortex? Obviously motor planning plays a role, with people reaching toward predicted locations when intercepting moving objects, but what, if any, compensation for informational delays is provided by perception? This project will explore situations wherein moving objects are erroneously localised and seem deformed, in order to determine if these are indicative of perception helping to compensate for informational lags. Project results will have substantial theoretical significance, pertaining to the nature of perception and conscious visual awareness.Read moreRead less
Operation of nerve cell networks in the neocortex. In humans, intellectual disabilities occur when nerve cells in the neocortex, the most complicated area of the brain, fail to function correctly. The goal of this project is to understand how neocortical areas communicate and how changes in the structure of neurons disturb their function; work that will lead to a better understanding of the operation of the neocortex.
Predicting the movement speeds of animals. The project seeks to reveal how marsupials modify their movement patterns and speeds as they navigate risky environments, and show how movement contributes to vulnerability and resilience. Movement is central to animal behaviour and the survival of species, because it underlies feeding, mating and the ability to escape from predators. However, we lack a framework for predicting how fast animals should move through their habitats given their needs to con ....Predicting the movement speeds of animals. The project seeks to reveal how marsupials modify their movement patterns and speeds as they navigate risky environments, and show how movement contributes to vulnerability and resilience. Movement is central to animal behaviour and the survival of species, because it underlies feeding, mating and the ability to escape from predators. However, we lack a framework for predicting how fast animals should move through their habitats given their needs to conserve energy, avoid detection by predators and minimise risks of injury or death. This project aims to develop mathematical models to predict how fast animals should move and then test these predictions using native species of conservation concern. This is expected to extend the field of performance ecology as well as inform management strategies for vulnerable marsupials.Read moreRead less
The multitasking brain: training and individual differences. Difficulties with doing two things at once are experienced by everyone, but are particularly common as we get older and in the context of many neurological and psychiatric conditions. This project will examine how training changes the brain to improve multitasking performance and why some individuals are better at multitasking than others.
Reading the isotopic archive: carbon and oxygen stable isotope ratios as recorders of plant physiological processes. This project will investigate how plant physiological processes are reflected in stable isotope ratios of carbon and oxygen in plant tissues. Results will contribute towards a mechanistic understanding of the processes that cause isotopic modifications, thereby enabling an improved interpretation of naturally occurring stable isotope signals.
Using toxins to understand the mechanisms of pain. Toxins have evolved in plants, animals and microbes as part of defensive and/or prey capture strategies, and have proven to be invaluable research tools as well as providing leads for potential new therapies. This project will use subtype-selective toxins to define the role of ion channels in pain, using novel pathway-specific and disease-specific animal models of pain. The findings from this project will provide significant insight into the ne ....Using toxins to understand the mechanisms of pain. Toxins have evolved in plants, animals and microbes as part of defensive and/or prey capture strategies, and have proven to be invaluable research tools as well as providing leads for potential new therapies. This project will use subtype-selective toxins to define the role of ion channels in pain, using novel pathway-specific and disease-specific animal models of pain. The findings from this project will provide significant insight into the neuropharmacology of pain, will lead to the identification of novel molecular targets with analgesic potential and is expected to provide novel treatment approaches for pain.Read moreRead less
Revealing how the human brain coordinates body movements for applications in health and technology. This project will extend the basic understanding about how the brain controls the movements of our bodies, and how it changes to allow us to adapt and refine our movements. This project will generate information that is critical for applications in the fields of health (e.g. rehabilitation) and technology (e.g. human-machine interfaces).
Can the relational account of attention explain search in natural environments and inattentional blindness? This project aims to further extend the relational theory of attention to account for visual search and inattentional blindness in natural environments. In addition, the neuronal correlates for inattentional blindness will be investigated with the use of Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). The research has fundamental implications for theories of visual attention and awareness, a ....Can the relational account of attention explain search in natural environments and inattentional blindness? This project aims to further extend the relational theory of attention to account for visual search and inattentional blindness in natural environments. In addition, the neuronal correlates for inattentional blindness will be investigated with the use of Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). The research has fundamental implications for theories of visual attention and awareness, and will advance understandings of how and why we frequently fail to notice potentially important objects and events in the environment.Read moreRead less
Mechanisms of learning at the interface between perception and action. Using the latest in brain imaging and simulator technology, this project will advance understanding of how experience shapes the visual centres of our brain. It will also support partnerships with construction, mining and health services by developing real and virtual machine interfaces and tools to enhance the outcome of simulator-based training.