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
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
Extracting meaning from motion. This project aims to understand how the human visual system uses motion signals to detect the presence of other people and nonhuman animals. This question links vision science to social experience, and will be addressed using rigorous methods for studying human vision combined with 3D graphical modelling of interactive motion. The expected outcomes include an improved theoretical understanding of how rich, social information is extracted from motion signals in the ....Extracting meaning from motion. This project aims to understand how the human visual system uses motion signals to detect the presence of other people and nonhuman animals. This question links vision science to social experience, and will be addressed using rigorous methods for studying human vision combined with 3D graphical modelling of interactive motion. The expected outcomes include an improved theoretical understanding of how rich, social information is extracted from motion signals in the brain and the introduction of new techniques for testing an individual's social perception. This is expected to provide the knowledge and methodological tools to progress research in clinical neuroscience, computer vision, and interactive robotics.Read moreRead less
Cortical layers: examining the role of feedback in human visual perception. This project aims to generate a detailed mechanistic understanding of the neural circuitry underlying human visual perception. Through an international collaboration with the world-renowned Max Planck Institute, Germany, the project will exploit powerful new tools to measure human brain activity in cortical layers to test major theoretical models of human vision. The anticipated results are expected to significantly adva ....Cortical layers: examining the role of feedback in human visual perception. This project aims to generate a detailed mechanistic understanding of the neural circuitry underlying human visual perception. Through an international collaboration with the world-renowned Max Planck Institute, Germany, the project will exploit powerful new tools to measure human brain activity in cortical layers to test major theoretical models of human vision. The anticipated results are expected to significantly advance our basic understanding of how the human visual system parses complex visual input into objects and visual scenes, which may inform the development of artificial vision systems.Read moreRead less
Improving novice drivers' speed and hazard management. The aim of the study is to extend the evidence-based approach we have developed for speed management (cognitive integration speed management training) to hazard management, thereby developing cognitive integration hazard management training for young drivers. Hence, this study is specifically designed to curb the alarming trend in young driver fatalities on Australian roads. The results of the research will provide clear direction to road au ....Improving novice drivers' speed and hazard management. The aim of the study is to extend the evidence-based approach we have developed for speed management (cognitive integration speed management training) to hazard management, thereby developing cognitive integration hazard management training for young drivers. Hence, this study is specifically designed to curb the alarming trend in young driver fatalities on Australian roads. The results of the research will provide clear direction to road authorities and driver training providers as to effective training strategies to improve young driver training, and ultimately improve road safety with this vulnerable population.Read moreRead less
From sensation to aesthetic appreciation. This project aims to understand the perceptual foundations of aesthetics. The experience of beauty is among the most compelling aspects of our interaction with the world but understanding aesthetic appreciation is difficult, because aesthetic experience varies between individuals, and is assumed to be influenced by culture, context and taste. In contrast, this project offers an account of aesthetic experience which connects the aesthetic object, the perc ....From sensation to aesthetic appreciation. This project aims to understand the perceptual foundations of aesthetics. The experience of beauty is among the most compelling aspects of our interaction with the world but understanding aesthetic appreciation is difficult, because aesthetic experience varies between individuals, and is assumed to be influenced by culture, context and taste. In contrast, this project offers an account of aesthetic experience which connects the aesthetic object, the perceptual processing of its properties and the resulting affective responses. Outcomes from this project will have potential applications in creative settings from design of pleasing visual surroundings to user experience and advertising.Read moreRead less
Multisensory perception in active observers. Perception and action are usually studied separately, often under limited, non-ecological conditions. Recent evidence shows both functions are intrinsically linked and mutually influence each other. This project exploits new technologies to study dynamic perception in free-moving observers in real and virtual multisensory environments. The project will establish the mechanisms underlying the perception/action link and reveal how perceptual stability i ....Multisensory perception in active observers. Perception and action are usually studied separately, often under limited, non-ecological conditions. Recent evidence shows both functions are intrinsically linked and mutually influence each other. This project exploits new technologies to study dynamic perception in free-moving observers in real and virtual multisensory environments. The project will establish the mechanisms underlying the perception/action link and reveal how perceptual stability is achieved despite dynamic input that changes with action. It will generate new understanding of how the brain integrates its twin functions of perceiving the multisensory world and acting upon it, and will generate useful knowledge for virtual, remote and robotic applications.Read moreRead less