Neural Circuits For Odour-processing In The Rodent Piriform Cortex 'in Vivo'
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$488,817.00
Summary
We are studying the brain circuits that enable mammals to recognise odours. We will apply puffs of odorants to the nose of an anaesthetised mouse while measuring electrical signals in the odour-processing region of its cerebral cortex. Our work will answer fundamental questions about how the brain interprets sensory inputs in order to build a coherent picture of the world. This is basic research that will, in the longer term, shed light on the disturbances that occur during mental illness.
The Claustrum Enigma: Unlocking The Role Of The Last Unknown Area Of The Primate Brain
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$558,364.00
Summary
Despite nearly 200 years of study, the function of the claustrum remains unclear. Interest in this brain structure has recently been revived by findings showing damage to the claustrum in several major diseases, and by the suggestion that the claustrum may have a role in consciousness. Here we propose a series of experiments to test the novel hypothesis that the claustrum is part of the default mode network, a group of brain areas that act together when we aren't thinking about anything in parti ....Despite nearly 200 years of study, the function of the claustrum remains unclear. Interest in this brain structure has recently been revived by findings showing damage to the claustrum in several major diseases, and by the suggestion that the claustrum may have a role in consciousness. Here we propose a series of experiments to test the novel hypothesis that the claustrum is part of the default mode network, a group of brain areas that act together when we aren't thinking about anything in particular, that is- most of the time.Read moreRead less
Circadian Control Of Peripheral Gastric Satiety Signals
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$701,010.00
Summary
When we feel full after a meal it is the result of a variety of different nerve signals from the gut in response to distension of the stomach and specific nutrients. These signals exhibit circadian variations. The aim of this project is to determine circadian control of gastric nerve satiety signals and to determine how this is affected by obesity and what happens when you disrupt circadian rhythm. This will ultimately identify targets and treatment regimes for the pharmacological treatment of o ....When we feel full after a meal it is the result of a variety of different nerve signals from the gut in response to distension of the stomach and specific nutrients. These signals exhibit circadian variations. The aim of this project is to determine circadian control of gastric nerve satiety signals and to determine how this is affected by obesity and what happens when you disrupt circadian rhythm. This will ultimately identify targets and treatment regimes for the pharmacological treatment of obesity.Read moreRead less
Neuronal Activity And Variability Underlying Perception And Action
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$349,802.00
Summary
Perception and behaviour are often unpredictable. We do not identically perceive repeated stimuli, and even professional athletes cannot precisely replicate their actions. This project compares variations in the activity of motion-sensitive neurons in the brain with variability in motion perception and eye movements. This should give insights into how neuronal activity underlies conscious perception and eye movements and may ultimately help treat conditions with impaired control of movement.
VISUAL HALLUCINATIONS: MECHANISTIC BIOMARKERS AND NOVEL TREATMENTS
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$464,793.00
Summary
This proposal will address an urgent need to develop novel treatment strategies for hallucinations. A critical starting point in this endeavour is to look at the pathophysiology underlying hallucinations because these mechanisms represent the targets that can be modulated by treatment. This proposal will provide strong evidence for two biomarkers of hallucinations 1. Behavioural and 2. Neural.
Neural Correlates Of Fear Conditioning And Extinction
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$901,899.00
Summary
The amygdala is a part of the brain that processes emotional information. Disorders of amygdala function lead to a host of anxiety-related disorders such as phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder. In this grant we will study how the amygdala processes sensory information from the environment and forms memories of salient events. These findings will tell us how memories are formed, stored and retrieved. In the long term it will provide targets for the development of new anxiolytic agents
Pain Systems Analysis Highlights PI3K Gamma As A Candidate Regulator Of Nociception.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$461,810.00
Summary
Chronic pain will affect most of us at one point in our life, and there is a need for new drugs to manage this condition. The goal of this project is to use our computer modeling of genetic data from multiple species to predict new drug targets, and then use mouse models to look at the mechanism of action for predicted drug targets, and validate one potential drug target in particular for its therapeutic abilities to stop chronic pain.
Chronic pain will affect most of us at one point in our life, and there is a need for new drugs to manage this condition. The goal of this project is to use a combined state-of-the-art genetics approaches in fruit flies, mice, rats, and humans, to identify and validate new genes that contribute to chronic pain, with the clear long term possibility to develop new strategic therapies to treat chronic pain disease.
Efferent Control Circuitry Of The Auditory Brainstem
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$406,306.00
Summary
Detection of important sounds within a noisy background is a crucial function of the mammalian hearing system and defects in this function impair social interaction, learning and development. In addition, activity in the brain needs to be carefully regulated by intrinsic circuitry in order to prevent excessive activity responsible for conditions such as tinnitus. The mechanisms by which the brain achieves this are poorly understood and this project aims to improve our understanding of some of th ....Detection of important sounds within a noisy background is a crucial function of the mammalian hearing system and defects in this function impair social interaction, learning and development. In addition, activity in the brain needs to be carefully regulated by intrinsic circuitry in order to prevent excessive activity responsible for conditions such as tinnitus. The mechanisms by which the brain achieves this are poorly understood and this project aims to improve our understanding of some of the brain circuits involved.Read moreRead less
Development Of Peripheral Sensory Pathways In Humans
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$477,504.00
Summary
To receive the appropriate information about the state of our muscles, joints, organs, and skin we need a properly 'connected' sensory system. Recent evidence suggests traumatic events during early development can alter sensory connections within the spinal cord. This can lead to debilitating movement disorders, digestive diseases, and increased pain. In this study we will examine how peripheral sensory fibres connect with the appropriate nerve cells in the human spinal cord during development.