Platform technology to decode motor control through ultra high-field MRI. This project aims to advance our understanding of the poorly understood neural circuits that enable fine motor control in humans. To obtain this knowledge, new platform technology will be developed to capture the full kinematics of the hand during concurrent functional magnetic resonance imaging at ultra high-field. This device will allow testing of fundamental theories describing the canonical microcircuits involved in ha ....Platform technology to decode motor control through ultra high-field MRI. This project aims to advance our understanding of the poorly understood neural circuits that enable fine motor control in humans. To obtain this knowledge, new platform technology will be developed to capture the full kinematics of the hand during concurrent functional magnetic resonance imaging at ultra high-field. This device will allow testing of fundamental theories describing the canonical microcircuits involved in hand motion. Expected outcomes include new evidence of mirror neurons and observation of predictive error signals in the motor cortex. This new knowledge paves the way towards improved computer-brain interface technology which is likely to create benefits through translation to applications such as artificial limb control.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE200100778
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$390,000.00
Summary
Mapping the neural circuits that underlie emotional learning. This project aims to understand the precise neural circuits that mediate the formation of emotional memories. Recent findings have identified a novel complexity in these circuits and the goal of this proposal is to resolve the underlying mechanism that drives emotional memories. In detail, this project will combine state of the art dual- optical stimulation techniques combined with behaviour-dependent tagging of neurons to investigate ....Mapping the neural circuits that underlie emotional learning. This project aims to understand the precise neural circuits that mediate the formation of emotional memories. Recent findings have identified a novel complexity in these circuits and the goal of this proposal is to resolve the underlying mechanism that drives emotional memories. In detail, this project will combine state of the art dual- optical stimulation techniques combined with behaviour-dependent tagging of neurons to investigate the precise brain circuits linked to emotional learning, an approach that also allows knowledge transfer to other research fields. Expected outcomes and benefits of the project is a significant shift in our understanding of the neural mechanisms that underlie emotional learning.Read moreRead less
Old brain cells perform new tricks to allow life-long learning. In the brain, nerve cells transmit electrical signals more quickly and reliably when they are insulated. The insulating cells undergo small adaptive changes that speed up information transfer during learning, and the faster the electrical signal, the better the learning outcomes. This project aims to understand the signals that direct insulating cells to adapt and support life-long learning. In the longer term, this knowledge may be ....Old brain cells perform new tricks to allow life-long learning. In the brain, nerve cells transmit electrical signals more quickly and reliably when they are insulated. The insulating cells undergo small adaptive changes that speed up information transfer during learning, and the faster the electrical signal, the better the learning outcomes. This project aims to understand the signals that direct insulating cells to adapt and support life-long learning. In the longer term, this knowledge may be used to: develop interventions that improve learning and educational outcomes; counteract age-related memory decline and enable longer work force participation; develop strategies to circumvent the memory loss caused by brain diseases, or improve the design of computer hardware.Read moreRead less
Quiet sleep is for repair, active sleep is for learning. Sleep is thought to achieve many different functions, from brain waste clearance to regulating emotions and perception. Understanding sleep functions in animal models has been difficult because sleep has been typically reduced to a single state. Our discovery of distinct sleep stages in the fruit fly provides a powerful way to study how different conserved sleep functions are regulated. This project will use new strategies for manipulating ....Quiet sleep is for repair, active sleep is for learning. Sleep is thought to achieve many different functions, from brain waste clearance to regulating emotions and perception. Understanding sleep functions in animal models has been difficult because sleep has been typically reduced to a single state. Our discovery of distinct sleep stages in the fruit fly provides a powerful way to study how different conserved sleep functions are regulated. This project will use new strategies for manipulating sleep stages in flies to understand their respective physiology and functions. We will test our hypothesis that different categories of sleep functions have been segregated by evolution into different stages: a quiet stage concerned primarily with brain repair and an active stage important for learning.
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Co-design and dynamic mission optimisation of hypersonic flight vehicles. This project aims to deliver fundamental knowledge by integrating the modelling and control with the design of next generation hypersonic platforms. In an era where Australia's national security reliance on geographic isolation and support from allied forces are being challenged, the research outcomes of this project will play an important role in understanding the capabilities of hypersonic systems. The project will also ....Co-design and dynamic mission optimisation of hypersonic flight vehicles. This project aims to deliver fundamental knowledge by integrating the modelling and control with the design of next generation hypersonic platforms. In an era where Australia's national security reliance on geographic isolation and support from allied forces are being challenged, the research outcomes of this project will play an important role in understanding the capabilities of hypersonic systems. The project will also have significant spillover benefits into other complex system domains, where computational tools can be used to aid in design leading to high embedded-IP products for Australian industry. Furthermore, the proposal encompasses a strong research training aspect, with graduates exposed to leading edge industry and academia.Read moreRead less
Understanding the generation of hypothalamic sleep neurons. This Project aims to investigate the mechanisms controlling the formation of the sleep neurons in the hypothalamus. We all sleep, and normal sleep-wake cycles play a central role in our biology. The functional role of these sleep neurons in the mature brain are well established. However, how the neurons are generated during development is very poorly defined. This project aims to address this critical knowledge gap, and will greatly inc ....Understanding the generation of hypothalamic sleep neurons. This Project aims to investigate the mechanisms controlling the formation of the sleep neurons in the hypothalamus. We all sleep, and normal sleep-wake cycles play a central role in our biology. The functional role of these sleep neurons in the mature brain are well established. However, how the neurons are generated during development is very poorly defined. This project aims to address this critical knowledge gap, and will greatly increase our understanding of how the development of this critical aspect of organismal function is orchestrated during development. This project will also develop bioinformatics tools with broad utility within the biosciences field and enhance the capacity for interdisciplinary international collaborations.Read moreRead less
How does embryonic physiology shape the divergence of brain development? . Unlike placental mammals (humans, mice, dogs etc) marsupials give birth to very immature young that finalise development in the pouch. Despite this remarkable distinction in the major mammalian lineages, very little is known about how differing reproductive environments impact development and evolution. This project aims to explore how developing inside or outside a uterus impacts brain development in placental vs marsupi ....How does embryonic physiology shape the divergence of brain development? . Unlike placental mammals (humans, mice, dogs etc) marsupials give birth to very immature young that finalise development in the pouch. Despite this remarkable distinction in the major mammalian lineages, very little is known about how differing reproductive environments impact development and evolution. This project aims to explore how developing inside or outside a uterus impacts brain development in placental vs marsupial mammals. Expected outcomes include expanding theories of how different body systems are connected in development and evolution, understanding what aspects of marsupial development might be especially sensitive to variations in environment brought about by climate change and enhancing Australia’s research capabilities.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210101864
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$442,500.00
Summary
Unlocking Urban Airspace for Drone Transport. This project aims to accurately quantify the mid-air collision risk associated with low-altitude unmanned operations in urban airspace through the creation of new data-driven collision risk modelling techniques. Without such techniques, drone operations remain suppressed so their true potential cannot be realised. The collision risk models address this by providing the key missing knowledge that can underpin/enable vital unmanned traffic management ....Unlocking Urban Airspace for Drone Transport. This project aims to accurately quantify the mid-air collision risk associated with low-altitude unmanned operations in urban airspace through the creation of new data-driven collision risk modelling techniques. Without such techniques, drone operations remain suppressed so their true potential cannot be realised. The collision risk models address this by providing the key missing knowledge that can underpin/enable vital unmanned traffic management applications, including airspace design and the development of separation standards. This can ultimately enable greater access to urban airspace without compromising air safety such that we unlock the commercial and societal benefits of drone use and help modernise urban air transportation.
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Neural circuit control of effort under stress . This Project aims to investigate how the ‘decision’ to persist in exerting effort to obtain a reward is encoded in the the brain and affected by stress. This work will generate new knowledge on the neural mechanisms through which stress modifies neural activity to control decision making processes underpinning adaptive behaviours essential for survival. The expected outcomes of this work include enhanced capacity at the interface of behavioural a ....Neural circuit control of effort under stress . This Project aims to investigate how the ‘decision’ to persist in exerting effort to obtain a reward is encoded in the the brain and affected by stress. This work will generate new knowledge on the neural mechanisms through which stress modifies neural activity to control decision making processes underpinning adaptive behaviours essential for survival. The expected outcomes of this work include enhanced capacity at the interface of behavioural and computational neuroscience, that will in turn provide significant benefits through greater insight into brain functions essential for survival, with long ranging implications for performance optimisation and brain-inspired computing. Read moreRead less
How does timing affect mammalian brain development and evolution? This project aims to generate fundamental knowledge on the origin of diversity in mammalian brain circuits by studying development of marsupials and rodents. The expected outcome is to elucidate how differences in the timing, rate and sequence of development of gene expression, cell differentiation and circuit formation can relate to the origin of key evolutionary innovations in the mammalian brain. The significance of understandi ....How does timing affect mammalian brain development and evolution? This project aims to generate fundamental knowledge on the origin of diversity in mammalian brain circuits by studying development of marsupials and rodents. The expected outcome is to elucidate how differences in the timing, rate and sequence of development of gene expression, cell differentiation and circuit formation can relate to the origin of key evolutionary innovations in the mammalian brain. The significance of understanding the dynamics of developmental systems that shape complex brain traits includes establishing new developmental paradigms in evolutionary theory, generating new tools to investigate and manipulate brain gene expression in vivo, and the potential discovery of the causes of neurodevelopmental dysfunction.Read moreRead less