The human mirror system and the perception of others' actions. This research will provide greater understanding of how the human mirror system operates for the perception of actions, a crucial first-step toward understanding disorders of action perception such as autism and apraxia. The research program will also contribute greatly to building national capacity in cognitive neuroscience research, using advanced brain imaging methods. The fellow actively encourages and mentors young scientists, o ....The human mirror system and the perception of others' actions. This research will provide greater understanding of how the human mirror system operates for the perception of actions, a crucial first-step toward understanding disorders of action perception such as autism and apraxia. The research program will also contribute greatly to building national capacity in cognitive neuroscience research, using advanced brain imaging methods. The fellow actively encourages and mentors young scientists, organises advanced workshops that bring brain imaging researchers around the world to Australia, and builds international collaborations based around high-field brain imaging. The Future Fellowship will substantially enhance these activities, building capacity and enhancing Australia's reputation in cognitive neurosciences.Read moreRead less
Learning about threats: the neural and behavioural response to predator-related cues in rodents. This project will investigate the anxiety displayed by rats when confronted with the odours of predators such as cats. This anxiety may be very similar to that experienced by humans who suffer from anxiety disorders such as phobias. By investigating the nature of this anxiety, the nature of the stimuli that produce it, and the learning and neural processes that underlie it we may better understand h ....Learning about threats: the neural and behavioural response to predator-related cues in rodents. This project will investigate the anxiety displayed by rats when confronted with the odours of predators such as cats. This anxiety may be very similar to that experienced by humans who suffer from anxiety disorders such as phobias. By investigating the nature of this anxiety, the nature of the stimuli that produce it, and the learning and neural processes that underlie it we may better understand human anxiety. The project also aims to identify novel chemicals in the fur of cats that have rodent repellent properties. Such chemicals may be of great use in domestic and agricultural contexts where rodents are pests.Read moreRead less
Position perception, attention, object motion, and action. The research will achieve a deeper understanding of the neural processing of the visual perception of position, and of the associated behavioural limits. This will provide a foundation for the development of a range of technologies to assist disabled and elderly people. The results will help reveal the link between the perception of moving objects and the capacity for visually guided movement. This link will benefit areas such as enginee ....Position perception, attention, object motion, and action. The research will achieve a deeper understanding of the neural processing of the visual perception of position, and of the associated behavioural limits. This will provide a foundation for the development of a range of technologies to assist disabled and elderly people. The results will help reveal the link between the perception of moving objects and the capacity for visually guided movement. This link will benefit areas such as engineering of vehicles and road systems, and the design of telepresence systems. The first applications are likely to be in the rehabilitation of brain injury and the decline of mental function with age.Read moreRead less
"Evidence based" evaluation of treatment in ADHD. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is marked by limitations in diagnostic accuracy, psychobiological characterisation and assessment of treatment efficacy. A national consortium of scientists and clinicians is planning to address these issues using an assessment protocol recently developed by the Brain Resource Company Ltd, which involves integrated neuroscientific and psychometric measurement that taps many of the brain's informati ...."Evidence based" evaluation of treatment in ADHD. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is marked by limitations in diagnostic accuracy, psychobiological characterisation and assessment of treatment efficacy. A national consortium of scientists and clinicians is planning to address these issues using an assessment protocol recently developed by the Brain Resource Company Ltd, which involves integrated neuroscientific and psychometric measurement that taps many of the brain's information processing networks. Specifically, the aims of the project are to identify biological and cognitive markers that reflect ADHD in its untreated form, and markers that discriminate treatment effects relative to the pre treatment profile. The results from this study will be translated into a product that uses the protocol to provide a service able to profile ADHD more accurately and evaluate the effects of treatment.Read moreRead less
The impact of female sex hormones on neurodevelopment. This project aims to characterise the contribution of sex hormones to the development of emotional brain circuits in female adolescents. Puberty is associated with profound changes in emotional behaviours in females, but we know little about the underlying brain mechanisms. In particular, research has neglected to consider the role of the sex hormones for which changes are a defining feature of female puberty (eg, oestradiol). This work will ....The impact of female sex hormones on neurodevelopment. This project aims to characterise the contribution of sex hormones to the development of emotional brain circuits in female adolescents. Puberty is associated with profound changes in emotional behaviours in females, but we know little about the underlying brain mechanisms. In particular, research has neglected to consider the role of the sex hormones for which changes are a defining feature of female puberty (eg, oestradiol). This work will be the first to comprehensively advance our understanding of the unique role of sex hormones in shaping the adolescent female brain. It will provide critical understanding of how individual differences in hormonal factors increase risk for emotional problems in females, and inform treatment strategies.Read moreRead less
The psychobiology of forgetting: Opioid receptors and inhibitory constraints on storage of long-term memory. This project has four main national benefits. First, it addresses a fundamental scientific and practical issue: the psychobiology of forgetting. Second, it will provide important insights into variations in memory functioning across the lifespan. A significant challenge facing Australia is understanding, and where possible alleviating, the decline in mental function that occurs with age. ....The psychobiology of forgetting: Opioid receptors and inhibitory constraints on storage of long-term memory. This project has four main national benefits. First, it addresses a fundamental scientific and practical issue: the psychobiology of forgetting. Second, it will provide important insights into variations in memory functioning across the lifespan. A significant challenge facing Australia is understanding, and where possible alleviating, the decline in mental function that occurs with age. This project may help identify targets to alleviate age-related impairments in memory. Third, this project will contribute to Australia's international reputation in behavioural neuroscience. Fourth, this project will provide outstanding training opportunities for Australian undergraduate and postgraduate research students in behavioural neuroscience.Read moreRead less
Models of adolescent drug use and its consequences. Recent concerns surround the impact of drug abuse - particularly binge drinking, inhalant abuse and cannabis use - on the mental health of adolescents. Early drug use is associated with mental health problems although the mechanisms involved are not well characterised. The present proposal aims to use animal models to characterise substance abuse that occurs during the adolescent period and to investigate its effects on brain and behaviour. Inc ....Models of adolescent drug use and its consequences. Recent concerns surround the impact of drug abuse - particularly binge drinking, inhalant abuse and cannabis use - on the mental health of adolescents. Early drug use is associated with mental health problems although the mechanisms involved are not well characterised. The present proposal aims to use animal models to characterise substance abuse that occurs during the adolescent period and to investigate its effects on brain and behaviour. Increasing our knowledge of the causes and consequences of adolescent drug abuse will improve Australia's ability to confront this problem and to develop early interventions and treatments that minimise associated harms.Read moreRead less
Age-dependent effects of cannabinoids on emotion, cognition and vulnerablity to addiction. Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug in Australia so understanding the effects of this drug is of great importance. There is little of no basic research on cannabis currently occurring in Australia. Yet such research is critical in resolving the ambiguities and difficulties inherent in our understanding of the drug. The importance of increasing our understanding of the long-term effects of the dr ....Age-dependent effects of cannabinoids on emotion, cognition and vulnerablity to addiction. Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug in Australia so understanding the effects of this drug is of great importance. There is little of no basic research on cannabis currently occurring in Australia. Yet such research is critical in resolving the ambiguities and difficulties inherent in our understanding of the drug. The importance of increasing our understanding of the long-term effects of the drug on young developing brains is particularly evident. The information gained in the current project will serve to inform medical and scientific communities, government policy makers, as well as the broader Australian community. Read moreRead less
Validation of a New Conceptual Model of ADHD based on Underlying Central Nervous System Dysfunction. ADHD is a debilitating problem that affects 5% of children and approximately half as many adults. ADHD causes substantial problems at school and if untreated, predisposes the individual to increased drug and alcohol use, marital breakdown, criminal prosecution and psychiatric problems in later life. One problem is that we do not fully understand what are the causes of the disorder. This project w ....Validation of a New Conceptual Model of ADHD based on Underlying Central Nervous System Dysfunction. ADHD is a debilitating problem that affects 5% of children and approximately half as many adults. ADHD causes substantial problems at school and if untreated, predisposes the individual to increased drug and alcohol use, marital breakdown, criminal prosecution and psychiatric problems in later life. One problem is that we do not fully understand what are the causes of the disorder. This project will test the validity of several models of brain dysfunction in ADHD which have been influential in the literature, but poorly tested. Through better understanding of the basic underlying problems, more effective intervention can be developed.Read moreRead less
Studying the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation with near Infrared spectroscopy. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is increasingly being used as a tool in studying human and animal brain function and in the treatment of brain disorders but there are fundamental gaps in our understanding of its basic mechanisms of action and hence our capacity to optimise protocols. This research will use near infrared spectroscopy to study the range of potential ways of alt ....Studying the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation with near Infrared spectroscopy. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is increasingly being used as a tool in studying human and animal brain function and in the treatment of brain disorders but there are fundamental gaps in our understanding of its basic mechanisms of action and hence our capacity to optimise protocols. This research will use near infrared spectroscopy to study the range of potential ways of altering brain activity with rTMS. It will substantially enhance the applicability of the technique ultimately improving our knowledge of human and animal brain function and outcomes for patients with depression and other disorders. It will help reinforce Australia as a leading country in the development of brain stimulation techniques.Read moreRead less