Mental imagery and visual working memory. Remembering information “in mind” is severely limited by restrictions in capacity, duration and precision. The limits on capacity and precision in visual working memory remain unclear. Likewise, the search for the neural correlates of visual working memory has produced conflicting results. This proposal will show that the limits in precision, capacity and the neural correlates of visual working memory are driven by visual mental imagery. By showing that ....Mental imagery and visual working memory. Remembering information “in mind” is severely limited by restrictions in capacity, duration and precision. The limits on capacity and precision in visual working memory remain unclear. Likewise, the search for the neural correlates of visual working memory has produced conflicting results. This proposal will show that the limits in precision, capacity and the neural correlates of visual working memory are driven by visual mental imagery. By showing that mental imagery is the missing link to a comprehensive understanding of working memory, This project will show that mental imagery strength limits how much visual information can be held "in mind”. This work will unify two heated scientific debates and produce a complete map of working memory.Read moreRead less
Poor social functioning in schizophrenia: understanding its causes and developing better treatments. This project will advance knowledge of the thinking processes and the associated neural changes that cause the lifelong social disability which characterises schizophrenia. Findings will, in turn, contribute to better identifying young people, at risk of developing schizophrenia, and inform the design of new interventions and treatments.
Moral reasoning and mental illness: towards a model of moral judgment and moral accountability. This research examines capacities for moral judgment in people with schizophrenia, some of whom act on their delusional beliefs and commit crimes. Findings will, in turn, inform legal and philosophical consideration of the moral accountability of mentally ill defendants, and advance theoretical knowledge of healthy moral decision making.
Memory consolidation - Integrating cognitive science and neuroscience approaches to how we remember and how we forget. How can we forget what happened yesterday, but vividly remember our first kiss? Neuroscientists think the brain has a special mechanism to strengthen memories with time, but many psychologists disagree. The project aims to bring the brain and the mind closer together, using the cutting-edge combination of brain imaging and psychological modelling.
The impact of motherhood on fear extinction in rats. This project aims to identify how motherhood, a time of significant hormonal flux, alters the mechanisms underlying fear regulation in female rats. Current theories of fear regulation are limited because they have been derived from studies that have focused on males but recent work suggests that sex hormones influence fear regulation. The expected outcomes of this project will help to develop a more ecologically valid model of fear regulation ....The impact of motherhood on fear extinction in rats. This project aims to identify how motherhood, a time of significant hormonal flux, alters the mechanisms underlying fear regulation in female rats. Current theories of fear regulation are limited because they have been derived from studies that have focused on males but recent work suggests that sex hormones influence fear regulation. The expected outcomes of this project will help to develop a more ecologically valid model of fear regulation that accounts for fluctuations in female sex hormones and reproductive experience. This should provide unique insights into fear reduction and protection against anxiety.Read moreRead less
Understanding the emotional brain in risk for depression. The burden of illness due to depression is enormous; family disruption, lost productivity and a high healthcare spend. There are no objective ways to target who will benefit most from preventative programs. This study will detail for the first time how genetic risk may develop into overt depression due to effects on emotional brain systems.
Investigating anticipatory traumatic threat in refugees and asylum seekers. This project seeks to establish how traumatic threat differs from post-traumatic stress and generalised worry. Research into traumatic stress has focused on the pathogenic role of past trauma. There has been little research among populations facing ongoing traumatic threat. A cluster of future-oriented threat-related intrusive symptoms has been identified among refugees with insecure residency that is distinct from post- ....Investigating anticipatory traumatic threat in refugees and asylum seekers. This project seeks to establish how traumatic threat differs from post-traumatic stress and generalised worry. Research into traumatic stress has focused on the pathogenic role of past trauma. There has been little research among populations facing ongoing traumatic threat. A cluster of future-oriented threat-related intrusive symptoms has been identified among refugees with insecure residency that is distinct from post-traumatic stress and worry. The project aims to investigate this traumatic threat response using descriptive and experimental approaches. The findings from this study may lay the foundation of a revised understanding of the human response to traumatic threat.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100392
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$340,000.00
Summary
Impaired fear inhibition in adolescence. This project aims to test whether an imbalance in the adolescent brain impairs fear regulation. Recent evidence shows that adolescents, both rodent and human, do not effectively inhibit fear. This project will systematically isolate the role of specific neural circuits by selectively manipulating their activity in a cell type specific manner during fear inhibition in adolescent rats. Understanding neural processes that impair fear regulation during a vuln ....Impaired fear inhibition in adolescence. This project aims to test whether an imbalance in the adolescent brain impairs fear regulation. Recent evidence shows that adolescents, both rodent and human, do not effectively inhibit fear. This project will systematically isolate the role of specific neural circuits by selectively manipulating their activity in a cell type specific manner during fear inhibition in adolescent rats. Understanding neural processes that impair fear regulation during a vulnerable period of development could lead to a more complete neurobiological theory of fear regulation in adolescence, and improve treatments for anxious youth.Read moreRead less
A cross-species investigation of individual differences in fear regulation. This project aims to determine the utility of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), a naturally produced protein, as a biomarker of individual differences in fear responses, and as an enhancer of fear regulation. A cross-species translational approach will be employed, incorporating evidence from fear conditioning and extinction studies in rats, healthy humans, and clinical populations. The outcomes of this project are expe ....A cross-species investigation of individual differences in fear regulation. This project aims to determine the utility of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), a naturally produced protein, as a biomarker of individual differences in fear responses, and as an enhancer of fear regulation. A cross-species translational approach will be employed, incorporating evidence from fear conditioning and extinction studies in rats, healthy humans, and clinical populations. The outcomes of this project are expected to show how natural variations in FGF2 levels are related to resilience following adversity, and how manipulations that increase FGF2 levels can augment resilience. The intended outcomes may lead to improved ways of identifying people who are at risk of developing anxiety, and novel ways of treating anxiety.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170101384
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$345,000.00
Summary
Neural circuits underlying the reinstatement of food reward-seeking. This project aims to map out the neural circuits and mechanisms underlying the reinstatement of palatable food-seeking behaviour. Despite various dietary strategies to promote weight loss in obese/overweight individuals, the wide availability of environmental food cues can reinstate palatable food-seeking behaviours, thus negating weight loss efforts. The intended outcome of this project is a better mechanistic understanding of ....Neural circuits underlying the reinstatement of food reward-seeking. This project aims to map out the neural circuits and mechanisms underlying the reinstatement of palatable food-seeking behaviour. Despite various dietary strategies to promote weight loss in obese/overweight individuals, the wide availability of environmental food cues can reinstate palatable food-seeking behaviours, thus negating weight loss efforts. The intended outcome of this project is a better mechanistic understanding of the reinstatement of food reward-seeking behaviour to help relieve the national economic burden of obesity and to improve the cost-effectiveness of weight loss strategies.Read moreRead less