How childhood inattention affects the emerging cognitive landscape. This project aims to determine whether behavioural and cognitive inattention differentially map onto early and later developing cognitive skills such as numeracy and literacy. Lack of focus and concentration, distractibility, poor task completion and forgetfulness are common manifestations of inattention and can insidiously affect learning skills that need attention as a building block such as literacy and numeracy skills. Howev ....How childhood inattention affects the emerging cognitive landscape. This project aims to determine whether behavioural and cognitive inattention differentially map onto early and later developing cognitive skills such as numeracy and literacy. Lack of focus and concentration, distractibility, poor task completion and forgetfulness are common manifestations of inattention and can insidiously affect learning skills that need attention as a building block such as literacy and numeracy skills. However, how attention affects their acquisition, across development, is not fully known. The findings are expected to guide cognitive-based interventions to improve attention skills as a mechanism for improving children’s learning trajectories in the first years of schooling.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
Linking arterial, brain and cognitive integrity in healthy older adults. This project aims to demonstrate that engaging the brain’s prefrontal cortex, an area that is highly sensitive to ageing, can improve the function of arteries that supply blood to this brain region. Using an innovative optical imaging methodology that maps the brain’s regional arterial health, it aims to generate new knowledge about the link between this arterial system and the progressive decline in cognitive control abili ....Linking arterial, brain and cognitive integrity in healthy older adults. This project aims to demonstrate that engaging the brain’s prefrontal cortex, an area that is highly sensitive to ageing, can improve the function of arteries that supply blood to this brain region. Using an innovative optical imaging methodology that maps the brain’s regional arterial health, it aims to generate new knowledge about the link between this arterial system and the progressive decline in cognitive control ability and in prefrontal cortex structure and function in healthy older adults. This interdisciplinary, international collaboration aims to put Australia at the forefront of brain optical imaging methods that may have significant benefits by informing approaches to promote and maintain healthy brain and cognition in old age.Read moreRead less
Intergenerational determinants of child development on school entry. There is widespread interest in preconception determinants of child development but progress relies on multigenerational longitudinal datasets, which are rare internationally. This project takes advantage of a unique opportunity to follow third-generation offspring from one of Australia's oldest longitudinal studies of psychosocial development. The Australian Temperament Project has followed 2000+ young Australians (and their f ....Intergenerational determinants of child development on school entry. There is widespread interest in preconception determinants of child development but progress relies on multigenerational longitudinal datasets, which are rare internationally. This project takes advantage of a unique opportunity to follow third-generation offspring from one of Australia's oldest longitudinal studies of psychosocial development. The Australian Temperament Project has followed 2000+ young Australians (and their families) since 1983, and over 1000 offspring from pregnancy to 4 years since 2012. This project will expand offspring assessments to 6-years, marking the transition to school. Findings have the potential to reshape approaches promoting intergenerational wellbeing and breaking intergenerational cycles of disadvantage.Read moreRead less
Assessment of circadian and light interactions in adolescent sleepiness. This project aims to examine the relative contributions of multiple biological clock and sleep factors that may be linked to cognitive function and sleepiness in adolescents. Over 70 per cent of adolescents in Australia experience insufficient sleep. Cross-sectional studies have shown that insufficient sleep and mistimed sleep lead to reduced cognitive function. The project intends to identify specific sleep and circadian m ....Assessment of circadian and light interactions in adolescent sleepiness. This project aims to examine the relative contributions of multiple biological clock and sleep factors that may be linked to cognitive function and sleepiness in adolescents. Over 70 per cent of adolescents in Australia experience insufficient sleep. Cross-sectional studies have shown that insufficient sleep and mistimed sleep lead to reduced cognitive function. The project intends to identify specific sleep and circadian markers that are linked to academic performance, and generate innovative algorithms that predict these associations. The project will provide new knowledge to drive prevention and early intervention programs that use sleep-wake and light exposure information to improve sleep quality.Read moreRead less
Integrative brain imaging technologies. This project aims to develop quantitative metabolic imaging using simultaneous magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET). The current generation of MR-PET scanners are capable of simultaneously acquiring MRI and PET data to enable quantitative anatomical, physiological and metabolic imaging. The project aims to develop new MRI methods for quantitative anatomical mapping, MR-based motion correction of dynamic PET scan data, and ....Integrative brain imaging technologies. This project aims to develop quantitative metabolic imaging using simultaneous magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET). The current generation of MR-PET scanners are capable of simultaneously acquiring MRI and PET data to enable quantitative anatomical, physiological and metabolic imaging. The project aims to develop new MRI methods for quantitative anatomical mapping, MR-based motion correction of dynamic PET scan data, and joint estimation of physiological and metabolic organ activity. These advances will create innovative imaging technologies for advanced biomedical imaging research with a particular emphasis in healthy ageing.
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Industrial Transformation Training Centres - Grant ID: IC210100019
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$4,583,816.00
Summary
ARC Training Centre for Optimal Ageing. The ARC Training Centre for Optimal Ageing aims to address issues identified by older adults as essential for quality of life. With our industry partners, we aim to train the next generation of researchers to understand, detect and improve psychosocial factors that support mental activity, physical health and social connectedness, and embrace advances in artificial intelligence, digital-enriched environments and adaptive workplaces to deliver effective dig ....ARC Training Centre for Optimal Ageing. The ARC Training Centre for Optimal Ageing aims to address issues identified by older adults as essential for quality of life. With our industry partners, we aim to train the next generation of researchers to understand, detect and improve psychosocial factors that support mental activity, physical health and social connectedness, and embrace advances in artificial intelligence, digital-enriched environments and adaptive workplaces to deliver effective digital solutions. By developing new capacity and capability to drive the digital transformation of industries supporting our ageing population, our Centre seeks to deliver economic and social benefits that enable Australians to live enriched, healthy and independent lives as they age.Read moreRead less
Modelling and manipulating brain network dynamics across the lifespan. This project aims to integrate advanced computational modelling and state-of-the-art recording techniques to generate new knowledge on the neural basis of ageing. People are said to grow wiser as they grow older, though more likely they will experience cognitive slowing and reduced memory functions that interfere with their daily lives. The anticipated goal of the project is to develop techniques to predict the personalised e ....Modelling and manipulating brain network dynamics across the lifespan. This project aims to integrate advanced computational modelling and state-of-the-art recording techniques to generate new knowledge on the neural basis of ageing. People are said to grow wiser as they grow older, though more likely they will experience cognitive slowing and reduced memory functions that interfere with their daily lives. The anticipated goal of the project is to develop techniques to predict the personalised effects of brain stimulation on the ageing brain. The outcomes of this research could significantly improve understanding of brain ageing, and advance the fields of systems neuroscience, network science, and brain stimulation.Read moreRead less