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Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989703
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$500,000.00
Summary
Multiphoton microscope for cellular imaging in live animals. The proposed facility will for the first time allow scientists across Sydney to monitor cell function in intact brain and muscle tissues. The novel optical approach combines fluorescent markers with sophisticated microscopy. The presence of this facility will allow Australian scientists to design new approaches to fundamental biological questions concerning cellular function within the normal environment. In addition this facility wi ....Multiphoton microscope for cellular imaging in live animals. The proposed facility will for the first time allow scientists across Sydney to monitor cell function in intact brain and muscle tissues. The novel optical approach combines fluorescent markers with sophisticated microscopy. The presence of this facility will allow Australian scientists to design new approaches to fundamental biological questions concerning cellular function within the normal environment. In addition this facility will allow PhD and post-doctoral scientists to train and have access to a rapidly developing and cutting edge approach to biological problems.Read moreRead less
The Functional Significance of Motor Laterality. Just as humans are left- or right-handed, dogs are left-and right-pawed and, most importantly, left-pawed individuals tend towards innate fearfulness. Using dogs as a model, this project will explore lateralisation in general.
Guide dogs and police dogs are required to work only on one side of their handlers. This convention is likely to affect the work of individual dogs. This project will examine the extent to which pawedness predicts success ....The Functional Significance of Motor Laterality. Just as humans are left- or right-handed, dogs are left-and right-pawed and, most importantly, left-pawed individuals tend towards innate fearfulness. Using dogs as a model, this project will explore lateralisation in general.
Guide dogs and police dogs are required to work only on one side of their handlers. This convention is likely to affect the work of individual dogs. This project will examine the extent to which pawedness predicts success in working dog training. It has the potential to reduce wastage that comes from recruitment of unsuitable dogs and will also improve our understanding of family pets.
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The role of context in the acquisition, extinction and reinstatement of fear. Behavioural studies have identified a role for context in the development, extinction and reactivation of fear memories. Although there has been significant progress in delineating the neural pathways for fear conditioning, less is known about the substrates that represent the context of conditioning. This project studies the neural substrates of the processes by which context controls the acquisition, extinction and r ....The role of context in the acquisition, extinction and reinstatement of fear. Behavioural studies have identified a role for context in the development, extinction and reactivation of fear memories. Although there has been significant progress in delineating the neural pathways for fear conditioning, less is known about the substrates that represent the context of conditioning. This project studies the neural substrates of the processes by which context controls the acquisition, extinction and reactivation of fear memories. Specifically, it examines the role of information flow between the dorsal subiculum and the accumbens nucleus in the processes by which rats learn about environmental context and the control exerted by such contexts on fear memories.Read moreRead less
Identification of genetic polymorphisms of synaptically expressed genes that contribute to variation in normal brain function. This project focuses on understanding brain functions. Brain and mind disorders are by far the largest contributors to the burden of disability, far exceeding any other disorder. This research will contribute to knowledge through addressing the national research priority promoting and maintaining good health. The research outcomes will form the scientific knowledge base ....Identification of genetic polymorphisms of synaptically expressed genes that contribute to variation in normal brain function. This project focuses on understanding brain functions. Brain and mind disorders are by far the largest contributors to the burden of disability, far exceeding any other disorder. This research will contribute to knowledge through addressing the national research priority promoting and maintaining good health. The research outcomes will form the scientific knowledge base essential for the translation of the project into public benefit through their application in development of new testing paradigms for a range of brain and mind disorders. Read moreRead less
Motion and Spatial Coding in Vision. The results of this project will have implications for the design and implementation of artificial visual systems. Completion of this project will depend upon international collaboration - forging links between a young Australian investigator and outstanding overseas scientists as well as providing excellent training opportunities. Subsequent publication of the research in top-ranking international journals will further promote Australian science abroad.
Brain lateralization: its function, evolution, development and change with ageing. Brain research is undoubtedly one of the key research fields today. This project involves highly innovative research at the highest international level, keeping Australia at the forefront of research on brain lateralization, a very important field of brain research in humans and animals (co-founded by the applicant). This project 1) investigates dynamic changes of the developing, mature and ageing brain for vital ....Brain lateralization: its function, evolution, development and change with ageing. Brain research is undoubtedly one of the key research fields today. This project involves highly innovative research at the highest international level, keeping Australia at the forefront of research on brain lateralization, a very important field of brain research in humans and animals (co-founded by the applicant). This project 1) investigates dynamic changes of the developing, mature and ageing brain for vital functions using animal models, thus contributing importantly to our understanding of normal functions of the human brain, including some forms of mental dysfunction and also ageing; 2) trains postgraduate students at the highest standards and 3) maintains important collaboration with colleagues in Europe. Read moreRead less
The role of prediction error in extinction. The project will provide information about the mechanisms by which organisms adjust their behaviour to bring it into line with new relations between events. It will also provide information regarding the mechanisms underlying cue exposure used in the treatment of anxiety disorders. It will result in publications in peer reviewed journals, and in presentations at University colloquia and conferences in Australia and overseas that will add to the reputat ....The role of prediction error in extinction. The project will provide information about the mechanisms by which organisms adjust their behaviour to bring it into line with new relations between events. It will also provide information regarding the mechanisms underlying cue exposure used in the treatment of anxiety disorders. It will result in publications in peer reviewed journals, and in presentations at University colloquia and conferences in Australia and overseas that will add to the reputation for science and its applications to the clinic. It will form part of the work in my laboratory where Honours and Doctoral students receive training in behavioural neuroscience.Read moreRead less
The neural substrates of attentional learning in Pavlovian conditioning. Current psychological theories use error correction mechanisms to explain the development of normal fear, exaggerated fear and the failure to develop fear. One class of theory proposes that these mechanisms produce such outcomes by determining the allocation of attention. Mechanisms for attentional learning have yet to be incorporated into neurobiological treatments of learned fear. This project will identify the neurobiolo ....The neural substrates of attentional learning in Pavlovian conditioning. Current psychological theories use error correction mechanisms to explain the development of normal fear, exaggerated fear and the failure to develop fear. One class of theory proposes that these mechanisms produce such outcomes by determining the allocation of attention. Mechanisms for attentional learning have yet to be incorporated into neurobiological treatments of learned fear. This project will identify the neurobiological substrate of attentional learning and thus further our understanding of the neurobiology of fear. This understanding is necessary for the development of more effective treatments of disorders of fear (e.g., Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).Read moreRead less
Are there advantages in having a lateralized brain? Specialisation of the left and right hemispheres of the brain to process different information and to control different responses is not, as once thought, unique to humans but common to all vertebrates. In fact, the same general pattern of lateralization occurs in amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. Until now, it has been important to document the presence and nature of lateralization in different species. Now it is important to discover t ....Are there advantages in having a lateralized brain? Specialisation of the left and right hemispheres of the brain to process different information and to control different responses is not, as once thought, unique to humans but common to all vertebrates. In fact, the same general pattern of lateralization occurs in amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. Until now, it has been important to document the presence and nature of lateralization in different species. Now it is important to discover the advantages (and disadvantages) of having a lateralized brain. This project will do so using two model species, the chick and the marmoset, and new techniques to measure behaviour.Read moreRead less
Latent inhibition: Behavioural characteristics and neural substrates. Latent inhibition is an animal model of schizophrenia. It refers to the impairment in learned performance when a pre-exposed stimulus signals something of importance. The initial learning interferes with the subsequent learning. This effect fails to occur in schizophrenics but occurs after their treatment with antipsychotic medication. The project will provide the basis for a comprehensive theory of the processes involved in t ....Latent inhibition: Behavioural characteristics and neural substrates. Latent inhibition is an animal model of schizophrenia. It refers to the impairment in learned performance when a pre-exposed stimulus signals something of importance. The initial learning interferes with the subsequent learning. This effect fails to occur in schizophrenics but occurs after their treatment with antipsychotic medication. The project will provide the basis for a comprehensive theory of the processes involved in the effect and their neural substrates. Such a theory will clarify the processes and neural substrates disrupted in schizophrenia. Students will receive training in behavioural neuroscience, and publication of results in journals and presentations at conferences will add to the reputation of Australian science.Read moreRead less