Organisation of the cerebral cortex- what, if anything, is a cortical area? Currently, much effort is being directed towards elucidating the roles of different regions of the cerebral cortex. "Maps" of cortical areas have become essential points of reference, exerting a powerful influence on the way we think about the brain. However, is it really appropriate to model the cortex as a mosaic of well-defined areas? This project will challenge the assumptions underlying current brain mapping efforts ....Organisation of the cerebral cortex- what, if anything, is a cortical area? Currently, much effort is being directed towards elucidating the roles of different regions of the cerebral cortex. "Maps" of cortical areas have become essential points of reference, exerting a powerful influence on the way we think about the brain. However, is it really appropriate to model the cortex as a mosaic of well-defined areas? This project will challenge the assumptions underlying current brain mapping efforts. Its main benefits will be the refinement of strategies for brain mapping, including potential for better
application/interpretation of available medical technology, and unique insights on the mechanisms of development and evolution of the nervous system.
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Understanding how the brain uses sensory information to guide reaching and grasping movements. Reaching, grasping and manipulating objects are crucial aspects of our daily lives, which are performed so effortlessly that they tend to be taken for granted. We know however that these functions take a relatively long time to mature (think of a baby learning how to get an object), and that they can be impaired by brain lesions involving a region called the posterior parietal cortex. We also know that ....Understanding how the brain uses sensory information to guide reaching and grasping movements. Reaching, grasping and manipulating objects are crucial aspects of our daily lives, which are performed so effortlessly that they tend to be taken for granted. We know however that these functions take a relatively long time to mature (think of a baby learning how to get an object), and that they can be impaired by brain lesions involving a region called the posterior parietal cortex. We also know that this region has multiple subdivisions, but how exactly these interact in allowing the sensory information to guide arm and hand muscles is unknown. Discovering how this happens in terms of cellular interaction can have profound implications for the creation of new technologies such as artificial limbs and autonomous robots, and result in health benefits.Read moreRead less
Relationship of the functional architecture of the mammalian brain to its microcircuitry. The project seeks to understand a very fundamental issue in neuroscience: how the connectivity and architecture of the cortex are related to the functions of neurones in that area? This will be investigated by imaging the surface of the visual cortex of anaesthetised cats and monkeys as special visual patterns are shown to the eye/s. The overall picture gained of the active and inactive cortical areas will ....Relationship of the functional architecture of the mammalian brain to its microcircuitry. The project seeks to understand a very fundamental issue in neuroscience: how the connectivity and architecture of the cortex are related to the functions of neurones in that area? This will be investigated by imaging the surface of the visual cortex of anaesthetised cats and monkeys as special visual patterns are shown to the eye/s. The overall picture gained of the active and inactive cortical areas will be related to the properties of neurones in those areas and to those of individual input and output fibres. An optical imaging equipment will be acquired in 2004 using a recently awarded LIEF grant to the CI.Read moreRead less
Complexity in a mesoscopic model of brain dynamics. Research into how the brain work remains at the frontier of human knowledge. We possess only the vaguest idea how the brain is able to generate memories, perceptions and behaviour. This research proposal concerns new approaches aimed at bridging this gap in our understanding by developing and studying detailed theories of the brain's electrical activity. The outcomes of this work will not only suggest improved diagnostic methods and treatments ....Complexity in a mesoscopic model of brain dynamics. Research into how the brain work remains at the frontier of human knowledge. We possess only the vaguest idea how the brain is able to generate memories, perceptions and behaviour. This research proposal concerns new approaches aimed at bridging this gap in our understanding by developing and studying detailed theories of the brain's electrical activity. The outcomes of this work will not only suggest improved diagnostic methods and treatments but contribute vital knowledge about how to control and predict the behaviour of complex systems.Read moreRead less
Synaptic and network properties underlying neural coding in the mammalian visual cortex. This study will:
(1) Increase our basic understanding of visual function that can help to explain many clinical perceptual disturbances. (2) Help in providing a detailed picture of intracortical neuronal networks that can form the basis for a prosthesis for the blind. (3) Discover the principles of neural organization underlying functions such as figure-ground segregation and perceptual learning which can i ....Synaptic and network properties underlying neural coding in the mammalian visual cortex. This study will:
(1) Increase our basic understanding of visual function that can help to explain many clinical perceptual disturbances. (2) Help in providing a detailed picture of intracortical neuronal networks that can form the basis for a prosthesis for the blind. (3) Discover the principles of neural organization underlying functions such as figure-ground segregation and perceptual learning which can inspire practical algorithms for robotic vision. (4) Train graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in state of the art techniques in a stimulating intellectual environment.Read moreRead less
Thalamo-cortical organisation in visual information processing. This study will: (1) Increase our basic understanding of visual function that can help to explain many clinical perceptual disturbances. (2) Help in providing a detailed picture of intracortical neuronal networks that can form the basis for a prosthesis for the blind. (3) Discover the principles of neural organization underlying functions such as figure-ground segregation and perceptual learning which can inspire practical algorithm ....Thalamo-cortical organisation in visual information processing. This study will: (1) Increase our basic understanding of visual function that can help to explain many clinical perceptual disturbances. (2) Help in providing a detailed picture of intracortical neuronal networks that can form the basis for a prosthesis for the blind. (3) Discover the principles of neural organization underlying functions such as figure-ground segregation and perceptual learning which can inspire practical algorithms for robotic vision. (4) Train graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in state of the art techniques in a stimulating intellectual environmentRead moreRead less
Understanding how the primate brain processes visual information. Being able to see is a crucial aspect of our daily lives, which happens so effortlessly that it tends to be taken for granted. In comparison with other animals and artificial systems, the primate visual cortex is unsurpassed in its capacity to interpret complex and dynamic environments, in a manner that is fast and computationally robust. Discovering how this happens in terms of interactions between cells in the brain can help us ....Understanding how the primate brain processes visual information. Being able to see is a crucial aspect of our daily lives, which happens so effortlessly that it tends to be taken for granted. In comparison with other animals and artificial systems, the primate visual cortex is unsurpassed in its capacity to interpret complex and dynamic environments, in a manner that is fast and computationally robust. Discovering how this happens in terms of interactions between cells in the brain can help us design more efficient artificial systems capable of vision. This in turn can have profound implications for the creation of new technologies such as artificial eyes, autonomous robots, and intelligent sensors, and may also result in future benefits for medical science.Read moreRead less
Functional pathways in primate retina. When light enters the eye, specialised nerve cells called photoreceptors transform the light signal into nerve signals. These signals are processed in the retina by two groups of neurones, bipolar and ganglion cells before being sent to higher brain centres. Bipolar and ganglion cells can be subdivided into several types. We will measure which types communicate with each other and which proteins (neurotransmitter receptors) are involved at the site of commu ....Functional pathways in primate retina. When light enters the eye, specialised nerve cells called photoreceptors transform the light signal into nerve signals. These signals are processed in the retina by two groups of neurones, bipolar and ganglion cells before being sent to higher brain centres. Bipolar and ganglion cells can be subdivided into several types. We will measure which types communicate with each other and which proteins (neurotransmitter receptors) are involved at the site of communication between these nerve cells. This study will improve our knowledge of the basis of functional subspecialisation at the earliest stages of the visual process.Read moreRead less
Early life overfeeding - mechanisms for programming obesity and long-term immune dysfunction. Early life overfeeding can lead to obesity and related changes in adulthood. With this study we will discover how overfeeding can permanently alter an animal's development so that its body weight and immune functions are dysregulated. The outcomes will facilitate appropriate design of animal experiments considering the impact of neonatal programming. They will also contribute to more efficient feeding p ....Early life overfeeding - mechanisms for programming obesity and long-term immune dysfunction. Early life overfeeding can lead to obesity and related changes in adulthood. With this study we will discover how overfeeding can permanently alter an animal's development so that its body weight and immune functions are dysregulated. The outcomes will facilitate appropriate design of animal experiments considering the impact of neonatal programming. They will also contribute to more efficient feeding protocols for meat production in agriculture and identify targets for risk management and for preventing and ameliorating early life overfeeding effects in humans. This investigation therefore has clear benefits to the social, economic, and health aspects of obesity and to basic science and agriculture.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0347278
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$383,000.00
Summary
Brain Slice Macroscopic Imaging and Electrophysiology Recording System. Electrical signals are the primary mode of communication between excitable cells, in particular, the cells (neurons) that comprise the brain and central nervous system. Understanding of the processes of cell-to-cell communication between neurons is of primary importance to our understanding of fundamental phenomena such as voluntary and reflex movement, sensory responses and learning and memory, as well as providing fundamen ....Brain Slice Macroscopic Imaging and Electrophysiology Recording System. Electrical signals are the primary mode of communication between excitable cells, in particular, the cells (neurons) that comprise the brain and central nervous system. Understanding of the processes of cell-to-cell communication between neurons is of primary importance to our understanding of fundamental phenomena such as voluntary and reflex movement, sensory responses and learning and memory, as well as providing fundamental knowledge of numerous disease states. We are applying for equipment to monitor electrical signals (both visually and electrically) of small groups of cells (neurons) or large groups of interconnected cells (macroscopic complexes) within the brain. Facilities of this type for the visual and electrical recording of cell communication and brain activity will be unique to these Universities in Australia and extremely rare in the scientific world.Read moreRead less