Heterodensity neuroimaging techniques for spatiotemporal identification and localization. Australia is at the forefront of research that is taking brain imaging and interfacing out of the lab and into the field. The technology being developed is spawning applications in areas as diverse as health, education, defense and national security, and will lead to resolution of longstanding theoretical debates as well as enabling new breakthroughs in understanding the biological concomitants of psycholo ....Heterodensity neuroimaging techniques for spatiotemporal identification and localization. Australia is at the forefront of research that is taking brain imaging and interfacing out of the lab and into the field. The technology being developed is spawning applications in areas as diverse as health, education, defense and national security, and will lead to resolution of longstanding theoretical debates as well as enabling new breakthroughs in understanding the biological concomitants of psychological function. This is significant given the push to develop biometrics of psychological function with enhanced sensitivity and specificity in clinical diagnosis, along with defense applications in evaluation of critical personnel and training. It also opens up a range of applications for mental control of remote or prosthetic devices.Read moreRead less
How does electrical stimulation affect brain networks? This project aims to generate fundamental knowledge about links between neural mechanisms, electrical brain stimulation and brain function. The project aims to improve knowledge about transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and its effects on complex human brain networks. Such knowledge is necessary to enhance the effectiveness of current stimulation protocols. Using the innovative and interdisciplinary approach, this project will pr ....How does electrical stimulation affect brain networks? This project aims to generate fundamental knowledge about links between neural mechanisms, electrical brain stimulation and brain function. The project aims to improve knowledge about transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and its effects on complex human brain networks. Such knowledge is necessary to enhance the effectiveness of current stimulation protocols. Using the innovative and interdisciplinary approach, this project will provide significant benefits such as crucial mechanistic information about how tDCS modulates healthy brain function which has broad implications for research and clinical use of this technique.Read moreRead less
The role of inductive reasoning in generalization of associative learning. This project seeks to develop a better understanding of how learning is generalised to novel stimuli. Learning about associations around us helps us to obtain resources and minimise threat. A critical task for the learner is how far to extrapolate this knowledge: too little generalisation reduces the benefits of learning and too much risks distraction and maladaptive responding. Recent evidence has shown an important role ....The role of inductive reasoning in generalization of associative learning. This project seeks to develop a better understanding of how learning is generalised to novel stimuli. Learning about associations around us helps us to obtain resources and minimise threat. A critical task for the learner is how far to extrapolate this knowledge: too little generalisation reduces the benefits of learning and too much risks distraction and maladaptive responding. Recent evidence has shown an important role for reasoning processes in human associative learning. This project aims to apply insights from the inductive reasoning literature to study the role of hypothesis and category induction in generalisation of associative learning. The results are expected to have important implications for our understanding of associative learning and generalisation which may inform techniques to promote adaptive generalisation in fields such as education, training and clinical practice.Read moreRead less
Cognitive and neural causes of language impairment in autism. Autism affects around 1 in 200 of the Australian population. The social costs of autism are huge, both for people with the disorder and for their relatives and carers. The cost to the Australian economy is estimated at $5-7 billion each year. The proposed research will lead to better understanding of the causes of autism, from brain structure and functioning through to cognitive mechanisms and symptoms. This will in turn inform geneti ....Cognitive and neural causes of language impairment in autism. Autism affects around 1 in 200 of the Australian population. The social costs of autism are huge, both for people with the disorder and for their relatives and carers. The cost to the Australian economy is estimated at $5-7 billion each year. The proposed research will lead to better understanding of the causes of autism, from brain structure and functioning through to cognitive mechanisms and symptoms. This will in turn inform genetic research. The comparison of autism and specific language impairment (SLI) will help determine whether remediation strategies for SLI are likely to be applicable to autism. The project will establish Macquarie University as Australia's first centre for neuro-cognitive autism research.Read moreRead less
Using language to predict cognitive outcomes in old age. This project aims to understand the relationship between linguistic complexity metrics and cognitive decline in old age. The project will test the hypothesis that high linguistic complexity scores reflect the ability to strategically optimise processing in the face of age-related reductions in processing capacity. By studying the relation between complexity scores and real-time information processing (measured via electroencephalography) a ....Using language to predict cognitive outcomes in old age. This project aims to understand the relationship between linguistic complexity metrics and cognitive decline in old age. The project will test the hypothesis that high linguistic complexity scores reflect the ability to strategically optimise processing in the face of age-related reductions in processing capacity. By studying the relation between complexity scores and real-time information processing (measured via electroencephalography) across the adult lifespan (20–80 years), this project will develop a simple and accurate marker of the individual balance between processing capacity and strategy. This project has the potential to increase quality of life for the elderly and reduce costs of age-related cognitive impairment.Read moreRead less
Concepts and control in speech production. While humans produce speech fluently in the course of everyday conversation, comparatively little is understood about the underlying mental processes and brain mechanisms. The overall aim of this project is to investigate how the human brain conceives and controls speech output by using state-of-the-art neuroimaging and brain stimulation techniques. The research aims to contribute novel insights into a key human ability with particular relevance for spe ....Concepts and control in speech production. While humans produce speech fluently in the course of everyday conversation, comparatively little is understood about the underlying mental processes and brain mechanisms. The overall aim of this project is to investigate how the human brain conceives and controls speech output by using state-of-the-art neuroimaging and brain stimulation techniques. The research aims to contribute novel insights into a key human ability with particular relevance for speech disorders such as aphasia, while the methods developed for brain stimulation during imaging of speech production aim to expand Australia's capability and technical innovation in the cognitive neuroscience of language.Read moreRead less