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Bottlenecks in the brain: a causal role for the frontal-parietal network in multitasking limitations. When considering the information processing demands of modern life (for example, hands-free mobile phone use and driving) it is crucial to understand the mechanisms that underlie the severe multitasking limitations experienced by healthy individuals and clinical groups. This project investigates the brain regions critical for such limits to concentration.
Can cognitive training increase the capacity of perceptual attention? There has been an explosion of interest in the potential cognitive benefits of “brain training”. But scientific evidence for the generalizability of such benefits is controversial. Training has been argued to influence such operations as working memory, decision-making and intelligence. Only limited work has examined if training affects perceptual attention, which is important for awareness and is impaired in normal ageing and ....Can cognitive training increase the capacity of perceptual attention? There has been an explosion of interest in the potential cognitive benefits of “brain training”. But scientific evidence for the generalizability of such benefits is controversial. Training has been argued to influence such operations as working memory, decision-making and intelligence. Only limited work has examined if training affects perceptual attention, which is important for awareness and is impaired in normal ageing and in many psychiatric and neurological disorders. The project examines whether perceptual attention can be trained, using a combination of behavioural measures, brain imaging and stimulation protocols, and computational modelling. The results will have important implications for psychological theories of attention.Read moreRead less
Depression and Diabetes: Prevalence, diagnosis and help-seeking: Influence on depression, glycemic control and quality of life. Depression has been reported to be twice as prevalent and more persistent in individuals with diabetes than in the general population. The current research will investigate the point-prevalence of depression in a large sample of Australian diabetic outpatients using a case-finding instrument (CES-D) and follow-up structured clinical interview where appropriate. Demogr ....Depression and Diabetes: Prevalence, diagnosis and help-seeking: Influence on depression, glycemic control and quality of life. Depression has been reported to be twice as prevalent and more persistent in individuals with diabetes than in the general population. The current research will investigate the point-prevalence of depression in a large sample of Australian diabetic outpatients using a case-finding instrument (CES-D) and follow-up structured clinical interview where appropriate. Demographic, medical, and psychological correlates of depressiono will be investigated. The effects of the screening procedure and diagnosis on help-seeking behaviour, course of the depression, self-care, and glycemic control as well as qualtiy of life will be evaluated after six months.Read moreRead less
The nature of self-recognition: novel approaches to vexing questions. Mirror self-recognition has often been interpreted as evidence for the presence of some form of self-concept/awareness. Children from age 2 onwards investigate their own bodies after seeing a novel mark on their heads in the mirror (surreptitiously placed in their hair by the experimenter). Younger children and most animals do not respond to their images in such a way (instead, for example, treating it as another individual). ....The nature of self-recognition: novel approaches to vexing questions. Mirror self-recognition has often been interpreted as evidence for the presence of some form of self-concept/awareness. Children from age 2 onwards investigate their own bodies after seeing a novel mark on their heads in the mirror (surreptitiously placed in their hair by the experimenter). Younger children and most animals do not respond to their images in such a way (instead, for example, treating it as another individual). The present experiments probe the nature of self-recognition using novel digital video technology rather than mirrors. This technology allows us to manipulate the contingency and appearance of the image. Five studies investigate the performance of 2 to 4-year-old children, autistic children, chimpanzees and dolphins to determine whether they recognize themselves and what underwrites their performance on the tasks. The innovative use of modern technology is expected to answer some of the most persistent questions in psychology.
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Thinking about the future: The nature and development of mental time travel. This project is one of the first systematic investigations into the development of the human capacity to consider future events. A variety of novel tasks will probe what children know about the future and how it relates to their ability to reason about past events. Comparisons between children and apes will further inform us about the nature of this crucial mental skill. The findings will provide valuable information fo ....Thinking about the future: The nature and development of mental time travel. This project is one of the first systematic investigations into the development of the human capacity to consider future events. A variety of novel tasks will probe what children know about the future and how it relates to their ability to reason about past events. Comparisons between children and apes will further inform us about the nature of this crucial mental skill. The findings will provide valuable information for developing appropriate educational approaches and for our understanding of abnormalities. As international leaders in this field, we are in an ideal position to conduct this research, offer unique opportunities for postgraduate training, and to continue in Australia's outstanding tradition of excellence in basic research.Read moreRead less
Neural mechanisms for human form perception. This project aims to determine if there is a single cortical mechanism underlying the human ability to discriminate and recognise objects. It has been speculated that different classes of objects, or forms require different processes. Demonstrating a single process would be a significant advance towards understanding the neural mechanisms giving rise to our ability to segment visual fields into meaningful objects and background. This research provides ....Neural mechanisms for human form perception. This project aims to determine if there is a single cortical mechanism underlying the human ability to discriminate and recognise objects. It has been speculated that different classes of objects, or forms require different processes. Demonstrating a single process would be a significant advance towards understanding the neural mechanisms giving rise to our ability to segment visual fields into meaningful objects and background. This research provides a means for testing models of the neural interactions thought to be generating human form perception and will help us discover how the visual cortex converts raw sensory input into object and form perception.Read moreRead less
Structured Writing Tasks: Examination of the process of change as indicated by cognitive-behavioural models of trauma. Research demonstrates that structured writing about past upsetting experiences is beneficial for physical and psychological health. The aim of this study is to identify the process of change responsible for these benefits. Three processes, based on trauma theory, have been identified (exposure, devaluation, and benefit-finding) and are manipulated within the writing paradigm. T ....Structured Writing Tasks: Examination of the process of change as indicated by cognitive-behavioural models of trauma. Research demonstrates that structured writing about past upsetting experiences is beneficial for physical and psychological health. The aim of this study is to identify the process of change responsible for these benefits. Three processes, based on trauma theory, have been identified (exposure, devaluation, and benefit-finding) and are manipulated within the writing paradigm. This study will test these processes in predicting future health benefits. It will increase the effectiveness of the writing paradigm for the general population, provide manualised variations of the writing paradigm based on trauma theory, examine patient-matching variables, and provide a base to conduct research in clinical populations.Read moreRead less
Stimulus fear-relevance: Exploring the boundaries of preferential attentional processing. The present project will contribute to our knowledge about the manner in which emotionally salient events are processed. It will test predictions from a current, influential theory of anxiety and in doing so, inform our understanding of information processing in psychopathology. Investigation of these basic questions can have implications for the design of therapeutic interventions. Moreover, the presen ....Stimulus fear-relevance: Exploring the boundaries of preferential attentional processing. The present project will contribute to our knowledge about the manner in which emotionally salient events are processed. It will test predictions from a current, influential theory of anxiety and in doing so, inform our understanding of information processing in psychopathology. Investigation of these basic questions can have implications for the design of therapeutic interventions. Moreover, the present project will provide the opportunity for research training for undergraduate and post graduate students. In doing so, it will enhance the quality of our culture and contribute to the discipline of psychology.Read moreRead less
Electrophysiological correlates of verbal and visuospatial working memory. Successful interaction with the world is dependent on "working memory". This memory system holds things in mind, while relating them to the past and planning for the future. A carefully controlled task, presented on a computer screen, systematically increases the number of items to be kept in mind. Accuracy and speed of matching the items are measured. The results will contribute to a theory of what processes are used ....Electrophysiological correlates of verbal and visuospatial working memory. Successful interaction with the world is dependent on "working memory". This memory system holds things in mind, while relating them to the past and planning for the future. A carefully controlled task, presented on a computer screen, systematically increases the number of items to be kept in mind. Accuracy and speed of matching the items are measured. The results will contribute to a theory of what processes are used in working memory and how the human brain manages these processes.Read moreRead less
Drivers and constraints of romantic partner choice. This project aims to illuminate how genetic and environmental factors drive and constrain romantic partner choice. This choice can be the most significant in people’s lives, but how it works is not scientifically understood. This project will analyse the preferences and actual partners of thousands of twins using multivariable statistics and theoretic models of partner choice. The project aims to reveal why some people pair with incompatible pa ....Drivers and constraints of romantic partner choice. This project aims to illuminate how genetic and environmental factors drive and constrain romantic partner choice. This choice can be the most significant in people’s lives, but how it works is not scientifically understood. This project will analyse the preferences and actual partners of thousands of twins using multivariable statistics and theoretic models of partner choice. The project aims to reveal why some people pair with incompatible partners, and the consequences of partner mismatch for psychological wellbeing and for evolutionary processes driven by mate selection. This could lead to more effective relationship management.Read moreRead less