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
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
Muscling in on the brain. This project investigates an enzyme that 'matures' neurotransmitters in the brain that regulate food intake, energy expenditure and blood pressure by the brain; these neurotransmitters arise from the same precursor molecule. This project will show the physiological relevance of this enzyme in obesity.
Deconstructing the neural circuits regulating appetite. This project aims to expand our knowledge about the neural circuits that influence a feeding response in the absence of emotional or cognitive obstacles. Feeding behaviour is a fundamental physiological process in all animals. Despite the seemingly simple endpoint, feeding behaviour is affected by numerous factors including stress and motivation that can inhibit feeding behaviour. This knowledge is critical to maximise growth and survival i ....Deconstructing the neural circuits regulating appetite. This project aims to expand our knowledge about the neural circuits that influence a feeding response in the absence of emotional or cognitive obstacles. Feeding behaviour is a fundamental physiological process in all animals. Despite the seemingly simple endpoint, feeding behaviour is affected by numerous factors including stress and motivation that can inhibit feeding behaviour. This knowledge is critical to maximise growth and survival in many Australian sectors including agriculture, conservation and basic science.Read moreRead less
The neural basis of the cognitive effects of prefrontal cortex stimulation. This project aims to discover what exactly happens to brain cells (neurons) when transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is administered. Direct current stimulation of prefrontal cortex has gained much attention as an easy to use and self-administered brain stimulation technique for improving learning and performance in tests, and even for management of conditions such as overeating and gambling. Despite the wides ....The neural basis of the cognitive effects of prefrontal cortex stimulation. This project aims to discover what exactly happens to brain cells (neurons) when transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is administered. Direct current stimulation of prefrontal cortex has gained much attention as an easy to use and self-administered brain stimulation technique for improving learning and performance in tests, and even for management of conditions such as overeating and gambling. Despite the widespread use of tDCS the neural basis of its effects remain unknown. By applying tDCS in animals performing cognitive tasks, this projects aims to address fundamental unanswered questions about 'where' and 'how' the tDCS influences neural information encoding and behaviour using cellular- and neural circuit-level evidence.Read moreRead less
How appetite-suppressing brain cells maintain normal function and prevent the development of obesity. The brain plays a critical role in body weight gain by balancing appetite-inducing and appetite-suppressing signals. An imbalance in this process causes obesity and promotes diabetes. The aim of this research is to identify how appetite-suppressing brain cells maintain normal function and prevent the development of obesity.