Elderly speech perception in noise. This project adopts an innovative approach to understand problems that elderly people have in recognising speech in noise. Using a detailed computational (glimpsing) model, measures of auditory and visual information and novel priming methods, the project aims to determine precisely what processing is carried out in the early stages of perception. Quantifying and systematically varying input information and measuring perceptual processing are essential for pi ....Elderly speech perception in noise. This project adopts an innovative approach to understand problems that elderly people have in recognising speech in noise. Using a detailed computational (glimpsing) model, measures of auditory and visual information and novel priming methods, the project aims to determine precisely what processing is carried out in the early stages of perception. Quantifying and systematically varying input information and measuring perceptual processing are essential for pinpointing where speech perception problems arise and provide a foundation for evaluating remediation and training. This research aims to contribute to theories of speech recognition and has practical application for speech assessment.Read moreRead less
Atypical cognition in autism: preference for nonverbal coding and impaired connectivity? This project will investigate whether individuals with autism prefer to think 'in pictures' rather than use words, and whether their thinking shows evidence of limited connections across brain regions. Establishing either characteristic for autism would provide important direction in improving diagnosis and intervention for affected children.
Rapid motor responses in young and older adults. This proposal aims to contribute to our understanding of basic neural mechanisms mediating rapid motor actions across our lifespan. One in four Australians will be over the age of 65 by the year 2056. The project plans to investigate how changes in brain structure and function, as well as alterations in cognitive processing abilities that occur in older age, affect rapid choices between various alternative motor actions as well as our ability to s ....Rapid motor responses in young and older adults. This proposal aims to contribute to our understanding of basic neural mechanisms mediating rapid motor actions across our lifespan. One in four Australians will be over the age of 65 by the year 2056. The project plans to investigate how changes in brain structure and function, as well as alterations in cognitive processing abilities that occur in older age, affect rapid choices between various alternative motor actions as well as our ability to stop motor responses once they are planned. It plans to combine noninvasive brain stimulation with novel behavioural experiments and computational modelling techniques to develop fundamental new knowledge of the natural processes that characterise age-related changes in rapid motor actions.Read moreRead less
How do we cancel or modify movements? This collaborative project aims to improve our understanding of how movements are rapidly cancelled, or reprogrammed, based on visual cues. Using innovative computational models, non-invasive brain stimulation and recordings of muscle activity, the project aims to elucidate how our brains anticipate the possibility of having to cancel planned actions, and how this changes as a function of healthy ageing. The outcomes are expected to assist in the design of n ....How do we cancel or modify movements? This collaborative project aims to improve our understanding of how movements are rapidly cancelled, or reprogrammed, based on visual cues. Using innovative computational models, non-invasive brain stimulation and recordings of muscle activity, the project aims to elucidate how our brains anticipate the possibility of having to cancel planned actions, and how this changes as a function of healthy ageing. The outcomes are expected to assist in the design of neuromorphic technologies that mimic human brain function. The generated knowledge may also inform future research aimed at maintaining cognitive and motor function in the ageing workforce and treating conditions in which inhibitory control is compromised. Read moreRead less
The role of episodic memory in imagining and planning for the future. For future planning we draw on past experiences. In many cases, past experiences are used to imagine novel potential scenarios yet to be experienced. This project will examine in detail the role of memory in imagining possible futures and planning for those possibilities, drawing on our contemporary understanding of memory as captured in computational models of human memory. By controlling the information that people encode in ....The role of episodic memory in imagining and planning for the future. For future planning we draw on past experiences. In many cases, past experiences are used to imagine novel potential scenarios yet to be experienced. This project will examine in detail the role of memory in imagining possible futures and planning for those possibilities, drawing on our contemporary understanding of memory as captured in computational models of human memory. By controlling the information that people encode into memory, and thus determining the building blocks from which people build simulations of the future, this project will gain valuable data that will be used to develop a detailed and precise computational model of the role of memory mechanisms and representations in imagining and planning.Read moreRead less
Attention please! Selective attention and human associative learning. Selective attention allows us to pick useful pieces of information out of the mass of stimulation that we're faced with every moment. This project investigates how what we've previously learnt about the significance of events influences whether we'll pick them out as useful in future, and how this might be impaired by old age or mental disorder.
Imagining and realising the future: limits and potentials in older adulthood. Older adults often forget to carry out important intentions such as turning off appliances, and this research will investigate the role of forward thinking in these memory failures. By testing the effectiveness of new strategies to assist memory for intentions, the research has important implications for maintaining independence in old age.
Speech production in the developing brain. This project aims to study how children acquire language. Speech is arguably the most complicated action that humans can perform, yet is acquired with apparent ease in the pre-school years. The brain mechanisms of speech production have rarely been studied in children due to methodological and technical challenges. This project will address this gap using an articulographic setup for measuring speech movements concurrently with scanning of brain activit ....Speech production in the developing brain. This project aims to study how children acquire language. Speech is arguably the most complicated action that humans can perform, yet is acquired with apparent ease in the pre-school years. The brain mechanisms of speech production have rarely been studied in children due to methodological and technical challenges. This project will address this gap using an articulographic setup for measuring speech movements concurrently with scanning of brain activity in a customised paediatric brain imaging system. The results are expected to help explain why most children acquire speech easily and smoothly and why this process can be more difficult for others.Read moreRead less
Why does face identification ability improve during childhood? Accurate face identification is crucial to social functioning and is supported by face-specific visual and neural mechanisms. Performance on tests of face identification continues to improve from preschool ages until well into adolescence. What drives this improvement? This project compares two current theories to determine whether face-specific development or more general cognitive and perceptual development drives this improvement. ....Why does face identification ability improve during childhood? Accurate face identification is crucial to social functioning and is supported by face-specific visual and neural mechanisms. Performance on tests of face identification continues to improve from preschool ages until well into adolescence. What drives this improvement? This project compares two current theories to determine whether face-specific development or more general cognitive and perceptual development drives this improvement. The project will employ a powerful and novel approach, using individual differences and a longitudinal design that will provide new insights into the source of developmental change in face identification skills during childhood. This project also examines how development breaks down by studying Congenital Prosopagnosia (face-blindness).Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120100729
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Brain connectivity during movement planning and execution in young and older adults. Ageing is associated with a reduced ability to undertake everyday movement tasks, resulting in loss of independence and frequent injuries due to falls. This research will improve our understanding of the brain mechanisms underlying movement control, with the aim of maintaining older people's quality of life and reducing health costs to the nation.