Visual processing in a unique modular system - how can a simple cognitive architecture be used to solve complex visual tasks? The proposed interdisciplinary study of the visual system of jumping spiders will provide novel insights into how a simple cognitive architecture can be used to solve complex visual tasks. This will be the first comprehensive study of motion sensitivity in a spider. The insights obtained will be important for the development of artificial intelligence systems. We will pro ....Visual processing in a unique modular system - how can a simple cognitive architecture be used to solve complex visual tasks? The proposed interdisciplinary study of the visual system of jumping spiders will provide novel insights into how a simple cognitive architecture can be used to solve complex visual tasks. This will be the first comprehensive study of motion sensitivity in a spider. The insights obtained will be important for the development of artificial intelligence systems. We will provide a stimulating environment to train a postdoctoral fellow with state-of-art skills ranging from single-cell neurophysiology through to using 3D animation for sophisticated behavioural assays. The proposed work is a hot topic and will attract considerable attention, raise the profile of Australian science, and support postgraduate students. Read moreRead less
Sensory Coding Mechanisms in Rat Somatosensory System; A Combined Behavioural and Electrophysiological Approach. This inter-disciplinary project spans behavioural sciences, neurophysiology and computational neuroscience. It investigates fundamental questions such as how different aspects of stimuli are presented in sensory areas of the brain and how the animal interprets the neuronal activity in such areas to generate the relevant behaviour. A major problem with making prosthetic sensory devices ....Sensory Coding Mechanisms in Rat Somatosensory System; A Combined Behavioural and Electrophysiological Approach. This inter-disciplinary project spans behavioural sciences, neurophysiology and computational neuroscience. It investigates fundamental questions such as how different aspects of stimuli are presented in sensory areas of the brain and how the animal interprets the neuronal activity in such areas to generate the relevant behaviour. A major problem with making prosthetic sensory devices is the way by which these devices can communicate with the brain. Research into the coding of different features of simple stimuli will provide basic knowledge which can be implemented in prosthetic sensory devices. Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354494
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$10,000.00
Summary
BRAINnet:
Brain Research And Integrative Neuroscience Network. The brain is the ultimate frontier of science, and its complexity requires an integrative approach to neuroscience. This initiative will facilitate a unique integration of disciplines (biological, physical, computational) and scales of focus (single neurons to networks to whole-brain), within a high profile Network of Australian and international players. The Network will be harnessed by a centralized hub for sharing of data and tec ....BRAINnet:
Brain Research And Integrative Neuroscience Network. The brain is the ultimate frontier of science, and its complexity requires an integrative approach to neuroscience. This initiative will facilitate a unique integration of disciplines (biological, physical, computational) and scales of focus (single neurons to networks to whole-brain), within a high profile Network of Australian and international players. The Network will be harnessed by a centralized hub for sharing of data and techniques, and mentoring of early career researchers. The principal socio-economic and discovery outcomes will flow from the exceptionally strong foundations in fundamental and applied science, established collaboration, and demonstrated capacity for development and commercialization of frontier biotechnologies.Read moreRead less
Are there advantages in having a lateralized brain? Specialisation of the left and right hemispheres of the brain to process different information and to control different responses is not, as once thought, unique to humans but common to all vertebrates. In fact, the same general pattern of lateralization occurs in amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. Until now, it has been important to document the presence and nature of lateralization in different species. Now it is important to discover t ....Are there advantages in having a lateralized brain? Specialisation of the left and right hemispheres of the brain to process different information and to control different responses is not, as once thought, unique to humans but common to all vertebrates. In fact, the same general pattern of lateralization occurs in amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. Until now, it has been important to document the presence and nature of lateralization in different species. Now it is important to discover the advantages (and disadvantages) of having a lateralized brain. This project will do so using two model species, the chick and the marmoset, and new techniques to measure behaviour.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989703
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$500,000.00
Summary
Multiphoton microscope for cellular imaging in live animals. The proposed facility will for the first time allow scientists across Sydney to monitor cell function in intact brain and muscle tissues. The novel optical approach combines fluorescent markers with sophisticated microscopy. The presence of this facility will allow Australian scientists to design new approaches to fundamental biological questions concerning cellular function within the normal environment. In addition this facility wi ....Multiphoton microscope for cellular imaging in live animals. The proposed facility will for the first time allow scientists across Sydney to monitor cell function in intact brain and muscle tissues. The novel optical approach combines fluorescent markers with sophisticated microscopy. The presence of this facility will allow Australian scientists to design new approaches to fundamental biological questions concerning cellular function within the normal environment. In addition this facility will allow PhD and post-doctoral scientists to train and have access to a rapidly developing and cutting edge approach to biological problems.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0452971
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$102,900.00
Summary
Optical imaging of brain activity: Studies of the neural basis of sensory perception, plasticity and behaviour. Basic to the understanding of the brain is to know how the overall architecture of the nervous system relates to its function. We propose to study this by directly visualising the regions that are functionally active in the living brains of animals, down to resolution limits of less than 100 micrometres. Such "optical imaging" will be done by recording light reflected from the surfac ....Optical imaging of brain activity: Studies of the neural basis of sensory perception, plasticity and behaviour. Basic to the understanding of the brain is to know how the overall architecture of the nervous system relates to its function. We propose to study this by directly visualising the regions that are functionally active in the living brains of animals, down to resolution limits of less than 100 micrometres. Such "optical imaging" will be done by recording light reflected from the surface of the brain, which in turn depends upon activity-dependent intrinsic signals (eg. degree of oxygenation of haemoglobin). These signals will be recorded by a special camera and amplified using the requested system.Read moreRead less