Quantification of whole brain structural connectivity and fibre densities. The project is intended to develop and improve accuracy in tools used to measure brain connections. Its overall aim is to produce definitive evidence of the biological accuracy of quantitative measures of brain structural connectivity as derived from diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Discovery in the quantitative field of MRI research is important to worldwide efforts to identify the human ‘connectome’. The proj ....Quantification of whole brain structural connectivity and fibre densities. The project is intended to develop and improve accuracy in tools used to measure brain connections. Its overall aim is to produce definitive evidence of the biological accuracy of quantitative measures of brain structural connectivity as derived from diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Discovery in the quantitative field of MRI research is important to worldwide efforts to identify the human ‘connectome’. The project plans to bring together novel diffusion MRI post-processing methods and state-of-the-art 3-D glass-brain histology techniques using mice. Investment in MRI research that specifically addresses methods to accurately measure structural brain connectivity may ultimately contribute to improving non-invasive imaging methods.Read moreRead less
ARC Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function. The Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function will address one of the greatest scientific challenges of the 21st century to understand how the brain works. We will investigate complex functions such as attention, prediction and decision-making, which require the coordination of information processing by many areas of the brain. This will require a highly collaborative approach involving neurobiologists, cognitive scientists, eng ....ARC Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function. The Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function will address one of the greatest scientific challenges of the 21st century to understand how the brain works. We will investigate complex functions such as attention, prediction and decision-making, which require the coordination of information processing by many areas of the brain. This will require a highly collaborative approach involving neurobiologists, cognitive scientists, engineers and physicists, allowing us to translate our discoveries into novel technologies for the social and economic benefit of all Australians. We will also train a new generation of multidisciplinary researchers, and contribute our expertise to a range of public education and awareness programs.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230100401
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$393,903.00
Summary
Deconstructing the brain circuits of reward-seeking. This project aims to deconstruct the brain circuits that shape reward-seeking behaviour in different environments. The anticipated significance of this project is to provide mechanistic insights into why we choose to seek rewards in safe, but not dangerous environments. Expected outcomes include answering fundamental questions about how the environment shapes our behaviour by identifying projection cell subtypes important for reward-seeking, c ....Deconstructing the brain circuits of reward-seeking. This project aims to deconstruct the brain circuits that shape reward-seeking behaviour in different environments. The anticipated significance of this project is to provide mechanistic insights into why we choose to seek rewards in safe, but not dangerous environments. Expected outcomes include answering fundamental questions about how the environment shapes our behaviour by identifying projection cell subtypes important for reward-seeking, characterising their neuronal activity and precisely defining their molecular phenotype. The benefits of this project are expected to provide a new knowledge base for understanding decision-making in a constantly changing world.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE130101222
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$371,392.00
Summary
The development of novel magnetic resonance imaging methods to investigate brain structure and function. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive method that has revolutionised neuroscience. The goal of this project is to develop state-of-the-art MRI analysis methods that reveal new information about brain structure and function. These novel neuroimaging tools will be instrumental in furthering our understanding of how the brain works.
Advanced magnetic resonance imaging methods for the characterisation of brain structure and function. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive method that has revolutionised the development of neuroscience and neurology. The goal of this project is to develop advanced MRI methods for the study of brain structure and function which will be applied to the investigation of epilepsy and stroke.
Colour vision in marsupials. The ability to distinguish colours is a crucial aspect of vision, providing vital data for sexual selection, predator detection and food acquisition. Studies of mammalian colour vision have largely overlooked marsupials. Our recent investigation of spectral sensitivity in two Australian species revealed a colour discrimination capacity beyond that of placentals (excluding primates), implying disparate evolutionary pressures in the two groups. We will provide the fi ....Colour vision in marsupials. The ability to distinguish colours is a crucial aspect of vision, providing vital data for sexual selection, predator detection and food acquisition. Studies of mammalian colour vision have largely overlooked marsupials. Our recent investigation of spectral sensitivity in two Australian species revealed a colour discrimination capacity beyond that of placentals (excluding primates), implying disparate evolutionary pressures in the two groups. We will provide the first comprehensive description of colour vision in marsupials, studying species with differing rhythmicities, habitats and diets. Wavelength sensitivity and molecular structure of retinal visual pigments will be assessed in relation to evolutionary influences and ecological demands.
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Interactions between phenome and genome at developing CNS synapses during synaptic refinement. Activity-dependent changes in synaptic transmission are vital to development and function of central neuronal networks. However, the critical factors regulating developmental changes in synaptic signals remain largely unknown. We will correlate functional changes in synaptic responses at glutamate-releasing synapses with changes in glutamate receptor composition at a critical period during developmen ....Interactions between phenome and genome at developing CNS synapses during synaptic refinement. Activity-dependent changes in synaptic transmission are vital to development and function of central neuronal networks. However, the critical factors regulating developmental changes in synaptic signals remain largely unknown. We will correlate functional changes in synaptic responses at glutamate-releasing synapses with changes in glutamate receptor composition at a critical period during development, test whether synaptic activation of receptors is required for these changes and define the pattern of activity-dependent changes in gene expression necessary for developmental changes in synaptic transmission. Understanding this interaction between synaptic phenome and activity-dependent genomic expression will expand our understanding of brain development and function.Read moreRead less
Target detection in visual clutter. The interdisciplinary nature of the project will offer a stimulating environment for training a postdoctoral worker in the hot topic of computational neuroscience. While computationally expensive solutions to moving target detection in clutter have been implemented using conventional engineering, this project will offer insight into the efficiency of the biological brain (with benefit of millions of years of evolution towards compact, economical and optimal so ....Target detection in visual clutter. The interdisciplinary nature of the project will offer a stimulating environment for training a postdoctoral worker in the hot topic of computational neuroscience. While computationally expensive solutions to moving target detection in clutter have been implemented using conventional engineering, this project will offer insight into the efficiency of the biological brain (with benefit of millions of years of evolution towards compact, economical and optimal solutions). The results will assist development of efficient artificial intelligence. It will also assist our ongoing collaborations with defence partners to develop and apply algorithms in artificial vision systems. 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
A new theory for retinotectal map formation. How brains become wired up during development is a question of
importance to both biology and computing. In this project we adopt a
novel computational approach to understanding the development of
topographic maps, a wiring pattern that is ubiquitous in biological
nervous systems. This project will build capacity for research in
computational neuroscience in Australia. It may also lead to
technological benefits such as new ideas for the design o ....A new theory for retinotectal map formation. How brains become wired up during development is a question of
importance to both biology and computing. In this project we adopt a
novel computational approach to understanding the development of
topographic maps, a wiring pattern that is ubiquitous in biological
nervous systems. This project will build capacity for research in
computational neuroscience in Australia. It may also lead to
technological benefits such as new ideas for the design of self-wiring
computing devices, and new insights into
the causes of wiring defects both during normal development and
rewiring after injury.
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