Rhombomeric Topography of Structures in the Adult Mouse: Evidence from Avian Homologies and Transgenic Mice. The brainstem of birds has been shown to be formed by a line of segments, like carriages of a train. The same arrangement exists in the embryos of mammals, but is hidden in the adult mammalian brain. We will transfer our detailed knowledge of bird brains to make a maps of the brainstem segments in adult mice. We will then test this map with special gene markers which will reveal the occul ....Rhombomeric Topography of Structures in the Adult Mouse: Evidence from Avian Homologies and Transgenic Mice. The brainstem of birds has been shown to be formed by a line of segments, like carriages of a train. The same arrangement exists in the embryos of mammals, but is hidden in the adult mammalian brain. We will transfer our detailed knowledge of bird brains to make a maps of the brainstem segments in adult mice. We will then test this map with special gene markers which will reveal the occult segmental pattern in adult mice. This work will give us a new way of understanding the organisation of brainstem centres that control breathing, cardiovascular functions and emotional states.Read moreRead less
Towards a continuum model of orienting and defensive responses. Orienting (OR) and Defensive Responses (DR) underlie important survival functions of attending to unexpected stimuli and avoiding harm.We will establish the first integrative profile of human OR/DR function, using simultaneous recording of brain activity and 'body' responsivity. Given sex and age variation in OR/DRs, both males and females spanning six decades will be studied. OR/DR abnormalities are associated with major disorders ....Towards a continuum model of orienting and defensive responses. Orienting (OR) and Defensive Responses (DR) underlie important survival functions of attending to unexpected stimuli and avoiding harm.We will establish the first integrative profile of human OR/DR function, using simultaneous recording of brain activity and 'body' responsivity. Given sex and age variation in OR/DRs, both males and females spanning six decades will be studied. OR/DR abnormalities are associated with major disorders of attention and stress, which also vary with sex and age. We will examine relationships between OR/DR function and proneness to these disorders in healthy individuals. The results will provide a framework for developing prevention and intervention strategies.Read moreRead less
Exploring the brain mechanisms underlying hyperactivity in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) is the most common psychiatric disorder affecting children, resulting in substantial costs (both human and financial) to the child, their family and Australian society. The outcomes of this project will provide a better foundation for understanding dysfunctional brain mechanisms in AD/HD, which is expected to lead to better diagnosis, treatment, an ....Exploring the brain mechanisms underlying hyperactivity in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) is the most common psychiatric disorder affecting children, resulting in substantial costs (both human and financial) to the child, their family and Australian society. The outcomes of this project will provide a better foundation for understanding dysfunctional brain mechanisms in AD/HD, which is expected to lead to better diagnosis, treatment, and community support. Ultimately this will contribute to a healthy start to life for these children. This project will also demonstrate how an integrated Australian approach can lead the research agenda in both basic neuroscience, at the interface of psychology and physiology, and its applications in health.Read moreRead less
The implications of resistance training for the control of movement. Resistance training (or weight lifting) is an essential element of comprehensive rehabilitation programs in a wide range of clinical settings. However, because we know little about how the organization of the nervous system is affected by training with high loads, the consequences of resistance training for our ability to control functional movements are unclear. The ultimate goal of this research is to generate basic knowledge ....The implications of resistance training for the control of movement. Resistance training (or weight lifting) is an essential element of comprehensive rehabilitation programs in a wide range of clinical settings. However, because we know little about how the organization of the nervous system is affected by training with high loads, the consequences of resistance training for our ability to control functional movements are unclear. The ultimate goal of this research is to generate basic knowledge about the impact of resistance training on nervous system function. The research will lead to the design of injury prevention and rehabilitation programs that are maximally effective, and provide a genuine benefit to the community.Read moreRead less
Learning about threats: the neural and behavioural response to predator-related cues in rodents. This project will investigate the anxiety displayed by rats when confronted with the odours of predators such as cats. This anxiety may be very similar to that experienced by humans who suffer from anxiety disorders such as phobias. By investigating the nature of this anxiety, the nature of the stimuli that produce it, and the learning and neural processes that underlie it we may better understand h ....Learning about threats: the neural and behavioural response to predator-related cues in rodents. This project will investigate the anxiety displayed by rats when confronted with the odours of predators such as cats. This anxiety may be very similar to that experienced by humans who suffer from anxiety disorders such as phobias. By investigating the nature of this anxiety, the nature of the stimuli that produce it, and the learning and neural processes that underlie it we may better understand human anxiety. The project also aims to identify novel chemicals in the fur of cats that have rodent repellent properties. Such chemicals may be of great use in domestic and agricultural contexts where rodents are pests.Read moreRead less
INVESTIGATION OF A BRAIN RHYTHM. Elucidation of brain function remains a frontier for human discovery. To date, research has largely focussed on brain connectivity with major advances in knowledge of input/output function of brain regions. Yet, there remains little understanding of higher order processes that underlie functions such as mood states and consciousness. Investigation of brain rhythms represent a step to unravelling such processes, as rhythms both act as autonomous clocks and generat ....INVESTIGATION OF A BRAIN RHYTHM. Elucidation of brain function remains a frontier for human discovery. To date, research has largely focussed on brain connectivity with major advances in knowledge of input/output function of brain regions. Yet, there remains little understanding of higher order processes that underlie functions such as mood states and consciousness. Investigation of brain rhythms represent a step to unravelling such processes, as rhythms both act as autonomous clocks and generate synchronised neuronal activity. This project aims to investigate mechanisms underlying a specific class of brain rhythm implicated in control of mood states. Positive outcomes from this basic research may lead to better drug therapies for controlling specific mental disorders.Read moreRead less
Mapping the connectome that controls blood pressure. The connections that an individual brain cell receives from other cells ultimately determines its behaviour. Using a revolutionary new technique, the project will create a map of the brain cells that control blood pressure.
Physiology of tau protein: a novel role in scaffolding and intracellular distribution. Understanding brain function remains a challenge. This project will study the normal role of the Alzheimer's disease-related protein tau in brain function during ageing. This will significantly enhance current understanding of brain function.
Phenotyping doublecortin+ cells to unravel human adult neurogenesis. This project investigates one of the brain’s most remarkable phenomena: adult neurogenesis, the birth of new brain cells in a specialised brain area (the hippocampus) occurring well into adulthood. This process contributes to many species’ capacity to learn, remember and regenerate. However whether this process occurs in humans is heavily debated. Using new neuroscience tools, this project will produce new insights into human a ....Phenotyping doublecortin+ cells to unravel human adult neurogenesis. This project investigates one of the brain’s most remarkable phenomena: adult neurogenesis, the birth of new brain cells in a specialised brain area (the hippocampus) occurring well into adulthood. This process contributes to many species’ capacity to learn, remember and regenerate. However whether this process occurs in humans is heavily debated. Using new neuroscience tools, this project will produce new insights into human adult neurogenesis by deeply examining hippocampal cells that express the newborn cell marker, doublecortin. This will enable clarification of the existence and extent of adult neurogenesis in humans, and provide the foundation to leverage this process for improving learning, memory and brain regeneration in people.Read moreRead less
Plantwide Control of Modern Chemical Processes from a Network Perspective. Complex plants increasingly appear in modern Australian process industries, particularly in mineral processing, petrochemical and renewable energies sectors. These plants represent vast capital costs and manufacture products at a very large scale. Improvement in control and operation of these processes can potentially provide significant economic benefits. The expected outcome of this research is an effective approach to ....Plantwide Control of Modern Chemical Processes from a Network Perspective. Complex plants increasingly appear in modern Australian process industries, particularly in mineral processing, petrochemical and renewable energies sectors. These plants represent vast capital costs and manufacture products at a very large scale. Improvement in control and operation of these processes can potentially provide significant economic benefits. The expected outcome of this research is an effective approach to improve operational safety, efficiency, product quality and manufacturing flexibility, helping to build a more efficient and environmental conscious Australian chemical industry. This project will also enhance Australia's scientific reputation in the frontier research area of advanced process control and management.Read moreRead less