Teaching An Old Brain New Tricks: Optimising Cognitive Training Through Neuroplasticity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,562,250.00
Summary
People with early dementia have the most to gain from brain training programs aimed at delaying deterioration. Yet, its power is under-realised, with improvements not generalising to everyday living. This research program will harness the power of neuroplasticity to optimise brain training so that the effects transfer to everyday life. The knowledge gained will transform the way that we design and deliver brain training programs and revolutionise our understanding of why and how people respond.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230100380
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$447,683.00
Summary
The dynamics of object representations in the human brain. The human brain's ability to effortlessly recognise and categorise objects enables effective behavioural responses in complex everyday environments. Despite the apparent efficiency of this process, it is still unknown how the brain solves object recognition. This project capitalises on cutting-edge advances in artificial intelligence and neuroscience to resolve the spatiotemporal dynamics of object processing in the human brain. The outc ....The dynamics of object representations in the human brain. The human brain's ability to effortlessly recognise and categorise objects enables effective behavioural responses in complex everyday environments. Despite the apparent efficiency of this process, it is still unknown how the brain solves object recognition. This project capitalises on cutting-edge advances in artificial intelligence and neuroscience to resolve the spatiotemporal dynamics of object processing in the human brain. The outcomes will be a step change in our understanding of the nature and development of the multi-dimensional space underpinning neural object processing. This will ultimately facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of brain disorders across the lifespan and accelerate the development of intelligent machines.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230100608
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$457,810.00
Summary
Characterising brain networks of intelligence through information tracking. For intelligent behaviour, the human brain needs to engage several processes including sensory, memory and motor processes. How it does this is one of the most significant questions in cognitive neuroscience. This project characterises the neural networks of human intelligence by advancing and building on the most recent advances in neuroimaging analyses. It will determine the interaction of different brain processes by ....Characterising brain networks of intelligence through information tracking. For intelligent behaviour, the human brain needs to engage several processes including sensory, memory and motor processes. How it does this is one of the most significant questions in cognitive neuroscience. This project characterises the neural networks of human intelligence by advancing and building on the most recent advances in neuroimaging analyses. It will determine the interaction of different brain processes by developing novel connectivity methods that track the flow of information through the brain with high temporal and spatial accuracy. The outcomes will be fundamental insights into the mechanisms of human intelligence and new connectivity analysis software that will have wide application in brain research.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE240100606
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$426,105.00
Summary
Investigating how visual imagery influences cognition. This project will characterise the role visual imagery plays in other cognitive functions, namely visual working memory and attention. This will be done by studying two special populations that have extreme forms of visual imagery: aphantasia and synaesthesia. This work will develop innovative psychophysics and physiological techniques to identify different cognitive strategies used to solve visual working memory and attention tasks. Further ....Investigating how visual imagery influences cognition. This project will characterise the role visual imagery plays in other cognitive functions, namely visual working memory and attention. This will be done by studying two special populations that have extreme forms of visual imagery: aphantasia and synaesthesia. This work will develop innovative psychophysics and physiological techniques to identify different cognitive strategies used to solve visual working memory and attention tasks. Further magnetoencephalography (MEG) decoding approaches will be used to compare and contrast the neural signatures of voluntary and involuntary visual imagery, working memory, and attention. This work will help us understand why some individuals have better imaginations, memory, and attention than others. Read moreRead less
Dealing with distraction: understanding recovery after interruption. Interruptions impair cognitive performance but modern environments have normalised distractions in our workplaces, homes, schools and cars. Daily tragedies occur because people are unaware of their attentional capacity limits. This Fellowship explores the consequences of interruption in moving displays using cutting-edge methods to determine how the brain holds information over an interruption and the process of attentional rec ....Dealing with distraction: understanding recovery after interruption. Interruptions impair cognitive performance but modern environments have normalised distractions in our workplaces, homes, schools and cars. Daily tragedies occur because people are unaware of their attentional capacity limits. This Fellowship explores the consequences of interruption in moving displays using cutting-edge methods to determine how the brain holds information over an interruption and the process of attentional recovery. It includes translational work determining effective ways to raise awareness of attention limits and guide policy. The outcomes will advance knowledge of the mechanisms of recovery from interruption, raise awareness of capacity limits beyond academia, and guide policy to improve safety.Read moreRead less
Evaluating the Network Neuroscience of Human Cognition to Improve AI. This project will translate the brain’s inherent complexity into a set of explorable networks that will test the network theory of intelligence, and also be used to drive advances in next generation artificial neural networks. Our approach will catalyse new knowledge regarding how the complexity of the brain gives rise to cognition using innovative analyses inspired by physics and engineering. This fresh perspective on cogniti ....Evaluating the Network Neuroscience of Human Cognition to Improve AI. This project will translate the brain’s inherent complexity into a set of explorable networks that will test the network theory of intelligence, and also be used to drive advances in next generation artificial neural networks. Our approach will catalyse new knowledge regarding how the complexity of the brain gives rise to cognition using innovative analyses inspired by physics and engineering. This fresh perspective on cognition will accelerate understanding of normal cognitive function and also advance the development of advances in artificial neural network performance. Expected outcomes include methods to describe the computational signature of how cognition emerges from dynamic brain network activity and novel AI algorithms. Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE240101039
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$468,592.00
Summary
The Impact of Online Social Interactions on Adolescent Cognition. Human cognition has evolved to navigate our complex social interactions. Today these interactions often take place online, especially for adolescents. This project aims to investigate whether and how online interactions shape adolescent cognitive development. The project will overcome current methodological limitations through novel measurements of online interactions and cognition in the real-world and across development. Expecte ....The Impact of Online Social Interactions on Adolescent Cognition. Human cognition has evolved to navigate our complex social interactions. Today these interactions often take place online, especially for adolescents. This project aims to investigate whether and how online interactions shape adolescent cognitive development. The project will overcome current methodological limitations through novel measurements of online interactions and cognition in the real-world and across development. Expected outcomes include new knowledge on the cognitive harms and benefits of online interactions and a framework to guide future developmental research in the digital age. These outcomes will provide significant benefits including novel assessments and insights to inform policy recommendations around digital behaviours.Read moreRead less