Epilepsy: Is It An Inherent State Of Cortical Hyper-excitability?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$370,640.00
Summary
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a safe way to study the human brain and changes associated with epilepsy. I will use TMS to examine the effect of refractory epilepsy and recurrent seizures on the brain over time and how this differs to well controlled epilepsy and provoked isolated seizures. I will also explore the potential of using TMS to predict responsiveness to medication soon after starting treatment.
Cortical Networks That Integrate Auditory Input And Speech Motor Output In Human Stutterers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$292,639.00
Summary
Stuttering is a chronic communication disorder that arises from problems in the brain processes that control speech. This research aims to use magnetoencephalography, a new and extremely fast method of brain imaging, to study the parts of the human brain that underlie speech production. By studying the brains of both child and adult stutterers the causes of stuttering will become more apparent. Ultimately, this research will lead to more effective treatments for stuttering.
Targeting The Brain To Treat Chronic Pain Of Whiplash Associated Disorder
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$322,952.00
Summary
Chronic neck pain is the equal leading cause of disability worldwide. Guided by largely disproven structural pathology paradigms, treatment resources are directed to ‘fix’ musculoskeletal abnormalities, with at best small effects. Brain-imaging studies suggest that brain (rather than neck tissue) changes, may instead maintain pain. My research will test new brain-based treatments: The Tactile Training Device, and MoOVi Illusory Exercise Program and their effects on pain, disability and brain.
Electrophysiological And Neuroimaging Evaluation Of C9ORF72 Related Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$224,786.00
Summary
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (also known as Motor Neuron Disease) is a rapid and fatal neurological condition. To date there is no consensus on where the disease process may start. We will study healthy carriers who carry the most common ALS gene mutation and follow them over a four year period and track the associated changes. We will be using specialized neurophysiological tests to evaluate these patients and we hope to localize where the initiating problem with ALS patients may start.
Investigating The ‘Silent Epidemic’ Of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A TMS-EEG Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$318,768.00
Summary
Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is common following an impact to the head. These injuries can affect brain function for many years after the initial incident, are associated with the development of serious conditions such as depression or Alzheimer’s disease, and increase the risk of suicide. This project will use cutting edge neurophysiological techniques to better understand how mTBI affects the brain, and to identify new strategies for restoring brain function following injury.
Localising Epileptic Discharges In The Brain Using Non-invasive Electro-magnetic Signal Analysis In Patients With Difficult-to-control Epilepsy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$179,782.00
Summary
Epilepsy is a leading cause of chronic morbidity in Australia. A fundamental problem in clinical practice is the accurate identification of the 'hotspot' zone in the brain that is generating epileptic discharges. These discharges can be detected non-invasively (over the scalp) and analysed with electro-encephalographic and magneto-encephalographic source localisation (EMSL) techniques. EMSL is not used in routine clinical practice because we await a large scale prospective study (the aim of this ....Epilepsy is a leading cause of chronic morbidity in Australia. A fundamental problem in clinical practice is the accurate identification of the 'hotspot' zone in the brain that is generating epileptic discharges. These discharges can be detected non-invasively (over the scalp) and analysed with electro-encephalographic and magneto-encephalographic source localisation (EMSL) techniques. EMSL is not used in routine clinical practice because we await a large scale prospective study (the aim of this proposal).Read moreRead less
Spatial Coding In The Primate Cortex During Eye Movements.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$428,720.00
Summary
Every time we move our eyes, objects in the world change their positions on the retina, yet to us, their positions remain perceptually unchanged. This project seeks to understand how neurons in the primate brain combine visual input with signals about eye position to construct this stable representation of external space. The findings will help us understand and-or rehabilitate a host of nervous system dysfunctions, including schizophrenia, stroke, and paraplegia.