Plasticity in the periphery: how sensory experience modulates the sense of smell. This project will investigate how sensory experience modulates the molecular and neural mechanisms underlying the sense of smell. The outcomes will help us understand the phenomenon why scent perception changes throughout life, and illuminate how exposure to odours in the daily environment can modulate the sense of smell.
Evolution of sound localisation in vertebrates: head size, sound frequency and neural phase-locking. Hearing is our most important sense for interpersonal communication, yet we have a fragmentary understanding of the basic mechanisms involved in normal hearing. This project addresses the question of how sound location is represented in the brain through the processing of minute time difference with which sounds reach the two ears. The outcome will ultimately enable us to infer how the human brai ....Evolution of sound localisation in vertebrates: head size, sound frequency and neural phase-locking. Hearing is our most important sense for interpersonal communication, yet we have a fragmentary understanding of the basic mechanisms involved in normal hearing. This project addresses the question of how sound location is represented in the brain through the processing of minute time difference with which sounds reach the two ears. The outcome will ultimately enable us to infer how the human brain localises sound, with practical applications for improved virtual auditory realities and hearing aids.Read moreRead less
A Study of Acoustical, Psycho-acoustical and Musicological Factors in Tuned Percussion Ensemble Design. This research will generate the following nationally benefits: 1) The World's first new, widely available, acoustical musical instruments in almost a Century, and the creation of a uniquely Australian musical form, 2) The creation of a major new teaching resource for classroom music and a new export industry for Australia, 3) New knowledge and techniques for the application of psycho-acoustic ....A Study of Acoustical, Psycho-acoustical and Musicological Factors in Tuned Percussion Ensemble Design. This research will generate the following nationally benefits: 1) The World's first new, widely available, acoustical musical instruments in almost a Century, and the creation of a uniquely Australian musical form, 2) The creation of a major new teaching resource for classroom music and a new export industry for Australia, 3) New knowledge and techniques for the application of psycho-acoustic theory to industrial design processes, and their evaluation with respect to musical instrument acoustics and performance practices, and 4) New knowledge of the human auditory system; thereby contributing to Australia's international standing as a leader in auditory research and promoting Australia's cultural and scientific capabilities.Read moreRead less
Mechanisms of learning at the interface between perception and action. Using the latest in brain imaging and simulator technology, this project will advance understanding of how experience shapes the visual centres of our brain. It will also support partnerships with construction, mining and health services by developing real and virtual machine interfaces and tools to enhance the outcome of simulator-based training.
Micromachined electrode arrays for improved performance and manufacturability of cochlear neuroprostheses. The cochlear implant for the deaf, and bionic eye for the blind are two devices where Australian researchers possess considerable expertise. Benefit can be had from collaborative research between these non-competing scientific fields. Microelectrodes is an area wherein overcoming the unique requirements of one field offers new opportunities in the other. We aim to enhance Australia's leader ....Micromachined electrode arrays for improved performance and manufacturability of cochlear neuroprostheses. The cochlear implant for the deaf, and bionic eye for the blind are two devices where Australian researchers possess considerable expertise. Benefit can be had from collaborative research between these non-competing scientific fields. Microelectrodes is an area wherein overcoming the unique requirements of one field offers new opportunities in the other. We aim to enhance Australia's leadership in cochlear implants by applying decade-long research on electrode fabrication techniques for the bionic eye into 3D shapes for the cochlea. Furthermore, we aim to further improve the effectiveness, safety and reliability of the cochlear implant while facilitating increased electrode numbers.Read moreRead less
Assessment and treatment software for developmental disabilities based on neuroscientific theories for information processing. Performance on tasks relating to fluency of reading, language and sensory motor integration is impaired to some degree in children with dyslexia, ADHD, autism, and intellectual disability (ID). Thus our aim is to develop and test, to the point of commercial release, software for assessment of visual and auditory performance relating to social, language and literacy diff ....Assessment and treatment software for developmental disabilities based on neuroscientific theories for information processing. Performance on tasks relating to fluency of reading, language and sensory motor integration is impaired to some degree in children with dyslexia, ADHD, autism, and intellectual disability (ID). Thus our aim is to develop and test, to the point of commercial release, software for assessment of visual and auditory performance relating to social, language and literacy difficulties for young children. Furthermore software which aims to train attention and improve speed of visual object recognition will be developed and if effective as a treatment to improve reading and social interactions in ID, will be released by Fildes Foundation as an easily accessible multi-media based home/school therapy.Read moreRead less
The mechanism for defocus-driven ocular growth. 30 per cent of the Australian young adult population (with much higher percentages in Asia) suffer from myopia, and while we know the retina senses defocus, we do not know how. The knowledge gained through this project will help the development of pharmaceuticals to control myopia and of developmental practices that minimise the chances of children becoming myopic.
Probing cross modal interactions in the perception of object motion and self-motion. How the brain integrates information from the different senses is not yet understood. This project aims first, to uncover how the brain integrates sound and visual information when perceiving moving objects and second, to probe more complex sensory interactions between sound, vision, and our vestibular senses when perceiving self-motion. This project will expand Australia's knowledge base, strengthen collabora ....Probing cross modal interactions in the perception of object motion and self-motion. How the brain integrates information from the different senses is not yet understood. This project aims first, to uncover how the brain integrates sound and visual information when perceiving moving objects and second, to probe more complex sensory interactions between sound, vision, and our vestibular senses when perceiving self-motion. This project will expand Australia's knowledge base, strengthen collaborative ties between Australia and Japan, and provide unique training opportunities for Australian and Japanese students. Publication of research in top-ranking journals will further promote Australian science abroad. Results will lead to improvements in the design of human-machine interfaces in both industry and entertainment.Read moreRead less
Neural mechanisms for visual target detection and attention in complex scenes. This project will study neurons in the insect brain that solve one of the biggest problems for computer vision systems - tracking the motion of tiny targets moving against strongly camouflaged backgrounds. The results will be used to develop a novel biologically inspired model for target tracking with applications for smart cameras and robotics.
Oscillations as a mechanism for neural communication. The project aims to answer how billions of cells in the brain can work together to allow us to perceive the world. By using novel electrophysiological and engineering techniques, the project tests if a brain signal called the local field potential provides a way for different areas in the brain to communicate. The hypothesis is that the local field potential is used by cells to synchronise their activity to be most effective. This project wou ....Oscillations as a mechanism for neural communication. The project aims to answer how billions of cells in the brain can work together to allow us to perceive the world. By using novel electrophysiological and engineering techniques, the project tests if a brain signal called the local field potential provides a way for different areas in the brain to communicate. The hypothesis is that the local field potential is used by cells to synchronise their activity to be most effective. This project would be a paradigm shift in how we currently understand how the brain works. Expected outcomes include answering long held questions about how we see and perceive the world. This should provide significant benefit to fields such as computer vision and the development of neural engineering devices.Read moreRead less