The human mirror system and the perception of others' actions. This research will provide greater understanding of how the human mirror system operates for the perception of actions, a crucial first-step toward understanding disorders of action perception such as autism and apraxia. The research program will also contribute greatly to building national capacity in cognitive neuroscience research, using advanced brain imaging methods. The fellow actively encourages and mentors young scientists, o ....The human mirror system and the perception of others' actions. This research will provide greater understanding of how the human mirror system operates for the perception of actions, a crucial first-step toward understanding disorders of action perception such as autism and apraxia. The research program will also contribute greatly to building national capacity in cognitive neuroscience research, using advanced brain imaging methods. The fellow actively encourages and mentors young scientists, organises advanced workshops that bring brain imaging researchers around the world to Australia, and builds international collaborations based around high-field brain imaging. The Future Fellowship will substantially enhance these activities, building capacity and enhancing Australia's reputation in cognitive neurosciences.Read moreRead less
Temporal interactions of dorsal/ventral visual streams. This project aims to understand the temporal interactions between the dorsal and ventral visual streams that control skilled actions. The neural pathways for visual perception of objects may be distinct from those associated with movements towards the object, but the speed of activation and interactions of these two cortical visual streams have not been investigated. This project will use the temporal sensitivity of neuroscience brain imagi ....Temporal interactions of dorsal/ventral visual streams. This project aims to understand the temporal interactions between the dorsal and ventral visual streams that control skilled actions. The neural pathways for visual perception of objects may be distinct from those associated with movements towards the object, but the speed of activation and interactions of these two cortical visual streams have not been investigated. This project will use the temporal sensitivity of neuroscience brain imaging techniques (MEG, EEG, fMRI) to measure the real-time sequence of interactions between the two visual streams during goal-directed grasping. It intends to extend the most influential model of visual processing by discovering ‘when’ these pathways activate and interact. Such knowledge will affect delivery of social and commercial outcomes, by providing new directions for the rehabilitation of sensorimotor performance in many neurodevelopmental disorders, and by improving design of control systems for robotic effectors, prosthetic limbs, and more seamless human-machine interfaces.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120101119
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
The critical executive processes involved in translating ideas into spoken language for conversational speech. This project will investigate the critical cognitive pathways, and supporting brain areas, involved in speaking for meaning. This will enable better diagnosis of communication disorders in neurological conditions, such as stroke, and identification of methods for delaying dementia by maintaining and enhancing conversational skills in older adults.
Brain connectome: from synapse, large-scale network to behaviour. This project aims to investigate how behaviour shapes the large-scale network synchrony by determination of task-specific networks using whole-brain resting-state functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and its relationship with synaptic plasticity. Enhanced synaptic connectivity has been suggested as a mechanism of memory but the system-level circuit dynamics in memory process are not clear. The outcome is anticipated to brid ....Brain connectome: from synapse, large-scale network to behaviour. This project aims to investigate how behaviour shapes the large-scale network synchrony by determination of task-specific networks using whole-brain resting-state functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and its relationship with synaptic plasticity. Enhanced synaptic connectivity has been suggested as a mechanism of memory but the system-level circuit dynamics in memory process are not clear. The outcome is anticipated to bridge the knowledge gap between brain and behaviour.Read moreRead less
How does electrical stimulation affect brain networks? This project aims to generate fundamental knowledge about links between neural mechanisms, electrical brain stimulation and brain function. The project aims to improve knowledge about transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and its effects on complex human brain networks. Such knowledge is necessary to enhance the effectiveness of current stimulation protocols. Using the innovative and interdisciplinary approach, this project will pr ....How does electrical stimulation affect brain networks? This project aims to generate fundamental knowledge about links between neural mechanisms, electrical brain stimulation and brain function. The project aims to improve knowledge about transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and its effects on complex human brain networks. Such knowledge is necessary to enhance the effectiveness of current stimulation protocols. Using the innovative and interdisciplinary approach, this project will provide significant benefits such as crucial mechanistic information about how tDCS modulates healthy brain function which has broad implications for research and clinical use of this technique.Read moreRead less
Processing of social communication calls in primate auditory cortex. This research will advance our understanding of the brain mechanisms involved in perception of sound. This will help to understand disorders of speech and hearing following brain damage and may assist in efforts to develop better hearing aids, as well as other speech recognition technologies. In addition, we will develop a primate for studying processing of sound in the brain that will be useful in future research to develop ....Processing of social communication calls in primate auditory cortex. This research will advance our understanding of the brain mechanisms involved in perception of sound. This will help to understand disorders of speech and hearing following brain damage and may assist in efforts to develop better hearing aids, as well as other speech recognition technologies. In addition, we will develop a primate for studying processing of sound in the brain that will be useful in future research to develop improved cochlear implants.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR120300015
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$16,000,000.00
Summary
The Science of Learning Research Centre. In this innovative new Centre, researchers in education, neuroscience and cognitive psychology will work together with teachers to understand the learning process. This collaboration will establish new criteria to assess the impact of different types of learning and strategies to inform teaching practices of benefit to all Australians.
Integrative brain imaging technologies. This project aims to develop quantitative metabolic imaging using simultaneous magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET). The current generation of MR-PET scanners are capable of simultaneously acquiring MRI and PET data to enable quantitative anatomical, physiological and metabolic imaging. The project aims to develop new MRI methods for quantitative anatomical mapping, MR-based motion correction of dynamic PET scan data, and ....Integrative brain imaging technologies. This project aims to develop quantitative metabolic imaging using simultaneous magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET). The current generation of MR-PET scanners are capable of simultaneously acquiring MRI and PET data to enable quantitative anatomical, physiological and metabolic imaging. The project aims to develop new MRI methods for quantitative anatomical mapping, MR-based motion correction of dynamic PET scan data, and joint estimation of physiological and metabolic organ activity. These advances will create innovative imaging technologies for advanced biomedical imaging research with a particular emphasis in healthy ageing.
Read moreRead less
Network activity and the role of NMDA receptors in associative learning. The brain is the most complex machine we know, and its activity shapes every aspect our lives. Studies over decades using tools from molecular and cellular neuroscience and behavioural experiments have discovered the parts of the brain involved in learning and memory formation. Much is understood about the neural circuits that mediate learning but how memories are formed and stored are not understood. The aim of this proj ....Network activity and the role of NMDA receptors in associative learning. The brain is the most complex machine we know, and its activity shapes every aspect our lives. Studies over decades using tools from molecular and cellular neuroscience and behavioural experiments have discovered the parts of the brain involved in learning and memory formation. Much is understood about the neural circuits that mediate learning but how memories are formed and stored are not understood. The aim of this project is to understand learning and memory formation using a simple Pavlovian learning paradigm, fear conditioning. Using cutting-edge molecular tools we will label the circuits in the amygdala that mediate this learning and the nature of the memory trace. In the long term, these results may drive novel storage devices.Read moreRead less
Corpus callosum function in decision making. This project aims to investigate how the major connection between the two brain hemispheres (called the corpus callosum) is involved in higher cognitive functions such as decision making, learning, knowledge updating, and performance optimisation. New knowledge will be generated in the area of human cognition by combining computational theory with measures of cognition and brain MRI. Expected outcomes are to develop and advance computational models o ....Corpus callosum function in decision making. This project aims to investigate how the major connection between the two brain hemispheres (called the corpus callosum) is involved in higher cognitive functions such as decision making, learning, knowledge updating, and performance optimisation. New knowledge will be generated in the area of human cognition by combining computational theory with measures of cognition and brain MRI. Expected outcomes are to develop and advance computational models of human brain function and structure through interdisciplinary collaboration by combing theory and experimentation. Significant benefits will be to advance our understanding of the brain and enhance Australia's scientific capability through training and collaboration.Read moreRead less