From rehabilitation to recovery after stroke : a model to optimise consumer and carer involvement. The National Research Priorities include 'ageing well, ageing productively'. Within this priority, it is necessary to be inclusive of those who have ongoing disabilities and/or chronic disease. This project aims to facilitate healthy lifestyles and community involvement in a group who have significant barriers to achieving their potential. The high incidence of depression and poor quality of life i ....From rehabilitation to recovery after stroke : a model to optimise consumer and carer involvement. The National Research Priorities include 'ageing well, ageing productively'. Within this priority, it is necessary to be inclusive of those who have ongoing disabilities and/or chronic disease. This project aims to facilitate healthy lifestyles and community involvement in a group who have significant barriers to achieving their potential. The high incidence of depression and poor quality of life in stroke survivors and their carers emphasises the need to enhance wellness in these people. The study will develop a model for promoting recovery and community reintegration in stroke survivors, with the goal of enabling stroke survivors and their carers to actively participate in the community and pursue personal goals.Read moreRead less
The development of the social brain in early childhood. This project aims to understand how the human brain develops social and emotional understanding. The brain has remarkable abilities for understanding our social environment, such as inferring other people’s thoughts and feelings. This project will use neuroscience techniques to investigate how brain networks combine to produce social understanding, how this changes throughout child development, and how it relates to complex social behaviour ....The development of the social brain in early childhood. This project aims to understand how the human brain develops social and emotional understanding. The brain has remarkable abilities for understanding our social environment, such as inferring other people’s thoughts and feelings. This project will use neuroscience techniques to investigate how brain networks combine to produce social understanding, how this changes throughout child development, and how it relates to complex social behaviours. This project’s findings could be used to develop educational programmes that enhance empathy and co-operation, strengthen family relationships, promote social inclusion and reduce maladaptive behaviours. It could also guide intervention in brain disorders that affect social understanding.Read moreRead less
The impact of female sex hormones on neurodevelopment. This project aims to characterise the contribution of sex hormones to the development of emotional brain circuits in female adolescents. Puberty is associated with profound changes in emotional behaviours in females, but we know little about the underlying brain mechanisms. In particular, research has neglected to consider the role of the sex hormones for which changes are a defining feature of female puberty (eg, oestradiol). This work will ....The impact of female sex hormones on neurodevelopment. This project aims to characterise the contribution of sex hormones to the development of emotional brain circuits in female adolescents. Puberty is associated with profound changes in emotional behaviours in females, but we know little about the underlying brain mechanisms. In particular, research has neglected to consider the role of the sex hormones for which changes are a defining feature of female puberty (eg, oestradiol). This work will be the first to comprehensively advance our understanding of the unique role of sex hormones in shaping the adolescent female brain. It will provide critical understanding of how individual differences in hormonal factors increase risk for emotional problems in females, and inform treatment strategies.Read moreRead less
The long-term consequences of toluene exposure on the maturing brain. Inhalant abuse is a significant problem especially among adolescent and indigenous communities. This project will provide insights into the long-term neurobiological consequences following inhalant exposure during adolescence when critical aspects of brain development are still occurring and how these may relate to altered behaviour in adulthood.
The long-term consequences of toluene exposure on the maturing brain. Inhalant abuse is a significant problem, especially among adolescent and Indigenous communities. This project will provide insights into the long-term neurobiological consequences following inhalant exposure during adolescence when critical aspects of brain development are still occurring, and how these may relate to altered behaviour in adulthood.
The Role of Metals in the Biology of the Ageing Brain. Aims
1.To advance basic understanding of the interactions between cellular proteins and biologically important metals
2. To learn how these interactions change as the organism ages
3. To study the pathological results of aberrant metal biology using animal and cellular models of major age-dependent neurodegenerative disease.
In a rapidly ageing society, neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases will presen ....The Role of Metals in the Biology of the Ageing Brain. Aims
1.To advance basic understanding of the interactions between cellular proteins and biologically important metals
2. To learn how these interactions change as the organism ages
3. To study the pathological results of aberrant metal biology using animal and cellular models of major age-dependent neurodegenerative disease.
In a rapidly ageing society, neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases will present a medical and economic challenge demanding novel and powerful science. This research will lead both to deeper understanding of the basic mechanisms underlying such disorders and to tools for designing new and effective treatments.
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Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120100110
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Extinction of drug-seeking in adolescent rats. To investigate the ontogeny of drug abuse and its treatment, acquisition and treatment of drug-seeking behaviour will be examined in adolescent rats. I expect that adolescent rats will fail to inhibit drug-seeking behaviour, and show immaturity in cortical brain areas. Increasing cortical activity may rescue their ability to inhibit drug-seeking.
Transformations in Human Visual Cortex - from Neural Input to Recognition. Human behaviour is dominated by the visual system. This project proposes to trace the M, P, K neural systems isolated through Red/Green, Blue/Yellow and luminance stimuli to investigate processing for percepts of and attention to colour, motion and form in neurotypical humans. Nonlinear magnetoencephalography (MEG) is intended to provide the temporal structure of the different neural streams that feed these percepts. MEG ....Transformations in Human Visual Cortex - from Neural Input to Recognition. Human behaviour is dominated by the visual system. This project proposes to trace the M, P, K neural systems isolated through Red/Green, Blue/Yellow and luminance stimuli to investigate processing for percepts of and attention to colour, motion and form in neurotypical humans. Nonlinear magnetoencephalography (MEG) is intended to provide the temporal structure of the different neural streams that feed these percepts. MEG based population receptive field analysis from virtual electrodes, will provide information about cortical feedback. A new theory of perception is expected to emerge, incorporating connections with contextual and top-down cognitive processes, furthering basic understanding.Read moreRead less
Ascending Neural Networks And Behavioural State Control
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$727,758.00
Summary
Our research aims to describe and understand newly identified nerve pathways or 'networks' in brain that control physiological homeostasis or balance and complex behaviours, including levels of arousal and motivation, sleep/wake patterns, learning and memory, and emotions such as fear and anxiety
The processing of sensory information within cortical circuits. This project aims to improve our knowledge of neuronal activity during sensory perception and therefore shed light on overall brain function during behaviour. Understanding how dendrites receive and process this information is crucial to understanding brain function during sensory processing and perception. This proposal aims to characterise dendritic activity during sensory input and discover how this activity contributes to behavi ....The processing of sensory information within cortical circuits. This project aims to improve our knowledge of neuronal activity during sensory perception and therefore shed light on overall brain function during behaviour. Understanding how dendrites receive and process this information is crucial to understanding brain function during sensory processing and perception. This proposal aims to characterise dendritic activity during sensory input and discover how this activity contributes to behavioural tasks. In particular, the project plans to investigate activity of different dendritic domains during sensory perception and sensory-based behaviour. The project seeks to improve our knowledge of the importance of dendrites in transforming information from the sensory environment and highlight the cellular and network mechanisms contributing to behaviour.Read moreRead less