Decoding neuronal populations for visually-guided decision and action. This project aims to investigate how the cerebral decodes visual information in order to guide sensory-guided actions. Using a high resolution technique, capable of monitoring the activity of many cells in real time, it will study how sensory signals about the motion of visual patterns interact with noise (fluctuations in neuronal activity that are not directly related to the sensation being encoded) in order to determine dec ....Decoding neuronal populations for visually-guided decision and action. This project aims to investigate how the cerebral decodes visual information in order to guide sensory-guided actions. Using a high resolution technique, capable of monitoring the activity of many cells in real time, it will study how sensory signals about the motion of visual patterns interact with noise (fluctuations in neuronal activity that are not directly related to the sensation being encoded) in order to determine decisions made by an animal. Expected outcomes include new knowledge about the cellular circuits responsible for vision, and new technologies for decoding brain activity from physiological measurements, which may in the future guide the development of improved bionic devices such as brain-computer interfaces. Read moreRead less
Microglia and the inflammation spectrum - not just good or bad. Cell-mediated tissue clearance following brain injury is a universal mechanism. However, our understanding of the cells that perform these tasks is very limited. Our project will characterise this inflammatory response at a single-cell level using the zebrafish spinal cord as a versatile experimental model. The project is expected to strongly contribute to the molecular understanding of the mechanisms underlying debris removal and w ....Microglia and the inflammation spectrum - not just good or bad. Cell-mediated tissue clearance following brain injury is a universal mechanism. However, our understanding of the cells that perform these tasks is very limited. Our project will characterise this inflammatory response at a single-cell level using the zebrafish spinal cord as a versatile experimental model. The project is expected to strongly contribute to the molecular understanding of the mechanisms underlying debris removal and will advance innovative technologies that facilitate intellectual progress in neuroscience. It will produce new insights into the process of neuronal degeneration, promote Australia’s growing reputation as a global leader in neuroscience, and provide high quality training for early career researchers.Read moreRead less
Beyond Neuroinflammation: The Role of Microglia in Synaptic Plasticity. Microglia are the immune cells of the brain and are known to respond to infectious and non-infectious insults to the nervous system. This project aims to use the transparent and genetically amenable brain of the zebrafish, to explore new functions of microglia at the single cell level in the intact, behaving animal, through visualization of cellular components of the brain (neurons, glia, microglia, blood vessels, synapses), ....Beyond Neuroinflammation: The Role of Microglia in Synaptic Plasticity. Microglia are the immune cells of the brain and are known to respond to infectious and non-infectious insults to the nervous system. This project aims to use the transparent and genetically amenable brain of the zebrafish, to explore new functions of microglia at the single cell level in the intact, behaving animal, through visualization of cellular components of the brain (neurons, glia, microglia, blood vessels, synapses), and through the genetic manipulation of synaptic density, and real time observation of microglia in the process.Read moreRead less