Impact Of Somatic Versus Dendritic Inhibition On Neuronal Output
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,047,686.00
Summary
The brain is made up of literally billions of neurons connected in complex networks. These neurons come in two primary flavors - excitatory and inhibitory - which work in balance. Too much excitation and the brain becomes epileptic, too much inhibitory and we go into a coma. This proposal focuses on the role of specific inhibitory cell types in regulating brain function, and has relevant to a range of neurological disorders from epilepsy, to schizophrenia to depression.
The Role Of Presynaptic Inhibition In Neuropathic Pain
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$466,045.00
Summary
Inhibitory nerve cells in the spinal cord are thought to play an important role in governing the interaction between painful and non-painful stimuli. Defects in this process underlie allodynia, an important symptom of neuropathic pain. We will use recent advances in genetic techniques (optogenetics) to manipulate and study how inhibitory nerve cells separate touch and pain signalling in the spinal cord of normal and neuropathic animals.
Factors Affecting The Conductance Of GABA(A) Channels
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$406,650.00
Summary
GABA(A) receptors provide most of the inhibition in the brain. If they are blocked, animals suffer from seizures and die. They are the target for a wide variety of medically useful drugs such as anaesthetics, tranquillisers such as valium and anti-epleptic drugs. All these drugs boost their effectiveness and increase inhibition in the brain. Most of them were discovered by chance. In this project, we will find out more about these receptors. This will give us more information about how the brain ....GABA(A) receptors provide most of the inhibition in the brain. If they are blocked, animals suffer from seizures and die. They are the target for a wide variety of medically useful drugs such as anaesthetics, tranquillisers such as valium and anti-epleptic drugs. All these drugs boost their effectiveness and increase inhibition in the brain. Most of them were discovered by chance. In this project, we will find out more about these receptors. This will give us more information about how the brain works and also help in the search for better, more selective drugs.Read moreRead less
Regulation Of Synaptic Vesicle Biogenesis For Synaptic Transmission
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$339,115.00
Summary
The overall aim is to better understand the molecular processes of nerve cell communication during learning, memory and abnormal brain activity that cause neurological diseases. The supply and generation (biogenesis) of synaptic vesicles (SVs) in nerve cells is critical to sustain neurotransmission. It requires complex protein interactions and signalling. Thus modulation of SV biogenesis at the molecular level will allows future development of new targeted treatments for neurological diseases.
Investigation Of The Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Alpha Synuclein Function At The Presynapse
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$419,180.00
Summary
Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a common brain disease affecting 7 million people worldwide. It is caused by the death of brain cells. ?-synuclein is a protein in that brain that is likely to contribute to the cell death in PD, but the normal role of the protein remains unknown. This study will investigate the function of ?-synuclein in maintaining normal healthy brain activity. In addition, this work will help us understand how normal brain processes are affected in diseases such as PD.
Synaptic Integration And Plasticity In The Rat Piriform Cortex
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$250,500.00
Summary
The human cerebral cortex is the pinnacle of evolution. It is the most complex structure known, responsible for all of those skills - like language and reasoning - that make our species so remarkable. It is also a major site of many brain diseases, like schizophrenia and epilepsy. An understanding of how the cerebral cortex works would be a remarkable achievement, of immeasurable benefit to human health. How can one go about studying such a complex structure? The strategy taken in this project i ....The human cerebral cortex is the pinnacle of evolution. It is the most complex structure known, responsible for all of those skills - like language and reasoning - that make our species so remarkable. It is also a major site of many brain diseases, like schizophrenia and epilepsy. An understanding of how the cerebral cortex works would be a remarkable achievement, of immeasurable benefit to human health. How can one go about studying such a complex structure? The strategy taken in this project is to begin by studying one of the simplest regions of the cerebral cortex, the olfactory (or piriform) cortex. The olfactory cortex is an evolutionarily ancient region of cortex, with a simpler architecture than other cortical regions. Its task is to process the sense of smell, a primitive sense that is more elaborated in lower animals than in humans. The broad goal of our research is to understand, by studying the olfactory cortex of rats, how olfactory processing occurs at the level of nerve cells (neurons). We will use a number of powerful techniques - including microelectrode recording and laser microscopy - to measure the electrical properties of individual neurons. We will also study the synaptic connections between neurons, and how these connections change following memory-inducing stimuli. It is hoped that this work will shed light on how the healthy cortex is able to process and store information, and how brain diseases cause these functions to deteriorate.Read moreRead less
Methods To Improve Detail Reproduction Of Elastic Impression Materials
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$96,656.00
Summary
If a dental prosthesis is to fit precisely in the mouth, an accurate impression must be taken of the teeth and surrounding tissues. This research aims to evaluate variable surface conditions which may be taken into consideration to achieve an accurate impression, such as moisture, temperature, and the presence of contaminants. Although any distortions as a result of material interactions would be limited to the surface interface, inaccuracies here may ultimately compromise treatment success.
Schizophrenia is classified among the world’s top ten enduring disabilities. Hearing voices are a profound and distressing symptom, which have proven difficult to successfully treat. We plan to use the latest brain imaging techniques and genetic testing to develop the most comprehensive understanding of hearing for voices to date. These data are vital to the development of novel tailored treatment for patients who hear voices.
Study Of Motor Inhibition Deficits In Schizophrenia Using MRI, EventRelatedPotentialsand Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$261,687.00
Summary
The aim of the proposed project is to study the neural mechanism underlying failures of motor-inhibition in patients with schizophrenia. The project will involve the use of fMRI and ERP measures during performance of a Stop-Signal Task, in order to explore the neural substrates of task performance in healthy subjects, and activational differences in schizophrenia patients. In a separate experimental session TMS will be applied in order to disrupt neural processing at cortical sites identified by ....The aim of the proposed project is to study the neural mechanism underlying failures of motor-inhibition in patients with schizophrenia. The project will involve the use of fMRI and ERP measures during performance of a Stop-Signal Task, in order to explore the neural substrates of task performance in healthy subjects, and activational differences in schizophrenia patients. In a separate experimental session TMS will be applied in order to disrupt neural processing at cortical sites identified by fMRI. Systematic use of TMS across different cortical sites will be used to compare effects of cortical site and subject group on task performance.Read moreRead less