Functional pathways in primate retina. When light enters the eye, specialised nerve cells called photoreceptors transform the light signal into nerve signals. These signals are processed in the retina by two groups of neurones, bipolar and ganglion cells before being sent to higher brain centres. Bipolar and ganglion cells can be subdivided into several types. We will measure which types communicate with each other and which proteins (neurotransmitter receptors) are involved at the site of commu ....Functional pathways in primate retina. When light enters the eye, specialised nerve cells called photoreceptors transform the light signal into nerve signals. These signals are processed in the retina by two groups of neurones, bipolar and ganglion cells before being sent to higher brain centres. Bipolar and ganglion cells can be subdivided into several types. We will measure which types communicate with each other and which proteins (neurotransmitter receptors) are involved at the site of communication between these nerve cells. This study will improve our knowledge of the basis of functional subspecialisation at the earliest stages of the visual process.Read moreRead less
Understanding and Modelling Insect Motion Vision. The interdisciplinary project proposed will offer a stimulating environment for research/training into computational neuroscience, an attractive area for aspiring scientists. We have already demonstrated the feasibility of transferring physiology into applications, and expect this project to deliver functional motion vision models and devices. Our proposed work will have an impact beyond the advancement of neuro-physiology as knowledge gained is ....Understanding and Modelling Insect Motion Vision. The interdisciplinary project proposed will offer a stimulating environment for research/training into computational neuroscience, an attractive area for aspiring scientists. We have already demonstrated the feasibility of transferring physiology into applications, and expect this project to deliver functional motion vision models and devices. Our proposed work will have an impact beyond the advancement of neuro-physiology as knowledge gained is applicable in a range of areas, with applications in miniature unmanned vehicles and collision avoidance detectors in defence and civilian roles. Our project could also assist in the development of artificial intelligence and as a basis for designing implantable artificial eyes.Read moreRead less
Relationship of the functional architecture of the mammalian brain to its microcircuitry. The project seeks to understand a very fundamental issue in neuroscience: how the connectivity and architecture of the cortex are related to the functions of neurones in that area? This will be investigated by imaging the surface of the visual cortex of anaesthetised cats and monkeys as special visual patterns are shown to the eye/s. The overall picture gained of the active and inactive cortical areas will ....Relationship of the functional architecture of the mammalian brain to its microcircuitry. The project seeks to understand a very fundamental issue in neuroscience: how the connectivity and architecture of the cortex are related to the functions of neurones in that area? This will be investigated by imaging the surface of the visual cortex of anaesthetised cats and monkeys as special visual patterns are shown to the eye/s. The overall picture gained of the active and inactive cortical areas will be related to the properties of neurones in those areas and to those of individual input and output fibres. An optical imaging equipment will be acquired in 2004 using a recently awarded LIEF grant to the CI.Read moreRead less
Synaptic and network properties underlying neural coding in the mammalian visual cortex. This study will:
(1) Increase our basic understanding of visual function that can help to explain many clinical perceptual disturbances. (2) Help in providing a detailed picture of intracortical neuronal networks that can form the basis for a prosthesis for the blind. (3) Discover the principles of neural organization underlying functions such as figure-ground segregation and perceptual learning which can i ....Synaptic and network properties underlying neural coding in the mammalian visual cortex. This study will:
(1) Increase our basic understanding of visual function that can help to explain many clinical perceptual disturbances. (2) Help in providing a detailed picture of intracortical neuronal networks that can form the basis for a prosthesis for the blind. (3) Discover the principles of neural organization underlying functions such as figure-ground segregation and perceptual learning which can inspire practical algorithms for robotic vision. (4) Train graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in state of the art techniques in a stimulating intellectual environment.Read moreRead less
Thalamo-cortical organisation in visual information processing. This study will: (1) Increase our basic understanding of visual function that can help to explain many clinical perceptual disturbances. (2) Help in providing a detailed picture of intracortical neuronal networks that can form the basis for a prosthesis for the blind. (3) Discover the principles of neural organization underlying functions such as figure-ground segregation and perceptual learning which can inspire practical algorithm ....Thalamo-cortical organisation in visual information processing. This study will: (1) Increase our basic understanding of visual function that can help to explain many clinical perceptual disturbances. (2) Help in providing a detailed picture of intracortical neuronal networks that can form the basis for a prosthesis for the blind. (3) Discover the principles of neural organization underlying functions such as figure-ground segregation and perceptual learning which can inspire practical algorithms for robotic vision. (4) Train graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in state of the art techniques in a stimulating intellectual environmentRead moreRead less
Suction pipette measurements of mammalian rod photoreceptor recovery following intense bleaching exposures. The aim of this project is to discover the events and processes that prevent retinal photoreceptors from recovering instantaneously following the cessation of exposure to extremely bright illumination. Recordings will be made from single rod photoreceptors cells isolated from the mammalian retina. The work will uncover the relative roles of the 'photoproducts' created when rhodopsin abso ....Suction pipette measurements of mammalian rod photoreceptor recovery following intense bleaching exposures. The aim of this project is to discover the events and processes that prevent retinal photoreceptors from recovering instantaneously following the cessation of exposure to extremely bright illumination. Recordings will be made from single rod photoreceptors cells isolated from the mammalian retina. The work will uncover the relative roles of the 'photoproducts' created when rhodopsin absorbs light: e.g. intermediates such as metarhodopsin and opsin. The molecular knowledge obtained will help us to understand why it is that the visual system recovers so slowly after the eye has experienced very intense light.Read moreRead less
The first stage of vision: transduction and adaptation in retinal photoreceptors. The project aims to provide a detailed understanding of the molecular steps involved in the first stage of vision - the conversion of light into a neural signal in the rod and cone photoreceptors of the retina. The significance of this is that it will explain the initial events that enable us to see, and will help explain the deficits that occur when the process fails. The outcome will be a comprehensive understand ....The first stage of vision: transduction and adaptation in retinal photoreceptors. The project aims to provide a detailed understanding of the molecular steps involved in the first stage of vision - the conversion of light into a neural signal in the rod and cone photoreceptors of the retina. The significance of this is that it will explain the initial events that enable us to see, and will help explain the deficits that occur when the process fails. The outcome will be a comprehensive understanding of how our photoreceptors respond with extreme sensitivity, yet great rapidity, and over an enormous range of light intensities, thus endowing us with our remarkable sense of vision.Read moreRead less
Organisation of the cerebral cortex- what, if anything, is a cortical area? Currently, much effort is being directed towards elucidating the roles of different regions of the cerebral cortex. "Maps" of cortical areas have become essential points of reference, exerting a powerful influence on the way we think about the brain. However, is it really appropriate to model the cortex as a mosaic of well-defined areas? This project will challenge the assumptions underlying current brain mapping efforts ....Organisation of the cerebral cortex- what, if anything, is a cortical area? Currently, much effort is being directed towards elucidating the roles of different regions of the cerebral cortex. "Maps" of cortical areas have become essential points of reference, exerting a powerful influence on the way we think about the brain. However, is it really appropriate to model the cortex as a mosaic of well-defined areas? This project will challenge the assumptions underlying current brain mapping efforts. Its main benefits will be the refinement of strategies for brain mapping, including potential for better
application/interpretation of available medical technology, and unique insights on the mechanisms of development and evolution of the nervous system.
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Assembly of neural circuits during development. This program aims to understand how nerve cells wire up accurately during development. Specifically, the program will determine how neuronal connections are established in the retina to produce a sensory structure essential for vision. The program will also generate innovative tools for watching in live animals, the making and breaking of connections during normal and abnormal development. Discoveries will not only significantly increase our knowle ....Assembly of neural circuits during development. This program aims to understand how nerve cells wire up accurately during development. Specifically, the program will determine how neuronal connections are established in the retina to produce a sensory structure essential for vision. The program will also generate innovative tools for watching in live animals, the making and breaking of connections during normal and abnormal development. Discoveries will not only significantly increase our knowledge base of how the nervous system develops or degenerates, but the results will provide crucial information for future studies based on genetic approaches, drug therapies and bioengineering technology to repair the injured nervous system.Read moreRead less
Functional imaging of colour pathways in the living eye. In order to repair or regenerate a diseased eye, we require knowledge of the normal pattern or nerve cell connections, and knowing how biology solves the problem of colour vision can be used to improve the design of artificial vision systems. The adaptive optics machine we will build in this project can be used to image nerve cells, fine blood vessels, and nerve fibre bundles in the normal and diseased eye. This will improve Australia's re ....Functional imaging of colour pathways in the living eye. In order to repair or regenerate a diseased eye, we require knowledge of the normal pattern or nerve cell connections, and knowing how biology solves the problem of colour vision can be used to improve the design of artificial vision systems. The adaptive optics machine we will build in this project can be used to image nerve cells, fine blood vessels, and nerve fibre bundles in the normal and diseased eye. This will improve Australia's research and development capacity in this new area of medical diagnostics. Our machine will be made available to other Australian laboratories and will improve the national capacity for making further scientific discoveries about how the visual system works.Read moreRead less