Intracortical inhibition evaluated by paired-pulse TMS during choice and simple reaction time tasks. The research will investigate the neurophysiological processes responsible for the selection and initiation of movement in response to an external stimulus. Slowness in the initiation and execution of movement is a common feature of 'neurological aging', neurodegenerative disease, and brain injury. Understanding the brain mechanisms involved in response selection and movement initiation will pro ....Intracortical inhibition evaluated by paired-pulse TMS during choice and simple reaction time tasks. The research will investigate the neurophysiological processes responsible for the selection and initiation of movement in response to an external stimulus. Slowness in the initiation and execution of movement is a common feature of 'neurological aging', neurodegenerative disease, and brain injury. Understanding the brain mechanisms involved in response selection and movement initiation will provide information for the development of specific intervention techniques to improve motor function in these groups.Read moreRead less
The role of the Supplementary Motor Area in time processing. The neural bases of timing mechanisms (0.1-100s range) are the subject of much debate. We hypothesise that the Supplementary Motor Area (SMA), a major cortical structure involving important dopaminergic pathways, subtends duration encoding, in the way depicted by the 'accumulator model'. Using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) over the SMA, we will test healthy subjects in motor and perceptual timing tasks, compared to Parkinson' ....The role of the Supplementary Motor Area in time processing. The neural bases of timing mechanisms (0.1-100s range) are the subject of much debate. We hypothesise that the Supplementary Motor Area (SMA), a major cortical structure involving important dopaminergic pathways, subtends duration encoding, in the way depicted by the 'accumulator model'. Using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) over the SMA, we will test healthy subjects in motor and perceptual timing tasks, compared to Parkinson's disease patients whose timing performance is impaired due to dopaminergic dysfunction. We expect TMS inhibitory effects to induce predictable performance trends, providing support for the accumulator model and the key role of the SMA in timing.Read moreRead less
Post-invasion trait-mediated indirect interactions: ecological and evolutionary impacts of the invasive European green crab. A multitude of ecological interactions determine the success and impacts of invasive species. We will advance current knowledge of the impacts of invasive European green crabs in Australia by detailing ecological and evolutionary interactions with native molluscs. This information will be useful in understanding the crab's invasion success and impacts on native communiti ....Post-invasion trait-mediated indirect interactions: ecological and evolutionary impacts of the invasive European green crab. A multitude of ecological interactions determine the success and impacts of invasive species. We will advance current knowledge of the impacts of invasive European green crabs in Australia by detailing ecological and evolutionary interactions with native molluscs. This information will be useful in understanding the crab's invasion success and impacts on native communities in Australia and other regions invaded by the crab worldwide. More broadly, this work will provide an evolutionary perspective of post-invasion processes that has been substantiated in terrestrial systems but is often lacking in marine systems. Read moreRead less