Probing cross modal interactions in the perception of object motion and self-motion. How the brain integrates information from the different senses is not yet understood. This project aims first, to uncover how the brain integrates sound and visual information when perceiving moving objects and second, to probe more complex sensory interactions between sound, vision, and our vestibular senses when perceiving self-motion. This project will expand Australia's knowledge base, strengthen collabora ....Probing cross modal interactions in the perception of object motion and self-motion. How the brain integrates information from the different senses is not yet understood. This project aims first, to uncover how the brain integrates sound and visual information when perceiving moving objects and second, to probe more complex sensory interactions between sound, vision, and our vestibular senses when perceiving self-motion. This project will expand Australia's knowledge base, strengthen collaborative ties between Australia and Japan, and provide unique training opportunities for Australian and Japanese students. Publication of research in top-ranking journals will further promote Australian science abroad. Results will lead to improvements in the design of human-machine interfaces in both industry and entertainment.Read moreRead less
Complex Motion Processing in Primate Visual Cortex. As we move through the world, a dynamic visual image is projected onto our retinas. The pattern of movement in the retinal image contains information about three-dimensional structure in the environment and the time of impending collisions. Our visual systems are expert at exploiting this information, enabling us to navigate through complex visual environments at a level far beyond the most sophisticated artificial systems. We plan to investiga ....Complex Motion Processing in Primate Visual Cortex. As we move through the world, a dynamic visual image is projected onto our retinas. The pattern of movement in the retinal image contains information about three-dimensional structure in the environment and the time of impending collisions. Our visual systems are expert at exploiting this information, enabling us to navigate through complex visual environments at a level far beyond the most sophisticated artificial systems. We plan to investigate complex motion processing in the primate brain by recording the responses of neurons in identified regions of the visual cortex of macaque monkeys to a range of behaviourally relevant motion stimuli.Read moreRead less
eResearch in the Neurosciences: Building collaborations in Asia. The proposed Australasian collaboration on eResearch in Neuroscience will promote and maintain the good health of Australians by 'improving critical mass through collaboration and information sharing' through increased access to advanced imaging technology in Korea and analysis techniques in Japan. The collaboration will also promote frontier technologies for building and transforming Australian industries by developing a creative ....eResearch in the Neurosciences: Building collaborations in Asia. The proposed Australasian collaboration on eResearch in Neuroscience will promote and maintain the good health of Australians by 'improving critical mass through collaboration and information sharing' through increased access to advanced imaging technology in Korea and analysis techniques in Japan. The collaboration will also promote frontier technologies for building and transforming Australian industries by developing a creative and innovative research environment and enhancing Australian scientists' participation in breakthrough science. Great national benefit can be derived from international research collaboration, due to the contribution frontier technology can make to science and health. Read moreRead less
Stereoscopic Vision at Large Distances. This project measures the benefits of stereopsis, which is a perception of depth obtained from binocular vision, at distances of tens to hundreds of meters. Almost nothing is known of our stereoscopic abilities over this range and thus this is new and fundamental data about human vision. We will investigate how monocular and binocular information is combined at large distances; an issue relevant to sensor fusion, a central problem in neuroscience. The rese ....Stereoscopic Vision at Large Distances. This project measures the benefits of stereopsis, which is a perception of depth obtained from binocular vision, at distances of tens to hundreds of meters. Almost nothing is known of our stereoscopic abilities over this range and thus this is new and fundamental data about human vision. We will investigate how monocular and binocular information is combined at large distances; an issue relevant to sensor fusion, a central problem in neuroscience. The research is also critical for any tasks involving judgments over long distances including the recognition of distant targets and their relationships as well as the visual guidance of vehicles such as helicopters. It will also provide critical information to designers of binocular instruments.Read moreRead less
Robust Beamforming for Radar Imaging. The impact of radar imaging technologies on security and search and rescue operations is indisputable. They play a vital role in safeguarding a country from terrorism and crime, protecting its borders, and predicting adverse weather patterns. Searching for survivors in disaster areas such as earthquakes and fires can greatly benefit from the proposed research. Law-enforcement officers can employ radar imaging technology to enable accurate determination of t ....Robust Beamforming for Radar Imaging. The impact of radar imaging technologies on security and search and rescue operations is indisputable. They play a vital role in safeguarding a country from terrorism and crime, protecting its borders, and predicting adverse weather patterns. Searching for survivors in disaster areas such as earthquakes and fires can greatly benefit from the proposed research. Law-enforcement officers can employ radar imaging technology to enable accurate determination of targets of interest, obstacles, weapons, victims, outlaws, and hostages inside enclosed structures or buildings. The proposed research and its findings will support the development of cutting edge radar imaging research and technology in Australia.Read moreRead less
The genetic and diagnostic relationship between motor control and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often have comorbid Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). This project will utilise the expertise of leading researchers in Australia and the Netherlands to investigate the genetic and diagnostic relationship between these two disorders utilising a large sample of twins and their siblings. We will examine the neuropsych ....The genetic and diagnostic relationship between motor control and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often have comorbid Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). This project will utilise the expertise of leading researchers in Australia and the Netherlands to investigate the genetic and diagnostic relationship between these two disorders utilising a large sample of twins and their siblings. We will examine the neuropsychological functioning in these groups of children in order to gain a better understanding of their genetic relationship. These findings will provide insight into the current DSM-IV classification of these disorders compared with other models used to investigate the relationship between poor motor coordination and ADHD.Read moreRead less
Efficient data manipulation in document classification. Document Classification has an enormous relevance in an era where large amounts of textual information is available. Document Classification is based on statistical and machine learning techniques that model documents represented as points in a multidimensional space. The Computer Engineering Laboratory (CEL) has ongoing projects using neural networks and other techniques for document classification. We are developing a development environm ....Efficient data manipulation in document classification. Document Classification has an enormous relevance in an era where large amounts of textual information is available. Document Classification is based on statistical and machine learning techniques that model documents represented as points in a multidimensional space. The Computer Engineering Laboratory (CEL) has ongoing projects using neural networks and other techniques for document classification. We are developing a development environment for large classification tasks, and Prof. Lee¡¯s work will focus in managing large amounts of data for them. Using his experience in data compression, databases and web applications, he will produce a set of tools for handling Gigabytes of textual data in our classification environment.Read moreRead less
Ensembles of Collaborative Neural Networks. Artificial neural networks have been used successfully for data mining and control. A neural network ensemble(NNE) is a collection of networks that exhibits properties of self-organization, plasticity, and adaptive behaviour. The aim of this research is to develop an efficient and theoretically sound algorithm for NNE learning. The outcomes of the project will include insights into self-organization of complex NNE and automatic problem decomposition an ....Ensembles of Collaborative Neural Networks. Artificial neural networks have been used successfully for data mining and control. A neural network ensemble(NNE) is a collection of networks that exhibits properties of self-organization, plasticity, and adaptive behaviour. The aim of this research is to develop an efficient and theoretically sound algorithm for NNE learning. The outcomes of the project will include insights into self-organization of complex NNE and automatic problem decomposition and an efficient algorithm for constructing and training NNE. Practical outcomes will include research training for early career researchers and new modelling tools for data mining, robotics and multi-agent systems. The project contributes to the national priority area of smart information use.Read moreRead less
How, What and Who in Human Communication: Movement of Face and Voice. The aim of this project is to identify the essential characteristics of tone, affect, and identity from face and voice using a combination of signal processing, biological, and behavioural techniques in order to develop a comprehensive model of auditory-visual speech processing and communication. This research will significantly improve understanding of the basis of auditory-visual perception and production in tonal languages ....How, What and Who in Human Communication: Movement of Face and Voice. The aim of this project is to identify the essential characteristics of tone, affect, and identity from face and voice using a combination of signal processing, biological, and behavioural techniques in order to develop a comprehensive model of auditory-visual speech processing and communication. This research will significantly improve understanding of the basis of auditory-visual perception and production in tonal languages and in affective communication, facilitate links between neurophysiological processes and auditory-visual speech processing; and contribute to applications in automatic person recognition, automatic speech recognition, text-to-speech systems, and talking head aids for the hearing impaired.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