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Brain, Vision, Mental Processes and Health

About

This theme aims to advance our understanding of how the brain and visual system processes information and how this information can be used to develop better therapeutics and treatments. 

Researchers in this theme will investigate various aspects of visual perception, cognitive processing, emotion recognition, and decision making. They will use a range of techniques, including neuroimaging, electrophysiology, molecular biology and psychophysics, to study the neural mechanisms underlying visual system and cognition. This theme will use a  transdisciplinary approach that will bring together researchers from psychology, neuroscience, retinal biology, clinical sciences and computer science to shed light on fundamental questions about how the brain processes information and how this information can be used to guide, improve or enhance behavior in the real world. 

Theme Leaders: Bernadette Fitzgibbon & Riccardo Natoli (interim)  

Projects

The primary objective of this project is to investigate psychological, cognitive and physiological changes associated with a single session of psychedelic drug exposure with psilocybin or 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in a group setting.

This project aims to improve understanding of the relationship between emotions and heart health and investigate the ability of emotion regulation interventions to improve cardiac functioning and recovery.

Student intake

Open for Honours, Masters, MPhil, PhD students

People

  • Lukah Tan

The ability to regulate how you express your emotions is a key ingredient for social success.

Student intake

Open for Honours, Masters, MPhil, PhD students

People

  • Dr Yiyun Shou

This research has identified that loss of extracellular vesicles - mediated communication is associated with the development of degeneration of the retina. We are focussed on developing cell therapy treatments for retinal degeneration.

Student intake

Open for students

People

  • Dr Yvette Wooff, Co-investigator
  • Dr Nathan Reynolds, Co-investigator
  • Dr Adrian Cioanca, Co-investigator
  • Rakshanya Sekar, PhD Candidate, Co-investigator
  • Rimaz Toto, PhD Candidate, Co-investigator

FREED aims to improve the treatment of treatment-resistant depression (TRD) through a novel, personalised approach.

People

  • Dr Angel Peterchev
  • Dr Gregory Applebaum
  • Dr Corey Weissman
  • Dr Xin Tu
  • Dr Itay Hadas

This research looks at perspective-taking, particularly in the areas of empathy, compassion and alturism.

Student intake

Open for Honours, Masters, PhD students

People