Behavioural and Cognitive Neuroscience
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Drawing on expertise in psychology, physiology and pharmacology,
the University’s behavioural neuroscientists link human behaviours
to neural mechanisms. Areas of study include the balancing systems
of the inner ear, responses to scent, the neural bases of movement
and the behavioural pharmacology of neuropsychiatric disorders and
drug addiction.
In the rapidly expanding field of cognitive neuroscience, researchers
map the brain’s physical activity onto human cognition and
emotion as it is measured by psychologists. They use the latest
imaging systems and collaborate with clinical neuroscientists at
Westmead and Royal Prince Alfred Hospitals to test and develop models
of brain dynamics.
The team, collaborating with the Brain Dynamics Centre at Westmead
Hospital, has identified some of the major human brain areas active
during emotional behaviour. Other recent results have identified
a possible mechanism for the sex differences in attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder. Animal studies of the behavioural effects
of the long term use of drugs such as ecstasy have shown deterioration
of memory and increased anxiety.
A team studying human balance function has developed and validated
simple new clinical tests of human balance function and used neural
studies to validate these clinical tests. This group has also developed
new methods for very accurate measures of eye movements based on
image processing of video images.
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Research Themes:
RA Boakes
Neural mechanisms of human and animal behaviour, especially olfactory
guided behaviour.
IS Curthoys • Link
to Laboratory
The anatomy, neurophysiology and function of the vestibular sensory
system.
GM Halmagyi
Clinical neurology with special emphasis on the normal and abnormal
function of the vestibular sensory system.
GE Hunt
Behavioural neuropharmacology of drug addiction and neuropsychiatric
disorders.
IS McGregor
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The laboratory of Dr Iain McGregor in the Department of Psychology
pursues a range of interests in the fields of behavioural neuroscience
and psychopharmacology. Current interests include (1) the neural,
behavioural and cognitive effects of recreational drugs including
MDMA ("Ecstasy"), cannabis and cocaine, (2) alcohol
craving and alcohol abuse, (3) animal models of human psychopathologies
including anxiety disorders and depression, and (4) olfactory
neurobiology, olfactory learning and memory.
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Associate Professor Greg Murray
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The intraoral photograph shows an electrode
being inserted into the lateral pterygoid muscle.
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Jaw Function and Orofacial Pain Research Unit
Faculty of Dentistry
Diverse expertise (neurophysiology, imaging and 3-D visualisation,
behaviour, kinesiology, dental clinical) has been drawn together
in this research unit to investigate and clarify normal jaw
function and how this function is affected in patients with
orofacial pain. The main thrust of research to date has concentrated
on determining the functional role of the lateral pterygoid
muscle, implicated as dysfunctional in temporomandibular disorders,
a major cause of non-dental orofacial pain.
The unit has developed landmark methodology through image verification
of single-motor-unit recording sites within the lateral pterygoid
muscle. This technique has enabled a collaboration with The
University of Technology, Sydney in the marriage of electromyographic
and imaging data in the building of a functional model of this
muscle.
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Dr Intira Phanachet and Dr Shinji
Uchida.
The line drawing shows some sample data. The activity of 3 single
motor
units recorded from the inferior head of the lateral pterygoid
muscle
is shown in association with a movement of the jaw to the side.
Studies of lateral pterygoid muscle function during isometric
contractions are also being done.
Research Themes:
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The role of the lateral pterygoid muscle in normal function
and Temporomandibular Disorders which are a common source
of orofacial pain. (A.Prof Greg Murray)
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Research Diagnostic Criteria and use in the classification
of patients with Temporomandibular Disorders. Dynamic analysis
of human jaw and jaw-joint function. (Prof Iven Klineberg)
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Normal function of the lateral pterygoid muscle. (Dr Intira
Phanachet, Dr Shinji Uchida)
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3-D reconstruction of lateral pterygoid muscle architecture.
(Mr Chris Johnson)
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Studies of the effect of changes to the bite on jaw-muscle
function. (Dr Eric Huang)
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Lateral pterygoid muscle activity in patients with Temporomandibular
Disorders. (Dr Sheejith Peeceeyen)
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Behavioural aspects of Temporomandibular Disorder. (Ms
Terry Whittle)
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R Roberts • Link
to Laboratory
Cognitive neuroscience with emphasis on psychological measurement of
cognitive function.
P Robinson
Cognitive neuroscience, especially modeling of brain dynamics.
L Stankov
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Individual Differences and Computer-based Assessment Unit
This unit is located within the Department of Psychology and
it is the focal point for research, training, development, and
commercialisation of psychological tests and instruments developed
to assess individual differences for use in personnel selection
by large business organisations, schools, and in clinical settings.
The tests developed in this Unit measure complex cognitive processes
and intelligence. An important aspect of any contemporary research
in intelligence is the study of its biological bases and several
research projects are currently under way in collaboration with
the Brain Dynamics Centre at the Westmead Hospital. These projects
employ EEG and neural imaging techniques to study brain functions
during performance on intelligence tests and measures of personality.
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C Tennant
Neural aspects of psychological medicine.
L Williams
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Brain Dynamics Center
Researchers in the laboratory use the latest imaging systems
and collaborate with clinical neuroscientists at Westmead Hospital
to develop integrative models of brain dynamics. The Brain Dynamics
Centre and Cognitive Neuroscience unit at Westmead Hospital
have identified some of the fundamental brain mechanisms involved
in brain disorders including Schizophrenia, Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Parkinsons
disease, borderline personality, social phobia and head injury.
The cognitive neuroscience researchers have also isolated the
major human brain areas active during emotional responses.
(Note: the work on drug effects, such as ectasy, is not part
of this program).
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Integrative Neuroscience -
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Cognitive Neuroscience Unit -
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© 2001, The University
of Sydney
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