Graduate Programs

T: +61 2 6125-2502

F: +61 2 6125-2687

E:John.Bekkers@anu.edu.au

We study the brains of rats in order to understand how synapses work and how synaptic signals are added together to generate the flow of information in the central nervous system. To do this, we apply patch clamp and imaging techniques to brain slices and cell cultures taken from the hippocampus and cerebral cortex. The ultimate goal of our work is to assemble data about individual neurons into large-scale models of how the brain might operate.

T: 02 6279 8561

F: 02 6125 3808

E:jan.hemmi@anu.edu.au

behaviour, visual ecology, crabs, colour vision, marsupials

We are currently studying the visually guided behaviour of fiddler crabs, with the aim to identify the selective pressures that have shaped their specialised visual systems. Fiddler crabs are especially suited for such a study, as they live and interact in a comparatively simple environment. The project has initially two distinct parts: a) an ethological analysis of visual behaviour to determine what cues the crabs use to guide their behaviour. b) a natural scene analysis, which aims to quantify the information available to the crabs. The combination of a) and b) will allow us to quantitatively analyse the visual ecology of these animals. A second line of research looks at colourvision in a marsupial, the tammar wallaby. Recent behavioural,anatomical and physiological experiments have shown that they have dichromatic colour vision.

T: 02 6125 2996

F: 02 6125 2687

E: Caryl.Hill@anu.edu.au

autonomic synapses, neurotransmitter receptors, development, regulation

Alterations in blood pressure and blood flow are determined by changes in the balance of vasoconstriction and vasodilation of arteries and arterioles. Many stimuli, such as the neurotransmitters released by autonomic nerves, affect this balance by activating receptors in the cell membrane and changing intracellular calcium levels within the walls of blood vessels. In vascular disease, the balance between vasoconstriction and vasodilation appears to be permanently altered. Our group is investigating the intracellular mechanisms by which this balance can be perturbed in normal arteries and arterioles and why the balance should be so altered in vascular disease. We correlate data from a range of modern techniques, such as electrophysiology, anatomy, molecular biology and calcium imaging. Through our studies we hope to identify new therapeutic targets for the treatment of vascular disorders.

T: 02 6125 4118

F: 02 6125 3808

E:Michael.Ibbotson@anu.edu.au

I work on the visual sensory system with a particular focus on the computation of visual movements. I have worked on motion sensitive neurons in the mammalian midbrain and visual cortex, and the insect optic lobes. I also work on the control of eye movements by the visual system. Methods employed include eye/head movement working and single cell recording using both intracellular and extracellular electrodes.

T: 02 6125 4337

F: 02 6125 3808

E:andrew.james@anu.edu.au

Function of feedback connections between visual cortical areas of macaques revealed by reversible inactivation.

T: 02 6125 2319

E:maarten.kole@anu.edu.au

We are interested in how the nerve fibres (axons) of single brain cells work. Our recent works shows that axons are much more complex than originally thought. They are the substrate where all incoming information from thousands of inputs is integrated, a unique site where action potentials are generated, and importantly, axons enable the rapid propagation of action potentials. In order to understand these mechanisms better we use patch-clamp techniques in brain slices, visualize single axons and make targeted recordings with patch-clamp techniques. Projects can focus on fundamental questions and/or potentially clinically relevant objectives.

T: 02 6125 8929

F: 02 6125 2687

E: Trevor.Lamb@anu.edu.au

Photoreceptor responses to light.

We record the electrical responses of rod and cone photoreceptors to illumination, using two very different approaches: (1) 'Suction pipette' recordings from single photoreceptors cells isolated from the retina, and (2) Electroretinogram (ERG) recordings from the living human eye. In both cases we are interested in 'transduction', the response of the cell to illumination, as well as in 'adaptation', the mechanism whereby the cell is able to adjust its properties so as to function over a wide range of intensities.

T: 02 6125 4099

F: 02 6125 3808

E: ted.maddess@anu.edu.au

multifocal VEPs, texture vision, brightness, neuro-ophthalmic disorders

The group looks at the nonlinear and dynamic aspects of vision. Some areas of research are the basis of texture discriminations, brightness induction and second order motion. Another theme is developing tests for neuro-ophthalmic disorders such as glaucoma and multiple sclerosis. We have already commercialised one such device, the FDT perimeter. Current efforts in that area use novel multifocal VEP methods, done in collaboration with Dr Andrew James.

T: 02 6125 4671

F: 02 6125 3784

E: ian.morgan@anu.edu.au

T: 02 6125 3968

F: 02 6125 2687

E: clarke.raymond@anu.edu.au

synaptic plasticity, LTP, memory, hippocampus, electrophysiology

We study a phenomenon known as 'synaptic plasticity', in which the connections (synapses) between neurons can be strengthened or weakened according to experience. Such plasticity is believed to underlie information storage, or memory, in the brain. In particular, we are interested in long-term potentiation (LTP) of synaptic transmission in the hippocampus, a region of the brain that is heavily involved in memory formation. We study LTP using a variety of techniques including electrophysiology to record the electrical activity from neurons, and 2-photon laser scanning microscopy to visualise changes in various chemical components within neurons.

T: +61 2 6125-4183

F: +61 2 6125-2687

E:Christian.Stricker@anu.edu.au

synaptic transmission, calcium homeostasis, cortex, neuronal networks, synaptic plasticity, neural computation

Understanding how neurones communicate with each other requires a detailed knowledge not only of the anatomical arrangement of the neuronal networks, but knowledge of the events at the points of contact (synaptic transmission) and how this can be modulated by prior or concurrent activity. Our group is working at the level of small neuronal networks in acute slices of rodent brain tissue. Our experiments involve paired recordings of connected neurones, imaging of presynaptic calcium and modelling of synaptic dynamics. In our experiments we can determine the strength of connections between cells as well as the cellular properties of the receiving cell which determine the processing of afferent information.

T: 02 6279 8927

F: 02 6125 2687

E: Greg.Stuart@anu.edu.au

Synaptic transmission, synaptic integration, cortex, dendrites

The main objective of my group is to understand how neurons integrate synaptic inputs into neuronal output in the form of action potentials. Before action potential initiation can occur, synaptic signals must propagate from where they are generated to the soma and axon, the site where synaptic inputs are summed to bring the membrane potential to threshold for action potential initiation. As the vast majority of synaptic inputs to neurons in the CNS are made onto their dendrites, one field of investigation is to study the way the active and passive properties of the dendritic tree shape synaptic inputs prior to action potential initiation. Other research is aimed at obtaining more detailed information on the properties and distribution of different voltage-activated channels in dendrites. The site of initiation of regenerative events, such as action potentials, in neurons and understanding how they spread within the dendritic tree is also under investigation. Together this research should help to better understand the way neurons integrate the many thousands of synaptic inputs they receive.

T: 02 6125 1095

E: Krisztina.Valter@anu.edu.au

I'm studying cellular biology of the retina, specifically the photoreceptors. I'm looking at factors affecting retinal stability and assess ways to prevent or slow retinal cell death.

T: 02 6125 2039

F: 02 6125 2687

cE: Bruce.Walmsley@anu.edu.au

In order to understand the highly complex functions of the brain, we must understand how individual neurons communicate with each other. This communication occurs at specialized synaptic contacts, and the overall aim of our Group is to understand how synaptic strength is regulated, and how synaptic signals are processed by target neurons.

T: 02 6125 5066

F: 02 6125 3808

E:jochen.zeil@anu.edu.au

vision, behaviour, optics, arthropods, visual ecology

My main research interests are visually guided behaviour, eye specialisations, and visual ecology in insects and crabs. My colleagues and I are currently involved in two projects. We study fiddler crab behaviour with the aim to create an inventory of the visual tasks the animals have to solve in their natural habitat, to understand the image processing problems involved in these tasks, and to relate these to sensory and neural specialisations in the visual system of fiddlers. In parallel with the behavioural analysis, we use video cameras and a spectrographic imager to analyse natural scenes from the viewpoint of a fiddler crab. In the second line of research, we try to understand the mechanisms of landmark-guided homing in ground-nesting bees and wasps. We have recently begun to field-test a unique research tool for this study, namely a mobile robotic gantry that allows us to move a panoramic video camera along the paths flown by insects outdoors. We can then use the recorded sequences to reconstruct a view from the cockpit of these insects and ask what visual cues they have available to them under natural conditions for flight control and for landmark guidance.

T: 02 6125 5094

F: 02 6125 3808

E: shaowu.zhang@anu.edu.au

Visual guidance behaviour of flying insects, Pattern recognition in the insect visual system, Learning and memory in honeybees.

One of the major challenges of modern biology is to unravel the mechanisms of the brain at a multitude of levels. This endeavor entails not only understanding the functioning of the most complex and sophisticated of organs, but understanding the process of understanding per se. I chose the visual system as a break-through point for understanding the mechanisms of the brain. I prefer to use insects, especially honeybees as a model system to approach this goal. The bees brain is small, but, like humans, they have trichromatic color vision, motion sensitive vision, spatial vision. Recently ANU team in RSBS has discovered that bees are capable of abstracting features of patterns; like humans, they have visual illusions as well as top-down processing; and also like humans, even they can make decision depending their prier experience and knowledge.