Skip to Content

Faculty of Life and Social Science

Sensory Neuroscience Laboratory

The Sensory Neuroscience Laboratory undertakes research into a variety of sensory-related aspects of physiological performance. A main feature of the philosophy of the group is the interest in developing novel methods of monitoring physiological change or changes which occur during real tasks. Currently the laboratory is carrying out studies into olfaction, eye movements, taste, somatosensory, driving and visual attention.

Providing specialist research capacity for a variety of industries is considered as important as the undertaking of fundamental research. To this end the laboratory has a number of applied projects which are supported by a number of industry bodies as well as individual companies.

The laboratory has the capacity to extend the range of applied and fundamental projects, either in the current areas of research, or into new avenues. There is a strong desire to increase the collaborations as well as to undertake contract research for organisations.

A strength of the Laboratory is the capacity to innovate in monitoring human and animal activity. We have skills in biophysics, psychology, physiology, chemsitry, biochemistry and instrumentation. When combined with the range of support from colleagues in the School, the staff are able to integrate many disciplines into an effective team.

Projects Include

  • objective recording of brain electrical responses to olfactory stimuli

  • brain electrical responses to subliminal olfactory stimuli

  • changes in brain electrical activity during exposure to liked and disliked olfactory stimuli

  • development of delivery systems for olfactory stimuli based on normal breathing

  • development of delivery systems for taste stimuli

  • objective recording of brain electrical responses to taste stimuli

  • development of a combined taste and olfaction delivery system

  • recording of eye movements using electro-oculography

  • characteristics of eye movements during various visual tasks

  • development of 2D, 3D and virtual visual search tasks

  • relationship between eye movements and human performance, including sport

  • relationship between eye movements and sporting prowess

  • performance during simulated 3D visual search tasks

  • sleep and fatigue

Affiliates

The Sensory Neuroscience Laboratory collaborates with a number of local and overseas organisations such as:

  • Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation

  • de Bortoli Wines

  • Kab Seating P/L

  • CleanTeq P/L

  • Prof. Alan Mackay-Sim (Griffith University)

  • Dr. Thomas Hummel (University of Dresden)

Past affiliations:

  • Cooperative Research Centre for International Food Manufacture and Packaging Science

  • Dairy Research Development Corporation

  • Bonlac Foods Pty Ltd

  • Carlton United Brewery Pty Ltd

  • Uncle Ben's

Enquiries

For general enquiries (including prospective students):

Dr. John Patterson
Faculty of Life and Social Sciences
Swinburne University of Technology
PO Box 218
Hawthorn Victoria 3122

Telephone: +61 3 9214 8862
Facsimile: +61 3 9819 0856

email: jpatterson@swin.edu.au