Listed alphabetically by supervisor (note: some have joint supervisors; listed under first named)
Title: Psychophysiological research on intelligence and exceptionality.
Supervisors: Dr Joseph Ciorciari, Professor Con Stough.
jciorciari@swin.edu.au; Phone: 9214 8363
This area examines uses electrical brain imaging (EEG) to examine individual differences in intelligence and information processing measures related to intelligence. Several projects are possible in this area and range in scope from different EEG techniques (EEG Coherence, photic driving) to different cognitive processes such as attention, memory, information processing, intuition testing, aspects of neuromarketing etc.
Title: Examining the relationship between individual differences in personality and biological measures
Supervisor: Dr Joseph Ciorciari,
jciorciari@swin.edu.au; Phone: 9214 8363
This area of research attempts to elucidate the biological mechanisms that underpin individual differences in personality usually measured by the Big 5 personality traits (Extraversion, Neuroticism, Openness, Agreeableness and Conscientiousness). A variety of projects are available that span different biological and psychological measures and conditions; dissociative abilities, hypnosis, history of trauma, and intuitive processes.
Title: Brainwave entrainment, binaural beats and personality.
Supervisor: Dr Joseph Ciorciari,
jciorciari@swin.edu.au; Phone: 9214 8363
The current research will be looking at the effects that binaural beats have on brainwave patterns (Electroencephalogram EEG). Binaural beats occur when two different frequency sounds are simultaneously played into each ear. For example, if a frequency of 400 Hz is presented to the right ear and a frequency of 410 Hz is presented simultaneously to the left ear, a standing wave of 10 Hz, the difference between the two tones, is experienced as a type of "beat" as the two wave forms mesh in and out of phase of each. Theoretically, binaural beats can be used to entrain specific brain wave (EEG) patterns. Previous evidence has suggested correlations with personality sub-types, cognitive styles, intelligence, and states of consciousness.
Title: Examining EEG parameters underpinning Emotional Intelligence
Supervisor: Dr Joseph Ciorciari, Prof Con Stough.
jciorciari@swin.edu.au; Phone: 9214 8363
The aim of this project is to examine whether high and low EI participants show differences in electrical brain activity during a series of emotional intelligence tests. It is suggested that differences in neural efficienciesmay account for any observed differences; frontal activity will be greater in subjects with higher emotional intelligence scores on various EI measures.
Title: Psychophysiological research on the process of dissociation and the Dissociative Identity disorders
Supervisors: Dr Joseph Ciorciari, Prof Con Stough, Dr.John Spensley
jciorciari@swin.edu.au; Phone: 9214 8363
This area examines the biological measures associated with the process of dissociation in both clinical and non-clinical groups. This research expands on previous and current studies, with a variety of projects available. Both biological and psychologically based projects are available. It is also possible to examine other dissociative processes such as hypnosis, as well as examine the psychophysiology of how dissociation is used as a coping strategy.
Title: Psychophysiological changes associated with trauma.
Supervisors: Dr Joseph Ciorciari, Prof. Grant Devilly
jciorciari@swin.edu.au; Phone: 9214 8363
This area intends to investigate the psychophysiological changes/effects associated with a history of trauma. The principal measures will be associated with brain EEG coherence, the DES and personality measures.
Title: Psychophysiological correlates of risk of mental illness.
Supervisors: Dr Joseph Ciorciari,
jciorciari@swin.edu.au; Phone: 9214 8363
This area of research attempts to identify psychophysiological factors associated with the risk of mental illness by using a variety of psychometric and neurobiological imaging techniques.
Title: Change detection - psychophysics and psychophysiology
Supervisor: Prof David P Crewther (Brain Sciences Institute)
dcrewther@swin.edu.au; Phone: 9214 5877
The project will focus on understanding the role of transients in change detection using a combination of gap-contingent and flicker change detection tasks. The tasks will be coded using VPixx and recording made using the NuAmps ERP system at the BSI.
Reference: Rensink RA. Change detection. Annu Rev Psychol. 2002;53:245-77.
Title: Imaging the attentional blink
Supervisor: Prof David P Crewther (Brain Sciences Institute)
dcrewther@swin.edu.au; Phone: 9214 5877
The attentional blink is a refractory period in a dual rapid serial presentation task. The subject has to identify T1 - say the red letter in a stream appearing on the screen and then state whether a another target, T2 (say an X) is in the stream following. A reduction in performance lasting 300 - 700 msec is observed though with complicated stimuli this can be extended to 2 sec. The initial experiment will involve recordings made using the NuAmps ERP system at the BSI.
Several conflicting theories may be resolved through this study
Title: The effects of random dynamic noise on visual attention and the physiology of the magnocellular pathway.
Supervisor: Prof David P Crewther (Brain Sciences Institute)
dcrewther@swin.edu.au; Phone: 9214 5877
The "jitter effect" arises as an adaptation to random dynamic noise (RDN) - a stationary patch viewed after exposure to RDN appears to jitter. This psychophysical project will investigate the influence of random noise on properties such as stereopsis, motion sensitivity, segmentation as indicators of magnocellular function.
Title: Caffeine, Arousal & the EEG Alpha Rhythm
Supervisor: Ass/Prof Rodney Croft (Brain Sciences Institute)
rcroft@swin.edu.au; Phone: 9214 5149
The relation between arousal and the EEG is not well understood. Although it has traditionally been thought that alpha power is inversely related to physiological arousal, many complications to this story have emerged, such as consistent findings that alpha is directly proportional to effort and difficulty in a number of testing scenarios. This project attempts to clarify some recent research in support of the traditional view, but comparing both resting and task related changes to alpha, as a function of caffeine-induced arousal. This project will provide the opportunity to learn about physiological arousal and its relation to the EEG, and get plenty of 'hands-on' experience with EEG methodologies themselves. It should be noted that although caffeine will be used as the arousal-inducing agent, the focus of the project will be electrophysiological rather than psychopharmacological.
Title: Mobile Phone Emissions & Human Neural Function
Supervisor: Ass/Prof Rodney Croft (Brain Sciences Institute)
rcroft@swin.edu.au; Phone: 9214 5149
It is not clear whether radio frequency emissions, such as those from mobile phones, can affect human neural function. As part of the Australian Centre for Radiofrequency Bioeffect Research (ACRBR), I am keen to supervise projects that address this issue in general and for you to be able to draw on ACRBR expertise and resources. Such projects, for example, might look at the effect of mobile phones on cognitive neuropsyche, EEG or ERP measures, but others would be considered also. It is expected that you would gain experience working with cognitive neuropsychology, EEG or ERP methodologies, and/or the field of bioelectromagnetism.
General research project areas of interest:
Supervisor: Prof Grant Devilly
(Centre for Neuropsychology)
gdevilly@swin.edu.au; Ph: 9214 5920
Grant is a clinical and forensic psychologist who has wide interests related to clinical practice. These include: experimental psychopathology; the treatment of anxiety disorders (e.g., PTSD) with adults and children; the eradication of pseudoscience in clinical psychology; understanding and intervening with victims of crime; understanding sexual and violent offending; and the effects of violent video games. Grant has a number of projects related to these areas for which he is offering supervision (e.g., the psychophysiology of critical incident stress debriefing; the biological basis of anxiety disorders) and students are encouraged to speak to him directly regarding possible honours supervision.
Supervisor: Dr David Liley
(Centre for Intelligent Systems & Complex Processes)
dliley@swin.edu.au; Ph: 9214 8812
General research project areas of interest: Quantitative EEG analysis, philosophy of mind, neuronal modelling, principles of anaesthetic and sedative action.
Title: Interactions between electrophysiological measures and the Emotional Stroop task..
Supervisor: Dr. Caroline Owen and Dr Simon Knowles
(Sensory Neuroscience Laboratory)
cowen@swin.edu.au, Phone: 9214 8580
The aim of this project is to investigate the Emotional Stroop task, and correlate psychophysiological and electrophysiological measures with responses to positive and negative words in the Stroop task.
Title: Interactions between olfactory and visual stimuli and effects on preference.
Supervisor: Dr. Caroline Owen and/or Ass/Prof John Patterson (Sensory Neuroscience Laboratory)
cowen@swin.edu.au, Phone: 9214 8580; jpatterson@swin.edu.au, Phone: 9214 8862
The aim of this project is to investigate the interactions between congruent and incongruent visual and olfactory stimuli. A further goal is to manipulate these stimuli to establish which is more powerful in determining preference (like and dislike). The method would entail using the 64 channel EEG system along with the odour and visual stimuli delivery systems to record the responses to different combinations, as well as to the individual stimuli. Analysis of the EEG would involve using the Fast Fourier tools to obtain changes in regional frequency power spectra in the various conditions. All the required resources are available in the Sensory Neuroscience Laboratory.
Title: Carbon dioxide gas as a trigeminal marker.
Supervisor: Ass/Prof John Patterson and/or Dr Caroline Owen (Sensory Neuroscience Laboratory)
jpatterson@swin.edu.au, Phone: 9214 8862; cowen@swin.edu.au, Phone: 9214 8580
The trigeminal system acts as an early warning system for the respiratory system. It is also sensitive to some 'odd' things such as carbon dioxide levels. While the trigeminal system has been studied extensively there is a gap in knowledge in relation to how simultaneous olfactory and trigeminal stimuli may alter the EEG signal. This project will require use of the 64 channel system and the odour delivery apparatus available in the Sensory Neuroscience Laboratory to record EEG while exposing participants to four conditions: air, air + extra carbon dioxide gas, air + odour, air + extra carbon dioxide gas + odour. Signals from each of these conditions will be compared in the frequency and spatial domains to determine if it is possible to distinguish the trigeminal signal while being recorded at the same time as the odour signal. Analysis of the EEG would involve visual inspection of the evoked potentials, measurements of evoked potential signals and the use of the Fast Fourier tools to obtain changes in regional frequency power spectra in the various conditions. All the required resources are available in the Sensory Neuroscience Laboratory.
Title: Eye movements and real world attention.
Supervisor: Ass/Prof John Patterson and/or Dr. Mark Schier (Sensory Neuroscience Laboratory)
jpatterson@swin.edu.au, Phone: 9214 8862
Recording eye movements with EOG is simple in the laboratory and as with many more sophisticated techniques can provide reasonable records. Carrying out such eye movement studies while people are walking around is not so easily undertaken but could be a very useful technique to allow us to examine what people look at in real situations where careful observation is desirable, or required. There are many circumstances where having an idea of how people look, what they look at, and how much they notice aspects of their environment would be very useful. Examples are: in driving, in shops, in libraries, art galleries, various sports and expositions. In the Sensory Neuroscience Laboratory we have a telemetry system which can allow a person to wear a very small video camera and to have EOG recorded simultaneously. The signals are sent to a 'base-station' which is just a receiver and digital video camera. Eye movements can be decoded and superimposed on the head-mounted camera image to show how the person's eye have moved in relation to the visual field. The unit is light and can provide signals over a range of greater than 50 metres. All the required resources (software and hardware) are available in the Sensory Neuroscience Laboratory.
Title: Whole body vibration and deficiencies in attention.
Supervisor: Ass/Prof John Patterson, Dr. Mark Schier or Dr. Caroline Owen (Sensory Neuroscience Laboratory)
jpatterson@swin.edu.au, Phone: 9214 8862; cowen@swin.edu.au, Phone: 9214 8580
The Sensory Neuroscience Laboratory has access to an hydraulic chair assembly which allows the whole body to be gently vibrated vertically. Such vibrations are known to affect wakefulness but the mechanism is unknown. There are a number of simple studies which can be undertaken using this system to probe for the underlying mechanism. Some recent studies have shown that performance in many of the standard psychophysical tests is not affected by the vibration, yet participants regularly complain of feeling 'bushed' after the experience. The aim of this project is to test selected attention tasks (such as more difficult variations in choice reaction time) to reveal if any are sensitive to the effects of the vibration and to relate these measures to responses to a questionnaire concerning the feelings experienced while vibrating. All the required resources (software and hardware) are available in the Sensory Neuroscience Laboratory.
Title: Patterns of EEG activity relating to preference for visual images.
Supervisor: Ass/Prof John Patterson, Dr. Mark Schier or Dr. Caroline Owen (Sensory Neuroscience Laboratory)
jpatterson@swin.edu.au, Phone: 9214 8862; cowen@swin.edu.au, Phone: 9214 8580
For some time work undertaken in the Sensory Neuroscience Laboratory has been centred around preference for odour stimuli and the nature of EEG activity which is associated with two conditions: like and dislike. This project aims to investigate if similar signal characteristics occur when people like or dislike images. Part of this project will be determining appropriate images of a non-confrontational nature which people show - by self-report - like and dislike. The method would entail using the 64 channel EEG system along with the visual stimuli delivery system to record the responses. Analysis of the EEG would involve using the Fast Fourier tools to obtain changes in regional frequency power spectra in the various conditions. All the required resources are available in the Sensory Neuroscience Laboratory.
Title: Investigation of the relationship between left frontal and right parietal regions in a mental rotation task using transcranial magnetic stimulation
Supervisors: Dr Andrew Pipingas, Dr Joseph Ciorciari, Prof Con Stough, Prof Richard Silberstein (Brain Sciences Institute)
apipingas@bsi.swin.edu.au; Phone: 9214 5215
Increased coherence was found between left frontal and right parietal areas during the act of mentally rotating 3-D objects (Silberstein, 2003 - Neuroreport). Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can provide "transient lesions" to specific brain regions and as such has shown promise in understanding the relationships that exist between cognitive processes and underlying neural networks. The current study will use TMS to investigate whether the interconnection between left frontal and right parietal regions is critical for the process of mental rotation.
Title: Development and testing of a computerized battery of cognitive tasks sensitive to ageing and mild cognitive decline.
Supervisors: Dr. Andrew Pipingas, Professor Con Stough, Norman C. Moore MD (Brain Sciences Institute)
apipingas@bsi.swin.edu.au; Phone: 9214 5215
In common with the rest of the developed world Australia's population is ageing. This changing demographic leads to an increasing proportion of individuals that develop cognitive deficits associated with old age. The main aim of this study is to validate a battery of computerized cognitive tasks that are designed to be sensitive to both cognitive change associated with normal ageing and to mild cognitive impairment that may precede Alzheimer's disease. This study will be valuable in establishing the validity of a battery of tasks that can be later used to investigate the effect of both pharmaceutical and neutraceutical intervention in slowing the progression of cognitive decline.
Title: Psychophysiological measures of drivers in a driving simulator
Supervisor: Dr. Mark Schier (Sensory Neuroscience Laboratory)
mschier@swin.edu.au; Phone: 9214 8713
There are several potential projects using the driving simulator. These include the effects of distraction (via telephones, music or conversation) upon driving performance and physiological measures; effects of driving at constant versus variable speed; effects of driving experience (e.g. old vs. young) on performance.
The project would be completed in several stages:
1. Investigation of the literature relating to driving and effects of activities or demographic on performance.
2. Setting of experimental paradigm to test using the simulator
3. Recording of brain electrical activity under controlled and driving conditions in the simulator
4. Analysis of results.
5. Paper writing/presentation
This project could contribute to understanding the nature of driving, and depending on its exact nature, answer some questions regarding distractions or age in driver performance.
Title: Analysis of brain electrical activity data: comparison of analysis methods for evoked potential (string length analysis) and spontaneous EEG (moment analysis) data
Supervisor: Dr. Mark Schier (Sensory Neuroscience Laboratory)
mschier@swin.edu.au; Phone: 9214 8713
This project is a data analysis project examining two separate methods of examining brain electrical activity data. One is based on evoked potential analysis (string length), the other is based on spontaneous EEG data, and moment analysis of the underlying features. If this project is successful, it could reduce the time taken to assess intelligence.
String length measurement has been correlated with measures of intelligence (IQ), although the meaning of this is currently under debate. The string length is a measure of the complexity of the evoked related potential (ERP), and is derived from the average of many minutes of stimulation.
An alternative method for determining the complexity of brain-related measures is obtained from the spontaneous EEG using a mathematical technique known as moment analysis. This has an advantage of being relatively easy to compute from around 20-30 seconds of brain electrical activity.
The project involves several stages:
1. Investigation of the literature relating to string length, intelligence and moment analysis.
2. Creation/modification/testing of algorithms in Matlab or Excel to analyse data.
3. Recording of brain electrical activity under controlled conditions along with IQ scores from a population for analysis.
4. Computing the string length and moment data.
The results from this research (either positive or negative) will contribute to this scientific area.
Title: Using cognitive tests to assess drug induced work impairment
Supervisors: Prof Con Stough with Dr Andrew Pipingas (Brain Sciences Institute)
cstough@swin.edu.au; Phone: 9214 8167
This study will examine whether a battery of computerised cognitive tests can detect impairments in work related behaviours due to illicit substances such as amphetamines, cannabis and MDMA (or ecstasy). This study will use a workplace sample provided by several organizations who have an urgent need to develop measures that assess performance impairments due to illicit substances. The results of the study is expected to contribute to techniques to prevent serious accidents in the Australian workplace
Title: Assessing the role of emotional intelligence in the school system
Supervisors: Prof Con Stough (Brain Sciences Institute)
cstough@swin.edu.au; Phone: 9214 8167
This study will assess the role of emotional intelligence as measures by the Adolescent version of the Swinburne University Emotional Intelligence Test and class performance, intelligence, anti-social behaviours and relationship with teachers in adolescents in Victorian public schools.
Title: Measuring the biological basis of intelligence and emotional intelligence
Supervisors: Prof Con Stough (Brain Sciences Institute)
cstough@swin.edu.au; Phone: 9214 8167
This study is part of an ongoing study with the Royal Melbourne Hospital in which brain volume/density indices of intelligence, personality and emotional intelligence is assessed using Magnetic resonance Imaging (MRI). Possibilities exist for studies to be conducted using functional imaging techniques such as fMRI, MEG and EEG.
Title: The effect of illicit drugs on driving and neuropsychological performance
Supervisors: Prof Con Stough, Dr Katherine Papafotiou (Brain Sciences Institute)
cstough@swin.edu.au; Phone: 9214 8167
Studies are available which assess the relationship between administered cannabis, ecstasy and amphetamines and driving and neuro-cognitive performance. These studies will also collect saliva in order to examine the reliability and validity of the current police detection methods for illicit drugs on our roadside. The Centre has close relationships with the Victorian Police and VicRoads in the area of drugs and driving. Students will gain experience in psychopharmacology as well as neuropsychology.
Title: Establishing biological models of personality
Supervisors: Prof Con Stough and Dr Joe Ciorciari (Brain Sciences Institute)
cstough@swin.edu.au; Phone: 9214 8167
Research in this area will attempt to understand the biological basis of personality dimensions such as Openness to Experience, Agreeableness and Conscientiousness, three dimensions from the Big 5 model of personality.
Title: Assessing emotional intelligence in clinical disorders
Supervisors: Prof Con Stough and Karen Hansen (Brain Sciences Institute)
cstough@swin.edu.au; Phone: 9214 8167
This study will continue to assess emotional intelligence in clinical disorders such as anxiety and depressive disorders. Our previous work has shown that different clinical disorders show specific deficits in different dimensions of emotional intelligence or the processing of emotion. This study will assess emotional intelligence in different clinical disorders and assess the utility of interventions aimed at developing emotional intelligence.
Title: The effect of chronic usage of ecstasy and designer drugs on the brain and neuro-cognitive functioning
Supervisors: Prof Con Stough and staff from the Australian Drug Foundation (ADF) (Brain Sciences Institute)
cstough@swin.edu.au; Phone: 9214 8167
A series of studies are available that assess the cumulative or long term effects of illicit drug usage in young people. This project will be conducted in collaboration with the ADF and students will gain experience in psychopharmacology and neuropsychology. The aim of the study area is to determine whether there are long lasting deficits in cognitive functioning after consistent illicit drug use in young people,
Title: Impairing performance on intelligence tests using Trans Cranial Magnetic Stimulation
Supervisors: Prof Con Stough, Dr Joe Ciorciari and Dr Andrew Pipingas
(Brain Sciences Institute).
cstough@swin.edu.au; Phone 9214 8167
This study will administer the Raven Progressive Matrices to participants who have undergone Trans Cranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). TMS is designed to momentarily impair cognitive functioning. This study will contribute to our understanding of the role of different cortical areas during a test of abstract reasoning and fluid intelligence.
Title: Analysis of sleep patterns in relation to mobile phone use
Supervisor: Assoc Prof Andrew Wood
awood@swin.edu.au; Phone: 9214 8867
The main findings of this study were published in 2005 (Loughran et al, NeuroReport), but there are still enormous amounts of data to analyse from 55 subjects over 4 nights each. We aim to analyse heart and respiratory rate date as well as EEG etc. Much of the analysis will use commercial and pre-developed software packages.
Title: Measurement of induced electric fields in brain in response to Trancranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
Supervisor: Assoc Prof Andrew Wood
awood@swin.edu.au; Phone: 9214 8867
We have recently acquired a TMS system and need to validate its performance. We have commenced work using a 'phantom head' to allow direct measurement of fields induced in the real head, to assess the regions where the stimulation threshold will be reached. Collecting this data is straightforward: we use a probe attached to an xyz positioner: we need to tabulate the data in Excel and compare with theoretical predictions.
Title: Development of novel magnetic stimulators for peripheral nerves
Supervisor: Assoc Prof Andrew Wood
awood@swin.edu.au; Phone: 9214 8867
We plan to modify and improve on a simple design by Ueno et al. for the stimulation of the toad sciatic nerve by a small magnetic coil. Principally we want to see if it can be used to stimulate ulnar nerve in human subjects. It involves encapsulating small ferrite-core electromagnets in a perspex holder.
Title: Changes in calcium levels in the brain tissue in response to TMS/ECT like currents
Supervisor: Assoc Prof Andrew Wood
awood@swin.edu.au; Phone: 9214 8867
The effectiveness of use of TMS to treat depressive illness is at present unproven. One reason for this may be that theregions where the induced current is highest for ECT (which is a proven therapy) and TMS are quite different. Berridge et al. have suggested that changes in cell calcium can be correlated with the action of lithium. There is also evidence for links with ECT currents. The paln is to use the rat brain slice preparation (which we use in other research) to compare calcium changes produced by Li. ECT and TMS.
Title: Analysis of induced electric fields in the foetus in relation to occupational exposure to electric and magnetic fields.
Supervisor: Assoc Prof Andrew Wood
awood@swin.edu.au; Phone: 9214 8867
A recent paper from this laboratory (Xue et al. 2004) has highlighted the occupational health and safety concerns associated with pregnant workers entering regions of high electric and magnetic field in the workplace and the magnitude of induced currents in the foetus. We want to refine this modelling work, using more realistic models of the human body. This will use commercial software and collaboration with the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, who have access to sophisticated electrical models of the human body
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