Brain-Behaviour Research Group
The Brain-Behaviour Research Group is a collaboration of researchers from various backgrounds, who share an interest in understanding the links between overt and covert behaviour, brain processes and 'mental' disorders. Although several of the current research projects are concerned with basic biomedical issues and procedures, the overwhelming focus is upon the translation of the outcomes of these processes to clinical applications, particularly in mental health settings.
The BBRG's Major Research Foci are Depression and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Both human and animal studies are being currently undertaken, and specific projects include: Professor Chris Sharpley (UNE): Depression and anxiety as functional behavioural responses to overwhelming environmental stressors; Subtypes of Depression; Anxiety & depression among children with an ASD and prostate cancer patients. Professor Vicki Bitsika (UNE): Autism Spectrum Disorders; Anxiety and depression; Psycho-Oncology; Functional Behavioural Analysis. Professor John Sweeney (Uni Cincinnati): Autism; Family studies of psychotic disorders and autism; Neurocognitive abnormalities in schizophrenia, mood disorders and autism. Professor David Christie (GenesisCare Qld, UNE): Anxiety and Depression in Prostate Cancer patients. Professor Phillip Fourie (UNE): Patient-centered assessment and treatment of anxiety disorder. Assosciate Professor Kirstan Vessey (UNE): Molecular and cellular disturbances in the ageing brain; Mechanisms driving neuronal dysfunction and neurodegeneration; Systemic inflammation, metabolic and vascular contributors to neuron vulnerability; Biomarker identification and precision therapeutic targets. Dr Wayne Arnold: Camouflaging in autism. Dr Ian Evans (UNE): EMF-induced phosphene perception, EEG source localization, functional connectivity of neural networks. Dr Lorenzo Odierna (UNE): Synapse physiology; Neurotransmitter release; Neurodegeneration; Nervous system development Dr Rebecca Williams (UNE): Functional magnetic resonance imaging; Structural magnetic resonance imaging; Cognition and memory; Brain ageing; Brain physiology; Anxiety and depression; Stroke; Mild Cognitive Impairment. Mr Christopher Watson (UNE): Electroencephalography, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; Forensic neuroscience; Early-life adversity, psychopathology and anti-social behaviour. We currently have a number of excellent HDR students contributing valuable work to the research group. For further information on the Brain Behaviour Research Group, please contact: Professor Christopher Sharpley BBRG researchers have partnered with the NSW Department of Family and Community Services to run an IT Club out of the University of New England. The ASD-IT Club is helping local children and teenagers with Autism Spectrum Disorder make positive changes to their levels of anxiety, social interaction and the development of IT skills. Each session runs over a six-week period, and researchers are seeing substantial improvements in the social communication and interaction skills of the participants. Many children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) also suffer from anxiety to such an extent that they are unable to function well at school or in social situations. One of the aspects of their environment that these children find to be most distressing is an overload of sensory stimuli – sights, sounds, smells and touch. However, little is known about how their brains deal with this overload. In this research we work with children from the community who have been diagnosed with ASD. The research involves measuring the brain activity of these children while resting, and when exposed to sensory stimulation conditions, to better understand how the brain responds in different situations. The project aims to form a model that can be used to restructure classrooms, so that children with ASD can progress more successfully at school. Depression remains a major contributor to the global health burden, with only limited effective treatments. Part of the reason for this is the lack of understanding of where and how depression manifests itself in the human brain. This project has been running since 2018 and has produced many scientific publications that have successfully mapped how different forms of depression are represented in the brain. These different forms of depression include: melancholia, cognitive depression, somatic depression, depressed mood, and anhedonia. The ultimate aim is to develop targeted treatments for each of these forms of depression. The Brain Behaviour Research Group is working with a number of child care centres in a research partnership to develop and evaluate specialised evidence-based intervention for preschool children with autism. The BBRG has established community outreach research and training links with several places in Greece. Specific details can be found in the following links to our blog. The BBRG Research Internship Programme offers opportunities for students of all levels to become involved in novel research projects, on a volunteer basis. This programme will provide students with the opportunity to build their research and clinical/laboratory skills, whilst furthering research into the foci areas of the BBRG’s current research programme into Depression, at a pre-clinical and clinical level. So that they can benefit most from these Research Internships, students will need to make a regular commitment of their time, usually for a half or full day per week, with allowance for exam and vacation periods. These Research Internships fit within the UNE Policies and Regulations for such activities and represent a formal collaboration between UNE staff and UNE students. For more information on the BBRG Internships contact Professor Chris Sharpley, or individual members of the research group, for details of the projects available, and how to apply. BBRG has international collaborations across the world including the US, UK, Greece, Netherlands and Malta. For more information visit BBRG International Collaborations. For an up to date publications list please see the ResearchGate or GoogleScholar accounts of the individual researchers, listed above under Memberships and Research Interests.
School of Science & Technology
Email: csharpl3@une.edu.au
Phone: +61 2 6773 2596ASD-IT Club
Understanding the brains of children with Autism
PROFILE_D: Mapping the Neurogeography of Depression
ACE: The Autism Connect Early project
BBRG Community Outreach in Greece
