Brain connections in colourful illustration
The brain mechanisms in health and disease research theme builds upon the world-leading expertise at the Brain Research & Imaging Centre (BRIC) and applies the multimodal capabilities of BRIC and translational collaborations to determine the mechanisms underlying a range of conditions such as Parkinson’s and movement disorders, chronic pain, addiction, anxiety and depression. 
The research theme is home to an array of world-leading research such as:
  • Vestibular rehabilitation: exploring neural and functional recovery from impairment. 
  • Dopaminergic pathways and cognition: investigating dopamine's role in cognitive processes. 
  • Neural mechanisms of anxiety: dissecting the brain's response to stress and fear. 
  • Addiction neuroscience: understanding the neural circuits of addictive behaviours. 
  • Neuroscience of reward: neural network processes underlying reward processing.
 

Research projects

Other exciting projects include:

  • Mapping the brain circuit of pain modulation with transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS).
  • Investigating the causal role of anterior insula on response inhibition using TUS.
  • Research into alcohol addiction using TUS.
  • Researching vestibular bends in divers in collaboration with DDRC Healthcare.
  • Developing a CO2 anxiety model.
  • Hepatic encephalopathy – pre/post liver transplant.
  • Neuroimaging study of the pre-testing effect.
  • Enhancing reward sensitivity in dysphoria by combining brain stimulation with cognitive interventions.