Biology of Memory Research Group

Personnel

Team Leader
Dr Tom Edwards

Other academic staff
Dr Marie Gibbs (Dept. of Pharmacology)
Dr Nikki Rickard (Dept. of Psychology)
Dr Samia Toukhsati (Dept. of Psychology)

Research Assistants
Ms Elena Hartley

Postgraduate and Fourth Year Students
Rowan Ogeil (Hons Student)
Angeline Lau (PGDIp Student)
Catherine Cronin (PGDIp Student)
Kathryn Baker (PhD student)
Margaret Cutajar (DPsych Student)

Associate Members / Collaborators
Eloise Perini BSc(Hons)

Research Activities

Our research interests focus on the biology which underpins memory processing. Three broad research objectives are to: (1) understand the contribution of glial cells in memory processing; (2) understand both the initiation and maintenance of long-term memory; (3) understand the contribution of environmental stimuli (music) in affecting memory formation.

• Molecular Events underlying diseases of Memory
• The role of second messengers (cGMP and cAMP) in memory processing
• The role of immediate early genes in long-term memory
• The role of glial cells in memory processing
  

• How the elements of music influence memory
  

• How the elements of music influence memory
  

• The role of noradrenaline in triggering long-term memory
  

Collaborations

Our group has traditionally collaborated with A/Prof Stephen Robinson’s research group (also of the Dept. of Psychology – Monash University). Both teams have two common interests: (1) the biology of glial cells and their role in behaviour and; (2) Alzheimer’s disease-associated memory impairments.

In addition, we have formed a new collaboration with Prof. Jim Ogloff and Dr Gavin Sullivan (Baker Heart Research Institute) to investigate Memory in the context of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.