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Behavioural Neuroscience Laboratory (BNL)

Background

Research conducted at the Behavioural Neuroscience Laboratory at the School of Psychology, Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine is aimed at elucidating the underlying neurochemistry and neurophysiology of cognitive and emotional processes with application to neurological and psychiatric disorders.

The laboratory has a translational approach with research conducted in healthy human subjects and patients with psychiatric or neurological disorders. The overall objective is to expand and integrate what is known about the neurochemical basis of cognitive and emotional processes. This is done at a molecular, systems and/or behavioural level, using methodologies that include functional and molecular brain imaging, pharmacological challenges, human behavioural models, and neuropsychological testing.

Laboratory Facilities

  • Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) (3T fMRI)
  • Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Imaging
  • Electrophysiology (Neuroscan system)
This figure shows a PET Image of the distribution of Nicotinic receptors in the brain using 18F-A-85380 and PET Imaging. Highest binding observed in the thalamus, followed by the midbrain, pons and cerebellum. Studies are underway to examine the distribution of nicotinic receptors in patients with Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease and to examine how these changes correlate with cognitive decline. PET Image


Brain Areas

This figure shows brain areas (examined with fMRI) or brain networks associated with regulation of negative emotion. Inhibition of negative affect is associated with increased activation in the dorsal anterior cingulate, dorsal medial prefrontal cortex, lateral prefrontal cortex and decreased activation within the limbic regions (i.e. nucleus accumbens, extended amygdala). Studies are underway to examine brain networks associated with emotional regulation and how antidepressant drugs alter these networks.


The effects of the antidepressant drug, citalopram

This figure shows the effects of the antidepressant drug, citalopram (a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) on cortical brain activity (using steady state probe topography) associated with emotional processing. Figure shows that there is an increase in brain activity in the frontal and parieto-occipital cortex during processing of negative stimuli and that this activity is suppressed when serotonin levels are increased with citalopram. Findings suggest that antidepressants drugs could work by suppressing the activity of overactive neural circuits associated with emotional processing.


Personnel

Principal Investigators

  • Assoc. Professor Pradeep J. Nathan
  • Dr. Phyllis Chua
  • Professor David Copolov
  • Dr. Marlies Alverenga (Honorary)
  • Assoc. Professor Luan Phan (Honorary)
  • Professor Rodney Croft (Honorary)

PhD students

  • Julia Ellis
  • Izelle Labuschagne
  • Vanessa Cropley
  • Barry O'Neill (external)
  • Joanne O'Kane (external)
  • Cali Bartholomeusz (external)
  • Sumi Leung (external)

Honours students

  • Rebecca Kerestes

Collaborators

  • Professor Jayashri Kulkarni( APRC, Monash University)
  • Assoc Professor Paul Fitzgerald (APRC, Monash University)
  • Professor Robert Innis (Molecular Imaging Branch, NIH)
  • Professor David Reutens (Department of Neuroscience, Monash University)
  • Dr. Amanda Wood (Department of Neuroscience, Monash University)
  • Professor Murray Isler (Baker Institute, Monash University)
  • Professor Chris Rowe (Centre for PET, Austin & Repatriation Medical Centre)
  • Dr. Zubin Bhagwagar (Department of Psychiatry, Yale University)
  • Professor Trevor Robbins (Department of Experimental Psychology, Cambridge University)
  • Professor Barbara Sahakian (Department of Psychiatry, Cambridge University)