The Balance and Vision lab at NeuRA is leading the way forward in clinical research that aims to help people with dizziness disorders. The team is led by Associate Prof Americo Migliaccio, and comprises senior researchers, PhD students, biomedical engineers, and clinicians. The most exciting project currently underway is the clinical trial of a novel vestibular rehabilitation device aimed at […]
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Typically we pay little attention to the sense that our limbs are a part of our body and that we have control over them. These mind-body connections are essential for moving and interacting with our surrounds. We first learn self-awareness and to distinguish self from other when we make exploratory movements as infants. The sense of self continues to stabilise […]
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A new study by Prof Rob Herbert and his team is investigating muscle contracture in children with cerebral palsy. Contracture is a stiffening of muscles, even when the muscle is passive. It is not yet known whether contracture is a result of changes in the muscle, changes in the associated tendon, or a combination of both. Around 53 per cent […]
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Epigenetics is the study of how our environment influences the expression of our genes. My group has found a link between early life experiences and attention. Exposure to traumatic experiences in the early stages of life, including abuse or neglect, parental divorce or mental illness, and poverty, are known to influence the development of some mental illnesses. These early experiences also […]
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When human tissue, such as muscles or some organs, are affected by disease, they can become stiffer (or softer) than surrounding muscle tissue. Traditionally, medical practitioners have used the palpation technique – using their hands to determine the firmness of tissue, for instance around the abdomen – to feel for changes in tissue stiffness in order to diagnose illness or […]
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NeuRA is committed to fostering the work of our young researchers who hold the future of myriad health initiative in their hands. Young investigators are a crucial source of energy, enthusiasm and ideas as they strive to find new cures and help promote the well-being of all Australians… Improving movement after stroke Lewis Ingram and Mayna Ratanapongleka are working with […]
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The new issue of the NeuRA Magazine (#18) will arrive in people’s letterboxes this week, but if you haven’t yet signed up for it, or would prefer to read the digital version, you can go here. The issue explores in further detail the new study from Assoc Prof Olivier Piguet’s group, which has confirmed what many anecdotal stories had previously […]
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Cutting-edge imaging technologies are being used to understand what causes muscle contracture after a stroke and how we can improve treatments. We believe a lot of fundamental questions about muscles have yet to be answered, but that may be about to change with the use of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). DTI is an MRI-based imaging technique typically used to measure […]
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Prof Rhoshel Lenroot is part of a large, multi-disciplinary team which seeks to improve the current treatments for children with conduct problems such as aggressive behaviours. Childhood conduct problems are the greatest risk factor for antisocial behaviour and violence, as well as later adult mental health issues. One of the most effective ways to treat early conduct problems is through […]
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The role of progesterone, identified as a potential therapy for MND, is being investigated for FTD. Motor Neurone Disease (MND), also referred to as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in some countries, is just one of the clinical syndromes associated with frontotemporal dementia or FTD. Others include corticobasal syndrome and progressive supranuclear palsy syndrome with a clinical variant of FTD being […]
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