Uncovering the secret to creative thinking
Congratulations to听Dr Claire O鈥機allaghan Chief Investigator A听(CIA), Associate Professor Mac Shine (CIB) and 听who were awarded听$1,076,895 by the听听(ARC). The project title: Exploring Neural Mechanisms of Compositional Cognition in the Human Brain.
This research, led by an interdisciplinary team of experts will leverage cutting-edge techniques in neuroimaging, neurochemistry, and computational neuroscience to explore how the brain maintains cognitive flexibility. Dr O'Callaghan, Assoc. Prof. Shine and Dr Muller are part of the Faculty of Medicine and Health and the Brain and Mind Centre.听
Pictured from left to right: Dr Claire O鈥機allaghan (CIA), Associate Professor Mac Shine (CIB) and Dr Eli Muller (CIC)
The grant is an exciting opportunity to do some curiosity-driven science. By taking an interdisciplinary approach, we aim to understand the brain's basis for adaptive human cognition, which is fundamental to problem-solving, learning new skills, and navigating novel situations.
"This grant brings together leading scientists with expertise in distinct domains of neuroimaging, computational neuroscience, and neuromodulation to understand how the brain retains flexibility in the face of its ever-evolving learned experiences," Dr Eli Muller says.
Despite its importance in everyday life and artificial intelligence, the neural processes behind compositional cognition鈥攖he ability to recombine existing knowledge in new ways鈥攔emain largely unexplored. This research will test the novel neuromodulatory compositionality hypothesis, combining dynamic neural signatures observed during cognitive tasks, manipulation of neurochemical systems, and advanced biophysical models to reveal the brain's hidden processes.
This project is the culmination of other publications, in the听听From听听听and听听These studies are on neural signatures in cognition and frameworks for linking neurobiological processes to higher cognitive functions.听
Australian Research Council
听is a Commonwealth entity within the Australian Government. The ARC supports the highest-quality pure basic, strategic basic and applied research and research training.听