New centre to look at how the brain works

The new ARC Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function has officially opened having been granted $20 million in government funding over 7 years.

Led by Professor Gary Egan from Monash University, the centre will use techniques for analysing brain anatomy, physiology and function, combined with advanced computational techniques, to uncover the fundamental principles of brain function.

This focus will be on understanding and how the activities of the human brain underpin attention, prediction and decision-making in daily life.

Collaborating organisations include Monash University, The University of Queensland, the University of Melbourne, the University of Sydney, Australian National University and the University of New South Wales.

The centre will also collaborate with 12 international partner organisations from six different countries, and it has received more than $30 million cash and in-kind support from the participating organisations.

“The centre will train future research leaders in multidisciplinary approaches to brain research - that includes neuroscience, psychology, network science and engineering,” Egan said.

Communicating the ethical, social and economic impact of brain research to the wider community is also part of the plan.

In conjunction with the official launch, the centre launched a public outreach program called The Brain Dialogue. The first event was a panel discussion held at the State Library of Victoria on the question: Who’s in charge: you or your brain?