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Neuroscience Research Australia (also known as NeuRA) is an independent medical research institute based in Sydney, Australia. Previously called the Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, the institute relaunched as Neuroscience Research Australia on 1 June 2010.^[1],^[2] NeuRA is accredited by the National Health and Medical Research Council.^[3]

Neuroscience Research Australia is made up of approximately 260 researchers specialising in research on the brain and nervous system in health and disease.

The current executive director is Professor Peter R Schofield^[4].

Research activity[link]

NeuRA’s research activity is organised into five themes:

• Ageing and neurodegeneration: Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal dementia and other types of dementia, Parkinson's disease, Motor Neurone Disease, ageing research in indigenous populations, stroke rehabilitation

• Brain function and imaging: brain mapping for research and clinical use, on-site MRI scanning

• Neural injury: spinal cord injury, assessment and prevention of road trauma in children

• Mental illness: schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression and autism

• Sensation, movement, balance and falls: human movement, fatigue, sleep apnoea, balance and vision, neural control of muscles, falls in older adults, chronic pain

NeuRA also houses research centres, including the Brain Bank^[5] and Genetic Repositories Australia^[6].

History[link]

NeuRA was established in 1991 by Professor Ian McCloskey, Professor David Burke, Professor Simon Gandevia and Professor Erica Potter with the support of the Eastern Sydney Area Health Service (now South Eastern Sydney and Illawarra Area Health Service) and the University of New South Wales.

In 1993 the institute was established as an independent, not-for-profit company^[7] and researchers moved into buildings on the site of the old Randwick Chest Hospital, next to the Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick. It was officially opened on 8 November 1993 by the Commonwealth Minister for Health Graham Richardson and the NSW Minister for Health Ron Phillips.

On 15 November 2000, the Premier of New South Wales, Bob Carr, officially opened the new sections of the institute.

In June 2009 the Minister for Science and Medical Research Jodi McKay opened the Prince Henry Wing extension.

In March 2010, the NSW government gave planning approval to the concept and project plans for a Neuroscience Research Precinct to be built on the existing site.^[8] Building works began on the first phase of the project in March 2010.

Future expansion[link]

The completed Neuroscience Research Precinct will provide six stories of laboratory and clinical research space, providing 25,000m2 of floor space and housing up to 700 researchers^[9].

References[link]

External links[link]

• Neuroscience Research Australia website

Michael A. Persinger (born June 26, 1945) is a cognitive neuroscience researcher and university professor with over 200 peer-reviewed publications. He has worked at Laurentian University, located in Sudbury, Ontario, since 1971.

Early life[link]

Michael Persinger was born in Jacksonville, Florida and grew up primarily in Virginia, Maryland and Wisconsin. He attended Carroll College from 1963 to 1964, and graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1967. He then obtained an M.A. in physiological psychology from the University of Tennessee and a Ph.D. from the University of Manitoba in 1971.^[1]

Research and academic work[link]

Much of his work focuses on the commonalities that exist between the sciences, and aims to integrate fundamental concepts of various branches of science.^[2] He organized the Behavioral Neuroscience Program at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, which became one of the first to integrate chemistry, biology and psychology^{[citation needed]}.

Research in parapsychology[link]

In 1974 Persinger proposed that extremely low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic waves may be able to carry telepathic and clairvoyant information.^[3] Persinger has published reports of rudimentary 'telepathic' communication between pairs of subjects in the laboratory.^[4][5] He has also published increases in remote viewing accuracy of remote viewer Ingo Swann, as measured by a group of ratings of congruence (between Swann's drawings and the locale being 'viewed') by 40 experimentally blind participants^[6] during stimulation with complex magnetic fields using a circumcerebral (around the head) eight-channel system.

Research in neurotheology[link]

During the 1980s he stimulated people's temporal lobes artificially with a weak magnetic field to see if he could induce a religious state (see God helmet). He claimed that the field could produce the sensation of "an ethereal presence in the room". This research has received wide coverage in the media, with high profile visitors to Persinger's lab Susan Blackmore and Richard Dawkins reporting positive^[7] and negative^[8] results respectively.

The only published attempt, by a research group in Sweden, to replicate these effects failed to do so and concluded that subjects' reports correlated with their personality characteristics and suggestibility. They also criticised Persinger for insufficient double-blinding.^[9] Persinger responded that the Swedish group had an incorrect computer setup,^[10] a claim that the Swedish group dispute,^[11] and that many of his previous experiments were indeed carried out double-blind,^[12] although the Swedish group have also disputed this.^[11]

Tectonic Strain Theory[link]

Persinger has also come to public attention due to his 1975 Tectonic Strain Theory (TST) of how geophysical variables may correlate with sightings of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) or Marian apparitions. Persinger argued that strain within the Earth's crust near seismic faults produces intense electromagnetic (EM) fields, creating bodies of light that some interpret as glowing UFOs or The Virgin Mary. Alternatively, he argued that the EM fields generate hallucinations in the temporal lobe, based on images from popular culture, of alien craft, beings, communications, or creatures.

In the UK, Paul Devereux advocates a variant geophysical theory similar to TST, the Earthlights theory. However, unlike Persinger, Devereaux generally restricts such effects to the immediate vicinity of a fault line. Devereux's approach also differs from Persinger's in holding triboluminescence rather than piezoelectricity as the "more likely candidate" for the production of naturally occurring UFOs. Devereux doesn't advocate, as in Persinger's TST, that the phenomenon might create hallucinations of UFO encounters in people, instead proposing an even more radical hypothesis: that earthlights may possess intelligence and even have the ability to read witness' thoughts.^[13]

UFO researchers^[14][15] and theologians^[16] critical of TST admit that, while, observations of diffuse lights during (and sometimes before and after) very severe earthquakes may give some weak support to some parts of TST and Earthlights theory (see Earthquake lights), they question the ability of fault lines to generate luminous effects and hallucinatory experiences under much less severe conditions. Nonetheless, even TST critics such as Rutowski think such theories may hold some promise for explaining a small percentage of UFO phenomena, although they doubt that they can ever offer a comprehensive explanation for the vast majority of unexplained UFO cases.^{[citation needed]} Other UFO researchers believe this very limited interpretation of the TST is brought into question by the clustering of UFO reports within areas prone to faulting - such as the Pennine region of northern Britain. While acknowledging the drawbacks of Persinger's theory, they feel that amended versions of it may account for a significant proportion of "True UFO" reports.^[17]

Persinger's claims regarding the effects of environmental geomagnetic activity on paranormal experiences have not been independently replicated and, like his findings regarding the God helmet, may simply be explained by the suggestibility of participants.^[18]

Books[link]

• Persinger, Michael (1974). ELF and VLF electromagnetic field effects. New York: Plenum Press. ISBN 978-0-306-30826-0. 
• Persinger, Michael (1974). The paranormal. New York: MSS Information Corp.. ISBN 978-0-8422-5212-6. 
• Persinger, Michael (1977). Space-time transients and unusual events. Chicago: Nelson-Hall. ISBN 978-0-88229-334-9. 
• Persinger, Michael (1980). The weather matrix and human behavior. New York: Praeger. ISBN 978-0-03-057731-4. 
• Persinger, Michael (1980). TM and Cult Mania. North Quincy Mass.: Christopher Pub. House. ISBN 978-0-8158-0392-8. 
• Persinger, Michael (1987). Neuropsychological bases of God beliefs. Westport: Praeger. ISBN 978-0-275-92648-9. 
• Persinger, Michael (1988). Climate, buildings and behaviour. Winnipeg: Institute of Winnipeg. ISBN 978-0-920213-60-5. 

See also[link]

• Electromagnetic theories of consciousness
• Neurotheology
• God helmet

References[link]

External links[link]

• Persinger's webpage at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario
• Persinger's 49 page C.V., noting his 200+ journal publications (PDF)
• Wired Article about Persinger, July 11, 1999
• Laurentian University's Michael Persinger wins TVO's 2007 Big Ideas' Best Lecturer Competition
• Video of Persinger's winning TVO lecture
• BBC article on "God on brain"

Peter Schofield (born 12 February 1932) was an Australian rules footballer who played for Richmond, Melbourne and North Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL) during the 1950s.

Mentone's Peter Schofield arrived on the VFL scene when he kicked four goals on debut for Richmond and finished the season with 21 goals from just six appearances. He didn't get many opportunities however in the seniors over the next two years, nor did he at Melbourne when he crossed there in 1953.

For the next three seasons, Schofield played with Moorabbin in the Victorian Football Association (VFA). He won his era's version of the Jim 'Frosty' Miller Medal in 1954 when he kicked 96 goals for the year, including a tally of 22 goals in a match against Sandringham.

At North Melbourne, Schofield was used as a full-forward and played in a losing Preliminary Final in 1958. He topped their goal-kicking in 1959 with 47 goals and the following season booted a career high eight in a match against South Melbourne at Arden Street.

References[link]

• Holmesby, Russell and Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers. 7th ed. Melbourne: Bas Publishing.

External links[link]

• Peter Schofield's statistics from AFL Tables

Nora Volkow in 2009.

Nora Volkow (b. 27 March 1956) is director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). She is the great-granddaughter of Russian revolutionary leader and Head of the Fourth International, Leon Trotsky. Her father was the son of Leon Trotsky’s elder daughter.^[1]

Born in Mexico City, Volkow and her three sisters grew up in the house where Trotsky was killed.^[1] She attended the Modern American School, then earned a medical degree from National University of Mexico before going to New York University for psychiatric residency. She chose a career in brain research after reading an article on the use of positron emission tomography in studying brain function. She did research at Brookhaven National Laboratory before becoming director of NIDA in 2003.^[1]

Research[link]

She has stated that her imaging studies of the brains of people addicted to drugs have helped to clarify the mechanisms of drug addiction. She also maintains that they have also helped to change the public's view of drug addiction, from that of a moral violation or character flaw to an understanding that pathological changes to brain structure make it very difficult for addicts to give up their addictions.^[1] Volkow says that she has shown that abnormalities in the prefrontal cortex of addicts create a feeling of need or craving that addicts know is irrational but cannot prevent. Prefrontal abnormalities also make it difficult to override compulsions to take drugs by exercising cognitive control. The main areas affected are the orbitofrontal cortex, which maintains attention to goals, and the anterior cingulate cortex, that mediates the capacity to monitor and select action plans. Both areas receive stimulation from dopamine centers lower in the brain. A steady influx of dopamine makes it difficult for addicts to shift their attention away from the goal of attaining drugs. It also fastens their attention to the motivational value of drugs, even though these drugs have long stopped providing pleasure. It is now understood that dopamine activation does not signal pleasure. Rather, it signals the importance or relevance of sought-after goals. Addicts have a hard time turning their attention —and their actions— away from the goal of acquiring and consuming drugs. They are caught, she states, in a vicious circle of physical brain changes and the psychological consequences of those changes, leading to further changes.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Nora D. Volkow, M.D., Director's Page, National Institute of Drug Abuse
• Appearances on C-SPAN
• Nora Volkow on Charlie Rose
• Hooked: Why Bad Habits are Hard to Break on 60 Minutes
• Nora Volkow: Two Paths to the Future (Vanderbilt University Medical Center Article - February 2006)
• Works by or about Nora Volkow in libraries (WorldCat catalog)
• Nora Volkow - the Time 100, 2007
• NIDA's New Leader JAMA
• Why Is It So Damn Hard to Change? by Rebecca Skloot, O, the Oprah Magazine

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Michael "Pooley" Poole born April 23, 1986 in Cardiff, Wales is a rugby union player for Newport RFC and Newport Gwent Dragons. He previously played for Newport Youth and Pontypool RFC. Since joining Newport in at the start of the 2006–07 season, he has made over 50 appearances for the club. During the 2008–09 season Poole was the Principality Premiership top try scorer with 19 tries for Newport, more than double the amount that he had scored throughout his career at the club.

His hobbies include cage fighting.

Newport RFC Record[link]

External links[link]

External links[link]

• Newport RFC profile
• Newport Gwent Dragons profile