Object Perception

This theme investigates how people perceive, recognise and organise objects across changing views, contexts and digital environments. By integrating behavioural experiments, EEG, neural decoding, machine learning and artificial vision models, the work will aims to reveal how object representations emerge, stabilise and support meaning over time. It connects human object perception, memory, decisions, and interpretable AI to create models and tools that change how visual information is discovered, classified and used across research, cultural and technological settings.

Funded Projects:

Seeing by Choice: How the Brain Recognises and Remembers in a Digital World – ARC Future Fellowship – Grootswagers

Engaging Digital Objects – ARC Linkage - Quek, Grootswagers, Varlet, Stevens, Lawler-Dormer (Powerhouse), Clarke (Powerhouse)

The dynamics of object representations in the human brain – Grootswagers – ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grootswagers

Face Perception

This theme examines the neural mechanisms underlying our ability to recognise and remember human faces with a view to understanding why face recognition ability varies so widely across individuals. It brings together identity perception, contextual learning, super-recognition, individual differences, behavioural science, neuroimaging and computational modelling to build a deeper account of person recognition. The work aims to generate knowledge and tools that inform identity verification, security, education, social cognition and applied recognition contexts while keeping human variability at the centre of the science.

Funded Projects:

Neurobiometrics: Unlocking person identity codes in the ‘Super-Recogniser’ brain – ONI NISDRG - Quek, White (UNSW), Grootswagers, Varlet

Interaction

This theme studies cognition as it unfolds through interaction: between people, between the body and environment, and between human and artificial systems. It spans social interaction, attention, multisensory integration, embodied cognition and real-world approaches to measuring perception and brain activity beyond tightly controlled laboratory settings. By combining mobile and wearable sensing, EEG, behavioural methods and computational modelling, the work will create methods and models for understanding perception, attention and decision-making as they operate in naturalistic, social and technology-rich environments.

Funded Projects:

Brain mechanisms for coordinating with others through sound – ARC Discovery Project - Varlet, Keller, Nozaradan (UCLouvain), Poeppel (Max Planck)

Understanding the Mastery of Multiple Languages and Dialects

Many people use more than one language or dialect, but managing several linguistic systems is complex. Speakers must recognise different sound patterns, choose the appropriate language for a situation and adapt to the people around them.

Led by Paola Escudero this Australian Research Council Discovery Project investigates how people master multiple languages and dialects. The project combines multilingualism research with computational modelling, corpus-based linguistic investigation, online and laboratory data collection, and the management of large language datasets.

The research builds on Paola Escudero’s work in second-language speech perception, phonetics, phonology, word learning and bilingual cognition. It seeks to explain how multilingual experience shapes language processing and how learners perceive and organise the sounds and words of different languages and how they activate each depending on the context.

A better understanding of multilingual learning can inform more inclusive approaches to language education and communication technology. It can also help ensure that models of language development reflect the experiences of multilingual communities rather than treating monolingual development as the universal standard.

First Nations Languages Revitalisation and Reclamation

As MARCS Dharug scholar Jasmine Seymour expresses it, in language revitalisation “we are flying the plane while building it”. Our Indigenous languages teams collaborate to investigate, codesign and track the success of new resources including technology, within diverse contexts ranging from local western Sydney (Dharug) schools through to First Nations contexts in regional NSW and Queensland (e.g., Gumbaynggirr, Wangkumarra) and remote NT (e.g. Mangarrayi, Ngarinyman).

We codesign, sustain and contextually adapt free or low-cost digital technology under the control of the relevant language group. An example includes the Listen N Talk app shell which since its design in 2020 with Mangarrayi people has led to several apps in other languages, most recently in a version “Bayala” (Let’s Talk) which is popular with adult learners and teachers of Dharug. Another example is the online system to create talking dictionary webpages, WordSpinner, which has been used to create publically available dictionaries for several languages e.g. Ngarinyman and Ngiyampaa (with Ngiyampaa linguist Dr Lesley Woods at ANU).

Our Indigenous languages team, in a multi-year project led by Gumbaynggirr scholar Dylan Berger, is currently contracted by the NSW Aboriginal Languages Trust to track outcomes of the bilingual preschool (Kulai Preschool) and school (Maam Giingana Gumbaynggirr) on Gumbaynggirr Country in Coffs Harbour. This involves research guided by the Gumbaynggirr Steering Committee to track outcomes for students, parents/carers and teachers across language, identity, wellbeing and education.

Personalising Language Training to the Needs of Learners

People learning the same language in the same setting can achieve very different outcomes. Some learners respond strongly to a particular training method, while others struggle because that approach does not match their individual strengths or learning needs.

Led by Mark Antoniou, the Australian Research Council Discovery Project Personalising language training to the needs of learners investigates the combination of individual characteristics that contributes to successful language learning. Its goal is to identify which predictors matter most and use this knowledge to better align training with individual learners.

The project reflects Mark Antoniou’s broader research into bilingualism and the cognitive, neuroscientific and developmental aspects of language learning and use. By studying variation between learners, the research moves beyond a single approach for everyone and towards language programs that respond to differences in experience, perception and learning.

The findings could inform language education and support for migrant and multilingual communities. More personalised training could help learners make better use of their strengths, improve learning outcomes and reduce the risk that people are disadvantaged simply because the training method does not suit them.

Improving Developmental Checks

Late-talking affects roughly one in ten toddlers, yet many communication difficulties remain undetected until school entry—when nearly one in four Australian children are already developmentally vulnerable. This delayed identification causes frustration, social isolation, and academic struggles, leading to lifelong educational, social, and economic costs. To close this gap, a team led by Prof Caroline Jones is developing free, parent-friendly AI tools to accurately assess gesture, speech, and language during a child's second year of life. These digital checks blend parent insights with AI pattern recognition to enable early, effective support.

Building on successful screening tools like the 10-minute OZI-SF checklist and the codesigned ERLI tool for Western Sydney Aboriginal families, this work empowers parents to advocate for early intervention rather than taking a "wait and see" approach. Current initiatives are expanding these assessments and interventions to support multilingual and Indigenous children across New South Wales. Collaborating with Allied Health and speech pathology leaders on a NSW Health Translational Research Grant, the team is now evaluating new, localized intervention approaches against standard care to ensure timely care for more toddlers.

Revealing the Universal and Cultural Origins of Musical Affect

This Australian Research Council Discovery Project investigates the universal and culturally learned foundations of musical affect. The research examines how features such as loudness, timbre, harmony, tonality and rhythm contribute to emotional responses, and how these responses vary across people and cultural settings.

By combining cross-cultural fieldwork, listening experiments and computational modelling, the project is building a richer understanding of the relationship between musical structure, culture and emotion. The findings have the potential to inform music creation, education and technology, including more culturally responsive systems for music recommendation and generation.

The project is led by Andrew Milnewith collaborators from MARCS and other Australian and international institutions. The current Music Science Lab webpage identifies the project as an active ARC Discovery Project for 2025 to 2028.

Understanding Music in Human and Artificial Minds

Led by Music Science researcher Gabriele Cecchetti, this interdisciplinary MARCS initiative investigates how abstract knowledge emerges in human brains and artificial neural networks. It asks whether people and machines use shared computational principles to recognise structures in music, and how these principles compare with those involved in vision and language.

The project brings together researchers in music science, cognitive neuroscience, language, human development, engineering and computer science. Its first study uses existing human brain data to examine whether the internal representations learned by artificial neural networks can help explain neural responses to musical structure. The team has piloted the planned experiment and is progressing the research through regular meetings.

By making the internal workings of music AI more understandable, the research could help musicians and other creative practitioners better understand and control AI systems. It will also contribute to broader knowledge about how human and artificial minds learn, organise and interpret complex information.

The initiative will support pilot research, a shared interdisciplinary framework, a collaborative publication and an international workshop, while building foundations for larger research partnerships and future funding.

Mapping and Enhancing Australian Musical Improvisation

Musical improvisation is both a creative practice and an important part of Australia’s cultural and creative industries. This Australian Research Council Linkage Project examines how improvising musicians develop, collaborate and sustain their creative practice, being led by Prof Roger Dean and Dr Simon Chambers.

The research maps the networks, practices and working conditions that shape musical improvisation in Australia. It combines expertise in music, sociology and computational analysis to understand how performers influence one another, how creative communities form, and how knowledge and opportunities move through the sector. The project uses computational social-network modelling and the development of an analytical method for studying musical networks.

Working with music-industry partners, the project is intended to strengthen understanding of improvisation as a creative industry and identify ways to support its development. Its findings can inform musicians, arts organisations, policymakers and funders seeking to build more connected and sustainable creative communities.

Clinical Translation of Time-Resolved EEG Decoding Methods

Traditional clinical assessments can identify many neurological and sensory disorders, but they may not capture the rich information contained in the brain's moment-to-moment activity. This project aims to translate advanced EEG decoding methods from the research laboratory into practical tools that can support diagnosis, assessment and monitoring in clinical populations.

Researchers are developing approaches that reveal how the brain processes information over time, creating more sensitive measures of neural function than traditional analysis methods. By working closely with clinicians and end users, the team is exploring ways to simplify complex analytical techniques and make them more accessible within healthcare settings. The research has potential applications across a range of sensory and neurological conditions, helping clinicians better understand changes in brain function and evaluate treatment outcomes.

As part of the MARCS Themes & Teams initiative, the project led by Prof Paul Breen and Dr Tijl Grootswagersbrings together expertise in cognitive neuroscience, biomedical engineering and clinical translation. Its long-term goal is to establish new evidence-based tools that complement existing assessments and support earlier detection, improved monitoring and more personalised care.

Restoring Balance and Mobility in Older Adults

Maintaining balance becomes increasingly difficult with age, contributing to falls, reduced confidence and loss of independence. This project is developing novel neuromodulation technologies designed to improve balance and mobility in people experiencing age-related vestibular decline.

The vestibular system, located within the inner ear, plays a critical role in balance, movement and spatial orientation. Researchers are investigating how non-invasive stimulation technologies can enhance vestibular function and improve stability. Combining physiological measurement, engineering, clinical expertise and human testing, the project seeks to create practical interventions that help older adults remain active, mobile and independent for longer.

The work builds on extensive research into balance function, cerebral blood flow and human physiology, with applications extending beyond healthy ageing to rehabilitation and management of balance disorders. By translating physiological knowledge into new technologies, the project demonstrates how biomedical engineering can address real-world health and wellbeing challenges.

Next-Generation Wearable Heart and Health Monitoring

Many health conditions develop gradually, making early identification and ongoing monitoring critical for better outcomes. This project is developing new approaches to cardiovascular monitoring using advanced sensing technologies, forcecardiography and intelligent signal processing.

The research explores how wearable devices can capture detailed information about heart and circulatory function in comfortable, non-invasive ways. By collecting physiological data continuously rather than only during clinical appointments, these technologies may provide a more complete picture of health over time and support earlier detection of changes that require attention.

Researchers are investigating how multimodal physiological signals can be combined to improve monitoring accuracy and usability in real-world environments. The project has potential applications in clinical care, health management and remote patient monitoring, helping people and clinicians make more informed decisions.

By combining sensor development, physiology and data analytics, this research illustrates the growing role of biomedical engineering in moving healthcare beyond the clinic and into everyday life.

Enhancing Sensory Function in Peripheral Neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy affects millions of people worldwide, often causing reduced sensation, impaired balance and is a factor for the development of chronic ulcers and amputation. This project is investigating new ways to restore sensory function by combining advances in neuroscience, physiology and biomedical engineering to improve how the nervous system processes sensory information. The work focuses on diabetic peripheral neuropathy and other conditions that disrupt normal sensory feedback.

Researchers are studying how targeted sensory stimulation technologies can enhance the brain's interpretation of signals from peripheral nerves. By developing and testing non-invasive interventions that strengthen sensory perception, the team aims to improve balance, mobility, confidence and protective sensation for people living with sensory loss.

The project seeks to move beyond symptom management towards interventions that help restore meaningful sensory function.

Bringing together expertise in biomedical engineering, neuroscience and clinical translation, the research has the potential to deliver practical, low-cost technologies that can be used in clinical and home settings. By improving the way people perceive and respond to sensory information, the project demonstrates how engineering innovations can help address some of the most significant challenges associated with neurological and age-related sensory impairment.

A New Approach to Managing Chronic Nerve Pain

Chronic neuropathic pain can significantly affect everyday activities, quality of life and long-term wellbeing. For many people, existing treatments provide only limited relief. This project investigates whether combining sensory stimulation with visual feedback can improve outcomes for people living with persistent nerve pain.

The research focuses on diabetic peripheral neuropathy, a condition that commonly causes pain in the legs and feet. Researchers are evaluating a novel therapy that combines transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) with synchronised visual feedback. The approach is based on growing evidence that matching sensory and visual information may influence how the brain interprets pain signals and improve the effectiveness of treatment.

The project is currently being evaluated through a pilot clinical trial and aims to develop a low-cost, home-based intervention that is practical, accessible and easy to use. Bringing together physiology, neuroscience and biomedical engineering, the work explores how technology can be used to improve symptom management and support better quality of life for people living with chronic conditions.

Industry

Healthcare, defence, arts, engineering: we build from the ground up with you. Together we co-develop evidence-based solutions, analyse data, and test and refine prototypes.

We work with start-ups, SMEs and large corporations, on short-term or long-term projects, or both. We also create professional development programs for educators and trainers.

Government

Health. Data science. Defence and aerospace. Early life and aged care. Art and music sciences. Our expertise helps shape evidence-based policy, programs and events.

We partner on research and linkage grants, join advisory groups, and bring deep background in cognitive development, aged care and emerging technology.

Community

We don’t do research on communities. We do it with them. From field work to aged care clinical trials, our research is grounded in community and reflects the true diversity of the population.

We work with neurodiverse and linguistically diverse groups and individuals, and with many cultural groups, co-designing programs alongside community organisations.

Healthcare

Clinicians and frontline workers, meet the latest in engineering and technology.

Our researchers are embedded in the healthcare sector, and our work is community-centred and shaped by the needs of the population. We deliver world-leading professional development and training, run clinical trials, and co-develop evidence-based guidelines for healthcare and educational settings.

Academic

We partner with researchers and research organisations worldwide to advance brain research and translation, through:

Joint collaborations, grants and projects. International visitors and fellowships. Placements, summer and winter scholarships. Internships. Sister lab exchanges.