Professor Lindy Rae (photo: supplied)

Conductivity imaging; a new approach to measuring brain activity

Hosted by: Associate Professor Brian Billups

Abstract

Measurement of brain tissue electrical properties has come a long way since it was (theoretically) proposed in the 1990s. This talk will introduce the concept of non-invasive measurement of brain tissue electrical conductivity (and permittivity) and describe recent developments in the approach that now enable us to use it to measure human brain activity, including static and functional applications.

Biography

Caroline (Lindy) Rae is Chair of Brain Sciences at UNSW, a member of the School of Psychology, and a senior principal scientist based at Neuroscience Research Australia where she is director of NeuRA Imaging, a research-focused MRI facility.  

Caroline Rae has published more than 140 research papers, including some that did not involve the use of magnetic resonance. Her research focusses on determining the fascinating relationships between brain biochemistry and brain function. In addition to study of normal brain function her research also includes sleep disorders, neuropharmacology, pain, congenital disorders involving the brain, and neurological disorders. She is also involved in the development of new magnetic resonance applications and analyses.

She has held several Fellowships over her career, including the Oxford Nuffield medical Fellowship, and NHMRC RD Wright and SRFs. She is currently President of the International Society for Neurochemistry and was awarded the Medal of the Australian and New Zealand Society for Magnetic Resonance (2017) for outstanding contributions to magnetic resonance.