Perception and Pharmacology Laboratory

• 
  Lab Director
  A/Prof Olivia Carter

  ocarter@unimelb.edu.au

  View researcher's webpage

  +61 3 8344 6372

Research Overview

The majority of the research in the lab focuses on two questions

- How does the brain's natural chemicals control complex behaviours, thoughts and perceptions?

- What are the factors that determine the contents of an individual's conscious experience?

We consider these question both from the perspective of understanding the underlying neurobiological mechanisms involved and also in respect to the neuroethical issues associated with advances in neuroscientific knowledge and drug/technology development.

Visit the Perception and Pharmacology Lab website

Lab Members

For a full list of research interests and contact details [click here]

• Hayley Darke, Post-Doctoral Fellow
• Jody Stanley, PhD Student
• Anna Antinori, PhD Student
• Toby Woods, PhD Student
• Giana Patel, MPhil Student
• Daniela Hupe, PhD Student
• Rebekah Street, PhD Student

Research Publications

For a full list of publications and PDF's [click here]

Carter, O., Hohwy, J., van Boxtel, J., Lamme, V., Block, N., Koch, C. & Tsuchiya, N (2018) Conscious machines: Defining questions Science 359 (6374): 400

Carter. O., Bennett. D., Nash. T., Arnold. S., Brown. L., Cai. R. Y., Allan. Z., Dluzniak. A., McAnally. K., Burr. D. and Sundram. S. (2017) Sensory integration deficits support a dimensional view of psychosis and are not limited to schizophrenia. Translational Psychiatry 7(5)e1118

Carter, O. & Forte, J. (2016) Brain Stimulation Needs Regulation. Nature 533: 179

Horvath, J., Forte, J. & Carter, O. (2015) Quantitative Review Finds No Evidence of Cognitive Effects in Healthy Populations from Single-Session Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS). Brain Stimulation. 8: 535-550

Stoll, J., Chatelle, C., Carter, O., Koch, C., Laureys, S. & Einhauser, W. (2013) Pupil responses allow communication in locked-in syndrome patients. Current Biology. 23(15) R647-8

Kometer, M., Cahn, B., Andel, D., Carter, O. & Vollenweider, F.  (2011) The 5-HT2A/1A agonist psilocybin disrupts modal object completion associated with visual hallucinations. Biological Psychiatry. 69(5): 399-406

Carter, O., Konkle, T., Wang, Q., Hayward, V. & Moore, C. (2008) Tactile apparent motion induces perceptual rivalry Current Biology 18(4):1050-54

Einhäuser, W., Stout, J., Koch, C. & Carter, O. (2008) Pupil dilation reflects perceptual selection and predicts subsequent stability in perceptual rivalry. Proc Natl Acad Sci 105(5): 1704-1709

Carter, O., Burr, D. C., Pettigrew, J. D., Wallis, G. M., Hasler, F. & Vollenweider, F. X. (2005) Using psilocybin to investigate the relationship between attention, working memory and the Serotonin_1A/2A receptors. J Cog Neuroscience17(10): 1497-150.

Carter, O., Presti, D., Callistemon, C., Liu, G. B., Ungerer, Y. & Pettigrew, J. D. (2005) Meditation Alters Perceptual Rivalry in Tibetan Buddhist Monks. Current Biology15(11): R412-3.

Carter, O., Pettigrew, J. D., Hasler, F. & Wallis, G. M., Liu, G. B., Hell, D., & Vollenweider, F. X. (2005) Modulating the rate and rhythmicity of perceptual rivalry alternations with the mixed 5-HT2A and 5‑HT1A agonist psilocybin. Neuropsychopharmacology 30: 1154-62