The Brain Dynamics Centre - Convenor of BRAINnet

Brain-related disorders of mental health have a significant impact on all of us

Disorders of mental health cause 11.5% of the world-wide burden of disease. They affect 1.25 million Australians and are ranked third in terms of health spending. Rapidly emerging insights from neuroscience are giving us a new understanding of the cause, diagnosis and treatment of disorders of mental health. Improved early diagnosis and treatment for these disorders is a key priority area for mental health service delivery.

The Brain Dynamics Centre (BDC) is based in a unique location at Westmead Hospital, and has a second node at the University of Sydney. Westmead Hospital is in the geographic centre of Sydney, where over 3 million Australians live. The hospital has a catchment of 9% of the Australian population. BDC has a wide network of links with hospital departments (Psychiatry, Medical Psychology, Adolescent Medicine, Radiology) and with mental health services (from child and adolescent to adult). It has the ability to translate neuroscience research into clinical practice – from ‘bench to bedside’.

The BDC research program is based on integration across:

Theory and disciplines:

We integrate theoretical models of the human brain and brain-related disorders across disciplines, from psychiatry, psychology, neuroscience and physical sciences. This integration is supported by BDC’s multi-disciplinary team.

Research techniques:

We combine data from multiple testing methods. BDC is the only research group in Australia with a published track record in the range of these techniques. We bring together:

Clinical assessments of symptoms and illness history. Psychological and Cognitive testing of mood, personality, and cognitive functions like memory and attention. Complementary Brain Imaging techniques for ‘Where’ brain activity happens (MRI and fMRI assessing neuroanatomy and location of activity), ‘when’ brain activity happens (EEG and ERPs measuring naturally occurring electrical brain activity on a millisecond timescale). ‘How’ brain activity relates to body arousal (using simultaneously recordings of skin conductance, heart rate). ‘Why’ brain activity changes with functions or disorders (using these techniques with the modelling and new analysis methods outlined below)

Genetics to determine the role of genetic risk factors in brain function and disorders of mental health (using genetic polymorphism data).

Modeling and Analysis:

BDC has developed sophisticated new methods to bring these sources of information together, and to quantify the connectivity of the brain. The BDC brain modelling node has established the first biophysical model of the brain, based on real physiological parameters, which simulate brain function, and allows underlying causal mechanisms to be identified.

Clinical translation:

We apply our ‘bench to bedside’ philosophy and integrative approach to identifying the cause and best treatments for major disorders of mental health - schizophrenia, traumatic stress, depression, ADHD, conduct disorder and anorexia nervosa.

As part of this translation, the BDC offers clinical services in traumatic stress and adolescent mental health. The evidence base for these services comes from its strong research profile.

Centralised infrastructure:

To support our integrative approach, BDC has a centralized and standardized infrastructure, comprising state-of-the-art testing laboratories, clinics and computer servers for automated data storage and processing.

BRAINnet and international database

BDC is the coordinating site for an international network of centres, BRAINnet (www.brainnet.org.au). Each site uses the same standardized research protocol in order to combine information and take part in the first international database on the human brain and mental disorders: Brain Resource International Database. This network provides us with powerful new insights into the brain and mental illness,which are only possible with large datasets and international cooperation.