UNSW neuroscientist awarded prestigious science prize
5th November 2003
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| Prof Mark Rowe receives his award from Dr Peter Pockley |
Emeritus Scientia Professor Mark Rowe has won the Australasian Science Prize, the first medical scientist to be given the award.
Professor Rowe, who retired recently after more than 30 years in the School of Physiology & Pharmacology at UNSW and currently holds a conjoint Chair in Physiology, has been described as Australia’s most distinguished sensory neuroscientist. His work has led to the identification of the brain regions involved in processing tactile information and has revealed the ways in which that information is coded in the impulse patterns of brain cells.
The award trophy was presented at the University today by Dr Peter Pockley, senior correspondent for Australasian Science, on behalf of the magazine’s editor/publisher Guy Nolch.
Professor Rowe’s research has overturned the widely held view that sensory information, particularly that from touch, is transmitted largely according to serially-organised processing network within the cerebral cortex of the brain, and instead has demonstrated the extent to which parallel processing is involved.
Professor Rowe’s work has had support from both the NH&MRC and the ARC for almost two decades. The results obtained by him and his colleagues may have implications for understanding disturbances of consciousness and perception, such as those which arise in some psychiatric disorders.
As well as his work in tactile and kinaesthetic sensory mechanisms, Professor Rowe has also examined the capacity of the brain and spinal cord to undergo functional or structural re-organization, or plasticity, in response to nerve injury.
“Mark Rowe has been internationally recognized as one of the world's leading analysts of the somatosensory nervous system for the past 25 years,” Professor Elspeth McLachlan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research), said. “UNSW is especially proud that almost all of his research has been conducted within this University.”
Information about Australasian Science is available here.
Professor Rowe, who retired recently after more than 30 years in the School of Physiology & Pharmacology at UNSW and currently holds a conjoint Chair in Physiology, has been described as Australia’s most distinguished sensory neuroscientist. His work has led to the identification of the brain regions involved in processing tactile information and has revealed the ways in which that information is coded in the impulse patterns of brain cells.
The award trophy was presented at the University today by Dr Peter Pockley, senior correspondent for Australasian Science, on behalf of the magazine’s editor/publisher Guy Nolch.
Professor Rowe’s research has overturned the widely held view that sensory information, particularly that from touch, is transmitted largely according to serially-organised processing network within the cerebral cortex of the brain, and instead has demonstrated the extent to which parallel processing is involved.
Professor Rowe’s work has had support from both the NH&MRC and the ARC for almost two decades. The results obtained by him and his colleagues may have implications for understanding disturbances of consciousness and perception, such as those which arise in some psychiatric disorders.
As well as his work in tactile and kinaesthetic sensory mechanisms, Professor Rowe has also examined the capacity of the brain and spinal cord to undergo functional or structural re-organization, or plasticity, in response to nerve injury.
“Mark Rowe has been internationally recognized as one of the world's leading analysts of the somatosensory nervous system for the past 25 years,” Professor Elspeth McLachlan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research), said. “UNSW is especially proud that almost all of his research has been conducted within this University.”
Information about Australasian Science is available here.
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