Group leader
Professor Barry Dickson FRS
b.dickson@uq.edu.au
Our research
Neural circuits of locomotion
The Dickson lab investigates the neural circuits that control walking in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. They aim to define how local circuits in the ventral nerve cord generate rhythmic motor patterns, how these patterns are coordinated across the legs, and how descending signals from the brain modulate these systems to control direction, speed and gait.
The lab has built an advanced platform to measure and manipulate neuronal activity in the intact nerve cord, enabling systematic investigation of the organisation and function of locomotor circuits. By combining genetically encoded activity reporters and modulators with fast volumetric imaging, the team can monitor large neural populations while selectively controlling specific cell types.
Research focus
The lab's current work focuses on:
Expanding genetic toolsets to target activity reporters and modulators to defined neuron types
Descending control of backward walking, examining how brain signals reshape activity patterns in the nerve cord
Identification of pathways initiating forward walking, including complementary descending circuits
Impact
This research reveals fundamental principles of motor control and neural circuit coordination, providing insights into how the brain and spinal‑like circuits generate movement across species.
Latest news
- QBI neurobiologist and pioneer in his field, Professor Barry Dickson, studies the fruit fly, a powerful gateway into the intricate world of neural computation and decision-making.
- Professor Barry Dickson has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society in recognition of his contribution to science over 30 years, joining the ranks of the world’s most eminent scientists.
- University of Queensland students have swapped a summer holiday at the beach for time in the lab as the annual UQ SEC Summer Research Program began at the Queensland Brain Institute.