Dr James Kesby
Dr

James Kesby

Email: 

Background

Cognitive and decision-making problems associated with psychotic disorders like schizophrenia are considered the largest burden for these individuals. They also predict poor functional outcomes, such as maintaining work, social networks, and independent living. I am particularly interested in the relationship between decision-making problems and psychotic symptoms in these disorders; will improving decision-making also reduce psychotic symptoms? To that end, I focus on decision-making tasks that are reliant on brain areas and networks that are implicated in psychosis.

My work aims to understand how corticostriatal circuitry drives decision-making processes, and how this is altered in those with schizophrenia and psychosis. I have taken advantage of my collaborations with basic scientists and clinical researchers with a broad range of expertise to establish a cross-species program of research focussed on decision-making. My research is guided by two fundamental questions:

  1. Do decision-making problems in schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders contribute to psychotic symptoms?
  2. How can we leverage the mechanistic tools available in rodent neuroscience to identify causative common substrates underlying decision-making problems (and by proxy psychotic symptoms)?

Availability

Dr James Kesby is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Biological Sciences Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Cell neurochemistry Clinical sciences Neurosciences

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Science, The University of Queensland
  • Bachelor (Honours), The University of Queensland
  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

Research interests

  • Psychosis and decision-making in schizophrenia: role of the associative striatum

    What are the underlying neurobiological processes that preceed psychosis in schizophrenia? I am interested in dopaminergic/glutamatergic dysfunction in the associative striatum and how it affects decision-making, so that we can improve diagnosis/treatment in schizophrenia.

  • The role of early dopamine development in schizophrenia

    In collaboration with Professor Darryl Eyles, we are trying to ascertain how early dopamine dysfunction can increase the risk of, or lead to, psychosis and schizophrenia.

  • Methamphetamine dependence: how different use patterns affect neurochemistry and cognition

    The use patterns of methamphetamine-dependent subjects (i.e., chronic use versus binge use) is rarely considered in clinical studies. My work aims to determine how these patterns of use differentially affect cognitive and neurochemical outcomes.

Search Professor James Kesby’s works on UQ eSpace

66 works between 2005 and 2024
All (66) Journal Article (48) Conference Publication (17) Other Outputs (1)

1 - 20 of 66 works

Featured

2023

Journal Article

Activity in the dorsomedial striatum underlies serial reversal learning performance under probabilistic uncertainty

Young, Madison K., Conn, Kyna-Anne, Das, Joyosmita, Zou, Simin, Alexander, Suzy, Burne, Thomas H.J. and Kesby, James P. (2023). Activity in the dorsomedial striatum underlies serial reversal learning performance under probabilistic uncertainty. Biological Psychiatry Global Open Science, 3 (4), 1030-1041. doi: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2022.08.005

Activity in the dorsomedial striatum underlies serial reversal learning performance under probabilistic uncertainty

Featured

2022

Journal Article

Impairments in goal-directed action and reversal learning in a proportion of individuals with psychosis

Suetani, Shuichi, Baker, Andrea, Garner, Kelly, Cosgrove, Peter, Mackay-Sim, Matilda, Siskind, Dan, Murray, Graham K, Scott, James G and Kesby, James P. (2022). Impairments in goal-directed action and reversal learning in a proportion of individuals with psychosis. Cognitive, Affective, and Behavioral Neuroscience, 22 (6), 1390-1403. doi: 10.3758/s13415-022-01026-8

Impairments in goal-directed action and reversal learning in a proportion of individuals with psychosis

Featured

2021

Journal Article

Neural circuitry of salience and reward processing in psychosis

Kesby, James P., Murray, Graham K. and Knolle, Franziska (2021). Neural circuitry of salience and reward processing in psychosis. Biological Psychiatry: Global Open Science, 3 (1), 33-46. doi: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2021.12.003

Neural circuitry of salience and reward processing in psychosis

Featured

2020

Journal Article

Subcortical dopamine and cognition in schizophrenia: looking beyond psychosis in preclinical models

Conn, Kyna-Anne, Burne, Thomas H. J. and Kesby, James P. (2020). Subcortical dopamine and cognition in schizophrenia: looking beyond psychosis in preclinical models. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 14 542, 542. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00542

Subcortical dopamine and cognition in schizophrenia: looking beyond psychosis in preclinical models

Featured

2018

Journal Article

Dopamine, psychosis and schizophrenia: the widening gap between basic and clinical neuroscience

Kesby, J. P., Eyles, D. W., McGrath, J. J. and Scott, J. G. (2018). Dopamine, psychosis and schizophrenia: the widening gap between basic and clinical neuroscience. Translational Psychiatry, 8 (1) 30, 1-12. doi: 10.1038/s41398-017-0071-9

Dopamine, psychosis and schizophrenia: the widening gap between basic and clinical neuroscience

Featured

2015

Journal Article

Methamphetamine exposure combined with HIV-1 disease or gp120 expression: comparison of learning and executive functions in humans and mice

Kesby, James P., Heaton, Robert K., Young, Jared W., Umlauf, Anya, Woods, Steven P., Letendre, Scott L., Markou, Athina, Grant, Igor and Semenova, Svetlana (2015). Methamphetamine exposure combined with HIV-1 disease or gp120 expression: comparison of learning and executive functions in humans and mice. Neuropsychopharmacology, 40 (8), 1899-1909. doi: 10.1038/npp.2015.39

Methamphetamine exposure combined with HIV-1 disease or gp120 expression: comparison of learning and executive functions in humans and mice

2024

Journal Article

The dynamic strategy shifting task: Optimisation of an operant task for assessing cognitive flexibility in rats

Flintoff, Jonathan Martin, Alexander, Suzy, Kesby, James Paul and Burne, Thomas Henry (2024). The dynamic strategy shifting task: Optimisation of an operant task for assessing cognitive flexibility in rats. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 15 1303728. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1303728

The dynamic strategy shifting task: Optimisation of an operant task for assessing cognitive flexibility in rats

2024

Journal Article

The Translational Utility of Circuit-Based Manipulations in Preclinical Models

Kesby, James P. and Turner, Karly M. (2024). The Translational Utility of Circuit-Based Manipulations in Preclinical Models. Biological Psychiatry Global Open Science, 4 (1), 103-104. doi: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2023.11.004

The Translational Utility of Circuit-Based Manipulations in Preclinical Models

2023

Journal Article

Increasing dopamine synthesis in nigrostriatal circuits increases phasic dopamine release and alters dorsal striatal connectivity: implications for schizophrenia

Srivastav, Sunil, Cui, Xiaoying, Varela, Roger Bitencourt, Kesby, James P. and Eyles, Darryl (2023). Increasing dopamine synthesis in nigrostriatal circuits increases phasic dopamine release and alters dorsal striatal connectivity: implications for schizophrenia. Schizophrenia, 9 (1) 69, 69. doi: 10.1038/s41537-023-00397-2

Increasing dopamine synthesis in nigrostriatal circuits increases phasic dopamine release and alters dorsal striatal connectivity: implications for schizophrenia

2023

Journal Article

Antagonism of D2 receptors via raclopride ameliorates amphetamine-induced associative learning deficits in male mice

Conn, Kyna-Anne, Alexander, Suzy, Burne, Thomas H.J. and Kesby, James P. (2023). Antagonism of D2 receptors via raclopride ameliorates amphetamine-induced associative learning deficits in male mice. Behavioural Brain Research, 454 114649, 114649. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114649

Antagonism of D2 receptors via raclopride ameliorates amphetamine-induced associative learning deficits in male mice

2023

Journal Article

Reversal learning in those with early psychosis features contingency-dependent changes in loss response and learning

Baker, Andrea, Suetani, Shuichi, Cosgrove, Peter, Siskind, Dan, Murray, Graham K., Scott, James G. and Kesby, James P. (2023). Reversal learning in those with early psychosis features contingency-dependent changes in loss response and learning. Cognitive Neuropsychiatry, 28 (5), 342-360. doi: 10.1080/13546805.2023.2259019

Reversal learning in those with early psychosis features contingency-dependent changes in loss response and learning

2023

Journal Article

Verbal and visual learning ability in patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia: a 1-year follow-up study

Arnautovska, Urska, Vitangcol, Kathryn, Kesby, James P., Warren, Nicola, Rossell, Susan L., Neill, Erica, Harris, Anthony, Galletly, Cherrie, Castle, David and Siskind, Dan (2023). Verbal and visual learning ability in patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia: a 1-year follow-up study. Schizophrenia Research: Cognition, 33 100283, 100283. doi: 10.1016/j.scog.2023.100283

Verbal and visual learning ability in patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia: a 1-year follow-up study

2023

Journal Article

Activating the dorsomedial and ventral midbrain projections to the striatum differentially impairs goal-directed action in male mice

Conn, Kyna-Anne, Zou, Simin, Das, Joyosmita, Alexander, Suzy, Burne, Thomas HJ. and Kesby, James P. (2023). Activating the dorsomedial and ventral midbrain projections to the striatum differentially impairs goal-directed action in male mice. Neuropharmacology, 234 109550, 109550. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109550

Activating the dorsomedial and ventral midbrain projections to the striatum differentially impairs goal-directed action in male mice

2022

Journal Article

Biopsychology of physical activity in people with schizophrenia: an integrative perspective on barriers and intervention strategies

Arnautovska, Urska, Kesby, James P, Korman, Nicole, Rebar, Amanda L., Chapman, Justin, Warren, Nicola, Rossell, Susan L., Dark, Frances L. and Siskind, Dan (2022). Biopsychology of physical activity in people with schizophrenia: an integrative perspective on barriers and intervention strategies. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, Volume 18, 2917-2926. doi: 10.2147/ndt.s393775

Biopsychology of physical activity in people with schizophrenia: an integrative perspective on barriers and intervention strategies

2021

Journal Article

Treating cognitive impairment in schizophrenia with GLP-1RAs: an overview of their therapeutic potential

Flintoff, Jonathan, Kesby, James P., Siskind, Dan and Burne, Thomas H. J. (2021). Treating cognitive impairment in schizophrenia with GLP-1RAs: an overview of their therapeutic potential. Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs, 30 (8), 877-891. doi: 10.1080/13543784.2021.1951702

Treating cognitive impairment in schizophrenia with GLP-1RAs: an overview of their therapeutic potential

2021

Journal Article

Developmental inhibition of long intergenic non-coding RNA, HOTAIRM1, impairs dopamine neuron differentiation and maturation

Cui, Xiaoying, Pertile, Renata Ap. Nedel, Du, Zilong, Wei, Wei, Sun, Zichun, Eyles, Darryl W. and Kesby, James P. (2021). Developmental inhibition of long intergenic non-coding RNA, HOTAIRM1, impairs dopamine neuron differentiation and maturation. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22 (14) 7268, 7268. doi: 10.3390/ijms22147268

Developmental inhibition of long intergenic non-coding RNA, HOTAIRM1, impairs dopamine neuron differentiation and maturation

2021

Journal Article

Positive symptom phenotypes appear progressively in “EDiPS”, a new animal model of the schizophrenia prodrome

Petty, Alice, Cui, Xiaoying, Ali, Asad, Du, Zilong, Srivastav, Sunil, Kesby, James P., Kirik, Deniz, Howes, Oliver and Eyles, Darryl (2021). Positive symptom phenotypes appear progressively in “EDiPS”, a new animal model of the schizophrenia prodrome. Scientific Reports, 11 (1) 4294, 4294. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-83681-4

Positive symptom phenotypes appear progressively in “EDiPS”, a new animal model of the schizophrenia prodrome

2020

Journal Article

Sex differences and Tat expression affect dopaminergic receptor expression and response to antioxidant treatment in methamphetamine-sensitized HIV Tat transgenic mice

Baek, Eun Ji, Kim, Hahoon, Basova, Liana A., Rosander, Ashley, Kesby, James P., Semenova, Svetlana and Marcondes, Maria Cecilia Garibaldi (2020). Sex differences and Tat expression affect dopaminergic receptor expression and response to antioxidant treatment in methamphetamine-sensitized HIV Tat transgenic mice. Neuropharmacology, 178 108245, 108245. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108245

Sex differences and Tat expression affect dopaminergic receptor expression and response to antioxidant treatment in methamphetamine-sensitized HIV Tat transgenic mice

2020

Journal Article

Systems biology analysis of the antagonizing effects of HIV-1 Tat expression in the brain over transcriptional changes caused by methamphetamine sensitization

Basova, Liana V., Kesby, James P., Kaul, Marcus, Semenova, Svetlana and Marcondes, Maria Cecilia Garibaldi (2020). Systems biology analysis of the antagonizing effects of HIV-1 Tat expression in the brain over transcriptional changes caused by methamphetamine sensitization. Viruses, 12 (4) 426, 426. doi: 10.3390/v12040426

Systems biology analysis of the antagonizing effects of HIV-1 Tat expression in the brain over transcriptional changes caused by methamphetamine sensitization

2019

Journal Article

Is there a role for antibodies targeting muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia?

Ryan, Alexander E., Mowry, Bryan J., Kesby, James P., Scott, James G. and Greer, Judith M. (2019). Is there a role for antibodies targeting muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia?. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 53 (11) ARTN 0004867419864438, 1-11. doi: 10.1177/0004867419864438

Is there a role for antibodies targeting muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia?

Past funding

  • 2020 - 2023
    2019 Maltz Prize for Innovative and Promising Schizophrenia Research: Decision-making and neuropsychiatry - what can we learn from the decisions we make?
    Brain and Behavior Research Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2022
    Dopamine neuron ontogeny: convergent neurobiological pathway for risk factors of schizophrenia
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2017
    Psychosis and goal-directed action in schizophrenia: the role of dopamine in the associative striatum
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant
  • 2017
    Understanding early dopamine function in schizophrenia
    RL Cooper Medical Research Foundation Limited
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2019
    Advance Queensland Research Fellowship (Mid): Establishing therapeutic links between early dopamine function and schizophrenia
    Advance Queensland Research Fellowships
    Open grant

Availability

Dr James Kesby is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Master Philosophy

    Exploring links between Human Eating Disorder pathology and the visual perception of foods.

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Alan Pegna

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Dr James Kesby directly for media enquiries about:

  • addiction
  • animal models
  • brain
  • mental illness
  • neuroscience
  • psychosis
  • schizophrenia

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