Dr James Kesby
Dr

James Kesby

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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)

21 - 40 of 66 works

2019

Journal Article

Brain reward function after chronic and binge methamphetamine regimens in mice expressing the HIV-1 TAT protein

Kesby, James P., Chang, Ariel, Najera, Julia A., Marcondes, Maria Cecilia G. and Semenova, Svetlana (2019). Brain reward function after chronic and binge methamphetamine regimens in mice expressing the HIV-1 TAT protein. Current HIV Research, 17 (2), 126-133. doi: 10.2174/1570162x17666190703165408

Brain reward function after chronic and binge methamphetamine regimens in mice expressing the HIV-1 TAT protein

2018

Journal Article

Effects of HIV-1 TAT protein and methamphetamine exposure on visual discrimination and executive function in mice

Kesby, James P., Fields, Jerel A., Chang, Ariel, Coban, Hamza, Achim, Cristian L., Semenova, Svetlana and TMARC Group (2018). Effects of HIV-1 TAT protein and methamphetamine exposure on visual discrimination and executive function in mice. Behavioural Brain Research, 349, 73-79. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2018.04.046

Effects of HIV-1 TAT protein and methamphetamine exposure on visual discrimination and executive function in mice

2018

Conference Publication

A systematic review and critical appraisal of the association between prescribed stimulants for ADHD and the risk of psychosis

Scott, J. G., Kesby, J. P., Thio, S. and Erskine, H. E. (2018). A systematic review and critical appraisal of the association between prescribed stimulants for ADHD and the risk of psychosis. RANZCP 2018 Congress, Auckland, New Zealand, 13-17 May 2018. London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications.

A systematic review and critical appraisal of the association between prescribed stimulants for ADHD and the risk of psychosis

2017

Journal Article

Effects of adolescent alcohol exposure on stress-induced reward deficits, brain CRF, monoamines and glutamate in adult rats

Boutros, Nathalie, Der-Avakian, Andre, Kesby, James P., Lee, Soon, Markou, Athina and Semenova, Svetlana (2017). Effects of adolescent alcohol exposure on stress-induced reward deficits, brain CRF, monoamines and glutamate in adult rats. Psychopharmacology, 235 (3), 1-11. doi: 10.1007/s00213-017-4789-0

Effects of adolescent alcohol exposure on stress-induced reward deficits, brain CRF, monoamines and glutamate in adult rats

2017

Journal Article

HIV-1 TAT protein enhances sensitization to methamphetamine by affecting dopaminergic function

Kesby, James P., Najera, Julia A., Romoli, Benedetto, Fang, Yiding, Basova, Liana, Birmingham, Amanda, Marcondes, Maria Cecilia G., Dulcis, Davide and Semenova, Svetlana (2017). HIV-1 TAT protein enhances sensitization to methamphetamine by affecting dopaminergic function. Brain Behavior and Immunity, 65, 210-221. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2017.05.004

HIV-1 TAT protein enhances sensitization to methamphetamine by affecting dopaminergic function

2017

Journal Article

Developmental vitamin D deficiency alters multiple neurotransmitter systems in the neonatal rat brain

Kesby, James P., Turner, Karly M., Alexander, Suzanne, Eyles, Darryl W., McGrath, John J. and Burne, Thomas H.J. (2017). Developmental vitamin D deficiency alters multiple neurotransmitter systems in the neonatal rat brain. International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience, 62 (C), 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2017.07.002

Developmental vitamin D deficiency alters multiple neurotransmitter systems in the neonatal rat brain

2017

Journal Article

Modeling human methamphetamine use patterns in mice: chronic and binge methamphetamine exposure, reward function and neurochemistry

Kesby, James P., Chang, Ariel, Markou, Athina and Semenova, Svetlana (2017). Modeling human methamphetamine use patterns in mice: chronic and binge methamphetamine exposure, reward function and neurochemistry. Addiction Biology, 23 (1), 206-218. doi: 10.1111/adb.12502

Modeling human methamphetamine use patterns in mice: chronic and binge methamphetamine exposure, reward function and neurochemistry

2017

Journal Article

The effects of reduced dopamine transporter function and chronic lithium on motivation, probabilistic learning, and neurochemistry in mice: modeling bipolar mania

Milienne-Petiot, Morgane, Kesby, James P., Graves, Mary, van Enkhuizen, Jordy, Semenova, Svetlana, Minassian, Arpi, Markou, Athina, Geyer, Mark A. and Young, Jared W. (2017). The effects of reduced dopamine transporter function and chronic lithium on motivation, probabilistic learning, and neurochemistry in mice: modeling bipolar mania. Neuropharmacology, 113 (A), 260-270. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2016.07.030

The effects of reduced dopamine transporter function and chronic lithium on motivation, probabilistic learning, and neurochemistry in mice: modeling bipolar mania

2016

Journal Article

Age and high-fat diet effects on glutamine synthetase immunoreactivity in liver and hippocampus and recognition memory in mice

Soontornniyomki, Virawudh, Kesby, James P. , Soontornniyomkij, Benchawanna, Kim, Jane J. , Kisseleva, Tatiana, Achim, Cristian L. , Semenova, Svetlana and Jeste, Dilip V. (2016). Age and high-fat diet effects on glutamine synthetase immunoreactivity in liver and hippocampus and recognition memory in mice. Current Aging Science, 9 (4), 301-309. doi: 10.2174/1874609809666160413113311

Age and high-fat diet effects on glutamine synthetase immunoreactivity in liver and hippocampus and recognition memory in mice

2016

Journal Article

The effects of HIV-1 regulatory TAT protein expression on brain reward function, response to psychostimulants and delay-dependent memory in mice

Kesby, James P., Markou, Athina and Semenova, Svetlana (2016). The effects of HIV-1 regulatory TAT protein expression on brain reward function, response to psychostimulants and delay-dependent memory in mice. Neuropharmacology, 109, 205-215. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2016.06.011

The effects of HIV-1 regulatory TAT protein expression on brain reward function, response to psychostimulants and delay-dependent memory in mice

2016

Conference Publication

HIV-1 TAT protein expression enhances methamphetamine behavioral sensitization and alters dopaminergic function in mice

Kesby, James P., Najera, Julia A., Romoli, Benedetto, Fang, Yiding, Basova, Liana, Birmingham, Amanda, Marcondes, Maria Cecilia G., Dulcis, Davide and Semenova, Svetlana (2016). HIV-1 TAT protein expression enhances methamphetamine behavioral sensitization and alters dopaminergic function in mice. 14th International Symposium on NeuroVirology, Toronto Canada, Oct 25-28, 2016. NEW YORK: SPRINGER.

HIV-1 TAT protein expression enhances methamphetamine behavioral sensitization and alters dopaminergic function in mice

2016

Journal Article

Effects of HIV/TAT protein expression and chronic selegiline treatment on spatial memory, reversal learning and neurotransmitter levels in mice

Kesby, James P., Markou, Athina and Semenova, Svetlana (2016). Effects of HIV/TAT protein expression and chronic selegiline treatment on spatial memory, reversal learning and neurotransmitter levels in mice. Behavioural Brain Research, 311, 131-140. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2016.05.034

Effects of HIV/TAT protein expression and chronic selegiline treatment on spatial memory, reversal learning and neurotransmitter levels in mice

2016

Journal Article

Effects of HIV and methamphetamine on brain and behavior: evidence from human studies and animal models

Soontornniyomkij, Virawudh, Kesby, James P., Morgan, Erin E., Bischoff-Grethe, Amanda, Minassian, Arpi, Brown, Gregory G. and Grant, Igor (2016). Effects of HIV and methamphetamine on brain and behavior: evidence from human studies and animal models. Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology, 11 (3), 495-510. doi: 10.1007/s11481-016-9699-0

Effects of HIV and methamphetamine on brain and behavior: evidence from human studies and animal models

2016

Journal Article

Microstructural changes to the brain of mice after methamphetamine exposure as identified with diffusion tensor imaging

McKenna, Benjamin S., Brown, Gregory G., Archibald, Sarah, Scadeng, Miriam, Bussell, Robert, Kesby, James P., Markou, Athina, Soontornniyomkij, Virawudh, Achim, Cristian and Semenova, Svetlana (2016). Microstructural changes to the brain of mice after methamphetamine exposure as identified with diffusion tensor imaging. Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, 249, 27-37. doi: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2016.02.009

Microstructural changes to the brain of mice after methamphetamine exposure as identified with diffusion tensor imaging

2015

Journal Article

Spatial cognition in adult and aged mice exposed to high-fat diet

Kesby, James P., Kim, Jane J., Scadeng, Miriam, Woods, Gina, Kado, Deborah M., Olefsky, Jerrold M., Jeste, Dilip V., Achim, Cristian L. and Semenova, Svetlana (2015). Spatial cognition in adult and aged mice exposed to high-fat diet. PLoS ONE, 10 (10) e0140034, 0140034.1-0140034.15. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0140034

Spatial cognition in adult and aged mice exposed to high-fat diet

2015

Journal Article

Cognitive deficits associated with combined HIV gp120 expression and chronic methamphetamine exposure in mice

Kesby, James P., Markou, Athina, Semenova, Svetlana and The Translational Methamphetamine AIDS Research Center (TMARC) Group (2015). Cognitive deficits associated with combined HIV gp120 expression and chronic methamphetamine exposure in mice. European Neuropsychopharmacology, 25 (1), 141-150. doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2014.07.014

Cognitive deficits associated with combined HIV gp120 expression and chronic methamphetamine exposure in mice

2014

Journal Article

Enduring deficits in brain reward function after chronic social defeat in rats: susceptibility, resilience, and antidepressant response

Der-Avakian, Andre, Mazei-Robison, Michelle S., Kesby, James P., Nestler, Eric J. and Markou, Athina (2014). Enduring deficits in brain reward function after chronic social defeat in rats: susceptibility, resilience, and antidepressant response. Biological Psychiatry, 76 (7), 542-549. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2014.01.013

Enduring deficits in brain reward function after chronic social defeat in rats: susceptibility, resilience, and antidepressant response

2014

Journal Article

Expression of HIV gp120 protein increases sensitivity to the rewarding properties of methamphetamine in mice

Kesby, James P., Hubbard, David T., Markou, Athina and Semenova, Svetlana (2014). Expression of HIV gp120 protein increases sensitivity to the rewarding properties of methamphetamine in mice. Addiction Biology, 19 (4), 593-605. doi: 10.1111/adb.12023

Expression of HIV gp120 protein increases sensitivity to the rewarding properties of methamphetamine in mice

2013

Journal Article

Altered dopamine ontogeny in the developmentally vitamin D deficient rat and its relevance to schizophrenia

Kesby, James P., Cui, Xiaoying, Burne, Thomas H. J. and Eyles, Darryl W. (2013). Altered dopamine ontogeny in the developmentally vitamin D deficient rat and its relevance to schizophrenia. Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, 7 (111) 111, 1-13. doi: 10.3389/fncel.2013.00111

Altered dopamine ontogeny in the developmentally vitamin D deficient rat and its relevance to schizophrenia

2013

Journal Article

Adult vitamin D deficiency leads to behavioural and brain neurochemical alterations in C57BL/6J and BALB/c mice

Groves, Natalie J., Kesby, James P., Eyles, Darryl W., McGrath, John J., Mackay-Sim, Alan and Burne, Thomas H. J. (2013). Adult vitamin D deficiency leads to behavioural and brain neurochemical alterations in C57BL/6J and BALB/c mice. Behavioural Brain Research, 241 (1), 120-131. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2012.12.001

Adult vitamin D deficiency leads to behavioural and brain neurochemical alterations in C57BL/6J and BALB/c mice

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

    Investigating corticostriatal networks and cognitive flexibility to understand schizophrenia

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Darryl Eyles

  • Master Philosophy

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

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Gemma Sharp, 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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