Overview
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:
- Do decision-making problems in schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders contribute to psychotic symptoms?
- 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
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science, The University of Queensland
- Bachelor (Honours), The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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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.
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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.
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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.
Works
Search Professor James Kesby’s works on UQ eSpace
2006
Conference Publication
The DVD animal model of schizophrenia: Effects of low maternal vitamin D on brain dopamine
Eyles, D. W., Ko, P., Kesby, J. P., Burne, H. J. and McGrath, J. (2006). The DVD animal model of schizophrenia: Effects of low maternal vitamin D on brain dopamine. XIIIth Biennial Winter Workshop on Schizophrenia Research, Davos, Switzerland, 4-10 February 2006. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2006.01.006
2006
Journal Article
Developmental vitamin D deficiency alters MK 801-induced hyperlocomotion in the adult rat: An animal model of schizophrenia
Kesby, James P., Burne, Thomas H.J., McGrath, John J. and Eyles, Darryl W. (2006). Developmental vitamin D deficiency alters MK 801-induced hyperlocomotion in the adult rat: An animal model of schizophrenia. Biological Psychiatry, 60 (6), 591-596. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2006.02.033
2005
Conference Publication
Maternal dietary manipulation alters brain structure and function in offspring: the effect of low maternal vitamin D
Burne, T., Kesby, J. P., Feron, F., Eyles, D. W., Mackay-Sim, A. and McGrath, J. (2005). Maternal dietary manipulation alters brain structure and function in offspring: the effect of low maternal vitamin D. 25th Annual Meeting of the Australian Neuroscience Society, Perth, Western Australia, 3 January - 2 February. Australia: Australian Neuroscience Society Inc..
2005
Conference Publication
The effects of low maternal vitamin D on brain dopamine
Ko, P., Kesby, J. P., Burne, T, McGrath, J. J. and Eyles, D. W. (2005). The effects of low maternal vitamin D on brain dopamine. 25th Annual Meeting of the Australian Neuroscience Society, Perth, Western Australia, January 30 - 2 February 2005. Australia: Australian Neuroscience Society Inc..
2005
Conference Publication
Behavioural outcomes of transient prenatal vitmain D deficiency in rats
Burne, T. H. J., Eyles, D. W., Kesby, J. P., Mackay-Sim, A. and McGrath, J. J. (2005). Behavioural outcomes of transient prenatal vitmain D deficiency in rats. 25th Annual Meeting of the Australian Neuroscience Society, Perth, Western Australia, 30 January - 2 February 2005. Australia: Australian Neuroscience Society Inc.
2005
Conference Publication
Prenatal vitamin D3 deficiency produces selective locomotion abnormalities in adult offspring
Kesby, J. P., Burne, T, Ko,, McGrath, J and Eyles, D. W. (2005). Prenatal vitamin D3 deficiency produces selective locomotion abnormalities in adult offspring. Australian Neuroscience Society, Perth, Western Australia, 30 January - 2 February. Australia: Australian neuroscience society incorporated.
Funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr James Kesby is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Master Philosophy
Investigating corticostriatal networks and cognitive flexibility to understand schizophrenia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Darryl Eyles
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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
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Stress and dopamine in the dorsal striatum: exploration of potentially causative mechanisms in schizophrenia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Darryl Eyles
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Measuring and improving cognition in a rodent model relevant to schizophrenia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Dan Siskind, Professor Thomas Burne
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Dissecting mechanisms underlying decision-making dysfunction in schizophrenia using preclinical animal models
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Thomas Burne
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr James Kesby directly for media enquiries about:
- addiction
- animal models
- brain
- mental illness
- neuroscience
- psychosis
- schizophrenia
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