Professor Brian Key
Professor

Brian Key

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 52955

Background

How to build a brain—2.0

For 25 years I was sole chief investigator on 17 NHMRC-ARC project grants that provided funding to decipher the molecular & cellular bases of brain development and regeneration in fish, frogs and mice. This work culminated in the discovery of how to genetically construct an evolutionary novel axon tract in the embryonic brain. This is what I now call an easy problem.

Now my lab has turned its attention to the hardest problem in the natural sciences—how does the brain experience subjective feelings?

Together with my collaborator Professor Deborah Brown (Professor of Philosophy at UQ) we have approached this problem through the sensation of pain and model organisms. We advance the framework of the brain as an inference machine that generates models of its own internal processes (Key and Brown, 2018). When hierarchically arranged, the outputs of these models represent progressive levels of awareness that are antecedent to feelings (i.e. the brain’s experience of its own neural activity). We have proposed a parallel forwards model algorithm and to date have found that fish and molluscs lack the required neural architecture to execute this algorithm and therefore do not feel pain.

Key, B. and Brown, D. (2018) Designing brains for pain: Human to mollusc. Frontiers in physiology 9:1027.

Availability

Professor Brian Key is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Biological Sciences Neurosciences

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Education, The University of Queensland
  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

Research interests

  • brain development

  • fish pain

Search Professor Brian Key’s works on UQ eSpace

148 works between 1984 and 2024
All (148) Journal Article (131) Book Chapter (5) Conference Publication (9) Other Outputs (3)

141 - 148 of 148 works

1990

Journal Article

OLFACTORY NEURONS EXPRESS A UNIQUE GLYCOSYLATED FORM OF THE NEURAL CELL-ADHESION MOLECULE (N-CAM)

KEY, B and AKESON, RA (1990). OLFACTORY NEURONS EXPRESS A UNIQUE GLYCOSYLATED FORM OF THE NEURAL CELL-ADHESION MOLECULE (N-CAM). Journal of Cell Biology, 110 (5), 1729-1743. doi: 10.1083/jcb.110.5.1729

OLFACTORY NEURONS EXPRESS A UNIQUE GLYCOSYLATED FORM OF THE NEURAL CELL-ADHESION MOLECULE (N-CAM)

1989

Journal Article

TARGETED ABLATION OF ALPHA-CRYSTALLIN-SYNTHESIZING CELLS PRODUCES LENS-DEFICIENT EYES IN TRANSGENIC MICE

KAUR, S, KEY, B, STOCK, J, MCNEISH, JD, AKESON, R and POTTER, SS (1989). TARGETED ABLATION OF ALPHA-CRYSTALLIN-SYNTHESIZING CELLS PRODUCES LENS-DEFICIENT EYES IN TRANSGENIC MICE. Development, 105 (3), 613-619.

TARGETED ABLATION OF ALPHA-CRYSTALLIN-SYNTHESIZING CELLS PRODUCES LENS-DEFICIENT EYES IN TRANSGENIC MICE

1989

Journal Article

The plant lectin soybean agglutinin binds to the soma, axon and central terminals of a subpopulation of small-diameter primary sensory neurons in the rat and cat

Plenderleith M.B., Cameron A.A., Key B. and Snow P.J. (1989). The plant lectin soybean agglutinin binds to the soma, axon and central terminals of a subpopulation of small-diameter primary sensory neurons in the rat and cat. Neuroscience, 31 (3), 683-695. doi: 10.1016/0306-4522(89)90433-8

The plant lectin soybean agglutinin binds to the soma, axon and central terminals of a subpopulation of small-diameter primary sensory neurons in the rat and cat

1988

Journal Article

Soybean agglutinin binds to a subpopulation of primary sensory neurones in the cat

Plenderleith, Mark B., Camero, Adrian A., Key, Brian and Snow, Peter J. (1988). Soybean agglutinin binds to a subpopulation of primary sensory neurones in the cat. Neuroscience Letters, 86 (3), 257-262. doi: 10.1016/0304-3940(88)90492-2

Soybean agglutinin binds to a subpopulation of primary sensory neurones in the cat

1987

Journal Article

Uptake and axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase isoenzymes by different neuronal types

Key B. and Giorgi P.P. (1987). Uptake and axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase isoenzymes by different neuronal types. Neuroscience, 22 (3), 1135-1144. doi: 10.1016/0306-4522(87)92988-5

Uptake and axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase isoenzymes by different neuronal types

1986

Journal Article

SOYBEAN AGGLUTININ BINDING TO THE OLFACTORY SYSTEMS OF THE RAT AND MOUSE

KEY, B and GIORGI, PP (1986). SOYBEAN AGGLUTININ BINDING TO THE OLFACTORY SYSTEMS OF THE RAT AND MOUSE. Neuroscience Letters, 69 (2), 131-136. doi: 10.1016/0304-3940(86)90591-4

SOYBEAN AGGLUTININ BINDING TO THE OLFACTORY SYSTEMS OF THE RAT AND MOUSE

1986

Journal Article

Selective binding of soybean agglutinin to the olfactory system of Xenopus

Key B. and Giorgi P.P. (1986). Selective binding of soybean agglutinin to the olfactory system of Xenopus. Neuroscience, 18 (2), 507-515. doi: 10.1016/0306-4522(86)90171-5

Selective binding of soybean agglutinin to the olfactory system of Xenopus

1984

Journal Article

Endurance exercise does not modify nerve fibre morphology in the rat soleus nerve

Key B., Parker A.W. and Giorgi P.P. (1984). Endurance exercise does not modify nerve fibre morphology in the rat soleus nerve. Brain Research, 297 (1), 137-144. doi: 10.1016/0006-8993(84)90550-X

Endurance exercise does not modify nerve fibre morphology in the rat soleus nerve

Current funding

  • 2020 - 2024
    Towards Closure on the Animal Pain Debate
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2015
    A state-of-the-art spinning disc confocal microscope for high speed imaging of live cells and super resolution microscopy
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2015
    Assessing the biological significance of candidate autism genes
    CRC for Living with Autism Spectrum Disorders (Autism CRC Limited)
    Open grant
  • 2013
    Establishment of an Integrated Facility for Single Cell Analysis
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    The role of potassium channels in photoreceptor function
    University of Western Australia
    Open grant
  • 2012
    Zebrafish Aquarium-Genetic Screening, Nursery and Importation Facility
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2012
    Establishing a UWA-UQ network for collaboration in Autism Research
    UWA-UQ Bilateral Research Collaboration Award
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2013
    Neurodevelopmental role of susceptibility genes for Autism spectrum disorders: from genes to behaviour
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2010
    Establishment of a digital Scanscope system for virtual microscopy
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2012
    Molecular and cellular mechanisms of vertebrate brain development
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2010
    Zebrafish Aquarium - expand capacity of existing Zebrafish facility
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2011
    Zebrafish behavioural suite
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2011
    Assessing gene function in the developing brain using zebrafish as a model system
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2010
    Olfactory ensheathing cells: a major contributor to axon guidance?
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2008
    Understanding cell physiology by confocal laser scanning microscopy
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2012
    Australian Zebrafish Phenomics Facility
    NHMRC Enabling Grant
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2009
    Molecular and cellular mechanisms of axon guidance in the vertebrate nervous system
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2006 - 2008
    Assessing Gene Function In The Developing Brain Using Zebrafish As A Model System
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2006 - 2008
    Deciphering the mechanisms for constructing the olfactory system
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2006
    NHMRC_Infrastructure Item_Manufactured zebrafish aquarium system designed to manage multiple transgenic lines, multiple users and multiple lays per day
    Open grant
  • 2005 - 2007
    Understanding the role of the olfactory ensheathing cell in the olfactory sensory system
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2004 - 2006
    Molecular And Cellular Mechanisms Of Axon Guidance In The Vertebrate Nervous System
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2005
    A Molecular Approach To Constructing The Olfactory System
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2005
    Assessing gene function in the developing vertebrate brain using zebrafish as a model system
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2002 - 2004
    Defining the role of Eph5 in olfactory axon growth, guidance and fasciculation
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2001 - 2002
    NHMRC Equipment Grant 2000
    NHMRC Equipment Grant
    Open grant
  • 2001 - 2003
    Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Axon Growth and Guidance in the Vertebrate Nervous System
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2000
    High-resolution, high quality digital time-lapse microscopy system
    NHMRC Equipment Grant
    Open grant
  • 2000
    Molecular Mechanisms Required for Precise Olfactory Axon Targeting.
    UQ Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2000
    Real-time imaging of growing axons in Xenopus forebrain.
    ARC Australian Research Council (Small grants)
    Open grant
  • 1999
    Development of the olfactory nerve pathway
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Brian Key is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Available projects

  • Towards closure of the fish pain debate

    We are seeking an Arts-Biomedical Science graduate to partake in this ambitious project.

    Arguments to the effect that certain animals do or do not have feelings, such as pain, are presumptive arguments. Like legal arguments, presumptive arguments are defeasible arguments, the conclusions of which are thought to be rationally acceptable on the balance of considerations (Walton 1996, 2011). Also like legal arguments, they invite paradoxical worries about how an argument can be both defeasible yet rationally binding (Walton et al, 2008). In legal contexts, we do not have the luxury of leaving questions of guilt or innocence hanging. A decision must be made. So too in matters pertaining to animal welfare, it is necessary to evaluate whether we have sufficient reason to decide whether a particular species of animal does or does not feel pain if we are to ensure that our treatment of that species is ethically appropriate.

    Each of the arguments in the animal consciousness debate can and has been evaluated on its own terms, but an interesting pattern emerges when viewed together as constituting a single dialogue involving multiple reasoners operating on divergent background assumptions and principles of reasoning. From this perspective, it can be seen where the blockages to consensus lie and what it would take to move the debate towards some form of closure so that decisions of importance to animal welfare could be undertaken with more confidence than they currently are. No meta-analysis of this debate as an instance of multi-agent reasoning has hitherto been undertaken. The overarching aim of this project is to conduct just such an analysis in an effort to identify principles that both sides of the debate might rationally agree upon and move the debate towards epistemic closure.

    The principal aims are:

    Aim 1. To reconstruct the debate about pain in non-human animals as an instance of multi-agent reasoning or dialogue to clarify precise points of agreement and disagreement,

    Aim 2. To argue for shared principles of reasoning drawing on available neuroscientific evidence in order to create avenues towards closure, and

    Aim 3. To address concerns about moral risk exceeding epistemic risk in judgements about non-human animal pain.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Scepticism of other minds in the animal pain debate

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Deborah Brown

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor Brian Key directly for media enquiries about:

  • brain development
  • fish pain

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