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Professor Max Bennett

Professor
Physiology, School of Medical Sciences
Bosch Institute

M02 - Mallet Street Campus
The University of Sydney
NSW 2006 Australia

T:+61 2 9351 0872
F:+61 2 9351 0731
E:

Biographical details

Maxwell Bennett is Professor of Neuroscience in the University of Sydney, Scientific Director of the Brain & Mind Research Institute and holds the first University Chairs awarded for research ‘recognized internationally as of exceptional distinction’. He graduated in Electrical Engineering and did his doctoral research in Zoology at Melbourne University before turning to the brain sciences and being appointed to the second Personal Chair at Sydney University, after Lord May. His books and papers are concerned with research on the formation and function of synaptic connections between cells in the brain, on the history and philosophy of the brain sciences, and on science policy. His most recent books are The Idea of Consciousness, History of the Synapse, Philosophical Foundations of Neuroscience, Neuroscience & Philosophy:Brain, Mind & Language, and History of Cognitive Neuroscience. Amongst the organizations he has founded to promote science and brain research are the Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies, the International Society for Autonomic Neuroscience.

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Current national competitive grants*

2010

Purinergic P2X7 Receptor as a Target for Antidepressant Drug Discovery
Kassiou M, McGregor I, Bennett M
NHMRC Project Grant ($547,500 over 3 years)

2008

Neuron-microglia signalling mechanisms
Bennett M
ARC Discovery Projects ($330,000 over 3 years)

* Grants administered through the University of Sydney

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Keywords

Neuropsychiatry

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Publications

2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003

2009

  
  • Bennett, M., Farnell, L., Gibson, W. P2X(7) regenerative-loop potentiation of glutamate synaptic transmission by microglia and astrocytes. Journal of theoretical biology. 2009; 261:1-16. [Abstract]
  • Nguyen, K., Shin, J., Rae, C., Nanitsos, E., Acosta, G., Pow, D., Buljan, V., Bennett, M., Else, P., Balcar, V. Rottlerin Inhibits (Na(+), K (+))-ATPase Activity in Brain Tissue and Alters D: -Aspartate Dependent Redistribution of Glutamate Transporter GLAST in Cultured Astrocytes. Neurochemical research. 2009; 34:1767-74. [Abstract]
  • Shin, J., Nguyen, K., Pow, D., Knight, T., Buljan, V., Bennett, M., Balcar, V. Distribution of Glutamate Transporter GLAST in Membranes of Cultured Astrocytes in the Presence of Glutamate Transport Substrates and ATP. Neurochemical research. 2009; 34:1758-66. [Abstract]
  • Bennett, M. Positive and negative symptoms in schizophrenia: the NMDA receptor hypofunction hypothesis, neuregulin/ErbB4 and synapse regression. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. 2009; 43:711-721. [Abstract]
  • Gunosewoyo, H., Coster, M., Bennett, M., Kassiou, M. Purinergic P2X(7) receptor antagonists: Chemistry and fundamentals of biological screening. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry. 2009; 17:4861-5. [Abstract]
  • Liu, G., Nagarajah, R., Banati, R., Bennett, M. Glutamate induces directed chemotaxis of microglia. European Journal of Neuroscience. 2009; 29:1108-1118. [Abstract]
  • Bennett, M. Synapse formation and regression in the cortex during adolescence and in schizophrenia. The Medical Journal of Australia. 2009; 190:S14-S16. [Abstract]
  • Bennett, M. Criminal law as it pertains to ''mentally incompetent defendants'': a McNaughton rule in the light of cognitive neuroscience. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. 2009; 43:289-299. [Abstract]

2008

  
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  • Bennett, M., Farnell, L., Gibson, W. A quantitative model of cortical spreading depression due to purinergic and gap-junction transmission in astrocyte networks. Biophysical journal. 2008; 95:5648-60. [Abstract]
  • Gunosewoyo, H., Guo, J., Bennett, M., Coster, M., Kassiou, M. Cubyl amides: Novel P2X(7) receptor antagonists. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters. 2008; 18:3720-3. [Abstract]
  • Hickie, I., Bennett, M. The brain and mind research institute: a unique campus for the integration of clinical and basic neurosciences in Australia. Australasian psychiatry : bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists. 2008; 16:169-172. [Abstract]
  • Bennett, M., Farnell, L., Gibson, W. Origins of the BOLD changes due to synaptic activity at astrocytes abutting arteriolar smooth muscle. Journal of Theoretical Biology. 2008; 252:123-130. [Abstract]
  • Bennett, M., Buljan, V., Farnell, L., Gibson, W. Purinergic junctional transmission and propagation of calcium waves in cultured spinal cord microglial networks. Purinergic signalling. 2008; 4:47-59. [Abstract]
  • Bennett, M., Farnell, L., Gibson, W. Origins of blood volume change due to glutamatergic synaptic activity at astrocytes abutting on arteriolar smooth muscle cells. Journal of theoretical biology. 2008; 250:172-85. [Abstract]
  • Gibson, W., Farnell, L., Bennett, M. A quantitative model of ATP-mediated calcium wave propagation in astrocyte networks. In: Mathematical Modeling of Biological Systems: Epidemiology, Evolution and Ecology, Immunology, Neural Systems and the Brain, and Innovative Mathematical Methods: v. 2. Switzerland: Birkhauser 2008. p. 193-204.
  • Bennett, M. Stress and anxiety in schizophrenia and depression: glucocorticoids, corticotropin-releasing hormone and synapse regression. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. 2008; 42:995-1002.
  • Bennett, M. Consciousness and hallucinations in schizophrenia: the role of synapse regression. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. 2008; 42:915-931.
  • Bennett, M., Hacker, P. History of Cognitive Neuroscience. United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell, 2008.
  • Bennett, M. Dual constraints on synapse formation and regression in schizophrenia: neuregulin, neuroligin, dysbindin, DISC1, MuSK and agrin. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. 2008; 42:662-677.

2007

  
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  • Bennett, M. Development of the concept of mind. The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry. 2007; 41:943-56. [Abstract]
  • Bennett, M., Farnell, L., Gibson, W., Dickens, P. Mechanisms of calcium sequestration during facilitation at active zones of an amphibian neuromuscular junction. Journal of theoretical biology. 2007; 247:230-241. [Abstract]
  • Bennett, M. Synaptic P2X7 receptor regenerative-loop hypothesis for depression. The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry. 2007; 41:563-71. [Abstract]
  • Bennett, M., Dennett, D., Hacker, P., Searle, J. Neuroscience and Philosophy: Brain, Mind, and Language. United States: Columbia University Press, 2007.
  • Bennett, M., Gibson, W., Farnell, L. A computational model relating changes in cerebral blood volume to synaptic activity in neurons. NEUROCOMPUTING. 2007; 70:1674-1679. [Abstract]

2006

  
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  • Werry, E., Liu, G., Bennett, M. Glutamate-stimulated ATP release from spinal cord astrocytes is potentiated by substance P. Journal of neurochemistry. 2006; 99:924-36. [Abstract]
  • Bennett, M., Buljan, V., Farnell, L., Gibson, W. Purinergic junctional transmission and propagation of calcium waves in spinal cord astrocyte networks. Biophysical journal. 2006; 91:3560-71. [Abstract]
  • Bennett, M., Hacker, P. Language and cortical function: Conceptual developments. Progress in neurobiology. 2006; 80:20-52. [Abstract]
  • Liu, G., Kalous, A., Werry, E., Bennett, M. Purine Release from Spinal Cord Microglia Following Elevation of Calcium by Glutamate. Molecular pharmacology. 2006; 70:851-9. [Abstract]
  • Lin, Y., Bennett, M. Schwann cells in rat vascular autonomic nerves activated via purinergic receptors. Neuroreport. 2006; 17:531-5. [Abstract]

2005

  
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  • Bennett, M., Farnell, L., Gibson, W. A quantitative model of purinergic junctional transmission of calcium waves in astrocyte networks. Biophysical journal. 2005; 89:2235-50. [Abstract]
  • Bennett, M., Farnell, L., Gibson, W. A quantitative description of the contraction of blood vessels following the release of noradrenaline from sympathetic varicosities. Journal of theoretical biology. 2005; 234:107-22. [Abstract]
  • Lin, Y., Bennett, M. Varicosity-Schwann cell interactions mediated by ATP in the mouse vas deferens. Journal of neurophysiology. 2005; 93:2787-96. [Abstract]
  • Lemon, G., Brockhausen, J., Li, G., Gibson, W., Bennett, M. Calcium mobilization and spontaneous transient outward current characteristics upon agonist activation of P2Y(2) receptors in smooth muscle cells. Biophysical Journal. 2005; 88:1507-1523. [Abstract]
  • Bennett, M., Hacker, P. Emotion and cortical-subcortical function: conceptual developments. Progress in neurobiology. 2005; 75:29-52. [Abstract]
  • Liu, G., Werry, E., Bennett, M. Secretion of ATP from Schwann cells in response to uridine triphosphate. The European journal of neuroscience. 2005; 21:151-60. [Abstract]

2004

  
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  • Bennett, M., Farnell, L., Gibson, W. The facilitated probability of quantal secretion within an array of calcium channels of an active zone at the amphibian neuromuscular junction. Biophysical journal. 2004; 86:2674-90. [Abstract]
  • Bennett, M., Farnell, L., Gibson, W., Blair, D. A quantitative description of the diffusion of noradrenaline in the media of blood vessels following its release from sympathetic varicosities. Journal of theoretical biology. 2004; 226:359-72. [Abstract]
  • Bennett, M. Autonomic Neuromuscular Transmission. In: Primer on the Autonomic Nervous System, 2nd edition. San Diego, USA: Elsevier Academic Press 2004. p. 34-35..
  • Bennett, M. Milestones in Autonomic Research. In: Primer on the Autonomic Nervous System, 2nd edition. San Diego, USA: Elsevier Academic Press 2004. p. 12-14.

2003

  
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  • Liu, G., Brockhausen, J., Bennett, M. P2X1 receptor currents after disruption of the PKC site and its surroundings by dominant negative mutations in HEK293 cells. Autonomic neuroscience : basic & clinical. 2003; 108:12-6. [Abstract]
  • Lemon, G., Gibson, W., Bennett, M. Metabotropic receptor activation, desensitization and sequestration-II: modelling the dynamics of the pleckstrin homology domain. Journal of theoretical biology. 2003; 223:113-29. [Abstract]
  • Lemon, G., Gibson, W., Bennett, M. Metabotropic receptor activation, desensitization and sequestration-I: modelling calcium and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate dynamics following receptor activation. Journal of theoretical biology. 2003; 223:93-111. [Abstract]
  • Dickens, P., Hill, P., Bennett, M. Schwann cell dynamics with respect to newly formed motor-nerve terminal branches on mature (Bufo marinus) muscle fibers. Journal of neurocytology. 2003; 32:381-92. [Abstract]
  • Blair, D., Lin, Y., Bennett, M. Differential sensitivity to calcium and osmotic pressure of fast and slow ATP currents at sympathetic varicosities in mouse vas deferens. Autonomic neuroscience : basic & clinical. 2003; 105:45-52. [Abstract]
  • Bennett, M., Hacker, P. Philosophical Foundations of Neuroscience. USA: Blackwell Publishing, 2003.
  • Bennett, M. The formation and function of single transmitter release sites at mature amphibian motor-nerve terminals. Journal of neurocytology. 2003; 32:447-72. [Abstract]
  • Bennett, M. Obituary: Sir Bernard Katz (1911-2003). Journal of neurocytology. 2003; 32:431-6. [Abstract]
  • Lemon, G., Gibson, W., Bennett, M. A model of insoitol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and calcium dynamics in single cells following metabotropic receptor activation. Neurocomputing. 2003; 52-54:271-276.
  • Abdipranoto, A., Liu, G., Werry, E., Bennett, M. Mechanisms of secretion of ATP from cortical astrocytes triggered by uridine triphosphate. Neuroreport. 2003; 14 (17):2177-2181.
  • Liu, G., Bennett, M. ATP secretion from nerve trunks and Schwann cells mediated by glutamate. Neuroreport. 2003; 14 (16):2079-2083.