Dr Karly Turner

Senior Lecturer

PhD (Neuroscience), Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, 2016

Bachelor of Science (Zoology) Honours Class I, The University of Queensland, 2007

Bachelor of Arts (Psychology), The University of Queensland, 2006

Science

School of Psychology

I am a behavioural neuroscientist interested in cognitive processes that go awry in neuropsychiatric disorders. Using animal models I study the brain circuits underlying attention, learning and decision-making. We use sophisticated behavioural paradigms to dissect the psychological mechanisms underlying complex behaviour, in combination with various tools including chemogenetics, optogenetics and pharmacology to manipulate brain circuits. I am particularly interested in translational preclinical mental health research to bridge the bench to bedside gap, with my current project focused on understanding habits, impulsive and compulsive responding in disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and schizophrenia.

E-mail

karly.turner@unsw.edu.au

Location

Office 404, Mathews Building

Book Chapters | 2024

Turner KM, 2024, 'Prefrontal Control of Actions and Habits', in Habits: Their Definition, Neurobiology, and Role in Addiction, pp. 169 - 189, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-55889-4_8
Journal articles | 2024

Kesby JP; Turner KM, 2024, 'The Translational Utility of Circuit-Based Manipulations in Preclinical Models', Biological Psychiatry Global Open Science, 4, pp. 103 - 104, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bpsgos.2023.11.004

Journal articles | 2024

Turner KM; Balleine BW, 2024, 'Stimulus control of habits: Evidence for both stimulus specificity and devaluation insensitivity in a dual-response task', Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 121, pp. 52 - 61, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jeab.898

Journal articles | 2022

Turner KM; Svegborn A; Langguth M; McKenzie C; Robbins TW, 2022, 'Opposing Roles of the Dorsolateral and Dorsomedial Striatum in the Acquisition of Skilled Action Sequencing in Rats', Journal of Neuroscience, 42, pp. 2039 - 2051, http://dx.doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1907-21.2022

Journal articles | 2022

Watson P; O'Callaghan C; Perkes I; Bradfield L; Turner K, 2022, 'Making habits measurable beyond what they are not: A focus on associative dual-process models', Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 142, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104869

Journal articles | 2021

Turner K; Svegborn A; Langguth M; McKenzie C; Robbins T, 2021, 'Opposing roles of the dorsolateral and dorsomedial striatum in the acquisition of skilled action sequencing in rats', , http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/2021.04.15.439935

Journal articles | 2021

Turner KM; Balleine BW; Bradfield LA, 2021, 'Does disrupting the orbitofrontal cortex alter sensitivity to punishment? A potential mechanism of compulsivity.', Behavioral Neuroscience, 135, pp. 174 - 181, http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/bne0000443

Journal articles | 2021

Turner KM; Ganesan K; Bradfield LA, 2021, 'Evidence That Compulsive Reward Seeking Has Been Hiding in the Central Dorsal Striatum', Biological Psychiatry, 90, pp. 800 - 802, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2021.10.003

Journal articles | 2020

Turner K; Balleine B; Bradfield L, 2020, 'Does disrupting the Orbitofrontal Cortex alter sensitivity to punishment? A potential mechanism of compulsivity', , http://dx.doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/cwvmx

Journal articles | 2020

Turner KM; Parkes SL, 2020, 'Prefrontal regulation of behavioural control: Evidence from learning theory and translational approaches in rodents', Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 118, pp. 27 - 41, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.07.010

Journal articles | 2018

Langguth M; Fassin M; Alexander S; Turner KM; Burne THJ, 2018, 'No effect of prenatal vitamin D deficiency on autism-relevant behaviours in multiple inbred strains of mice', Behavioural Brain Research, 348, pp. 42 - 52, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2018.04.004

Journal articles | 2017

Kesby JP; Turner KM; Alexander S; Eyles DW; McGrath JJ; Burne THJ, 2017, 'Developmental vitamin D deficiency alters multiple neurotransmitter systems in the neonatal rat brain', International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience, 62, pp. 1 - 7, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2017.07.002

Journal articles | 2017

Turner KM; Peak J; Burne THJ, 2017, 'Baseline-dependent effects of amphetamine on attention are associated with striatal dopamine metabolism', Scientific Reports, 7, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-00437-9

Journal articles | 2017

Turner KM; Simpson CG; Burne THJ, 2017, 'BALB/c mice can learn touchscreen visual discrimination and reversal tasks faster than C57BL/6 mice', Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 11, http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2017.00016

Journal articles | 2017

Turner KM; Simpson CG; Burne THJ, 2017, 'Touchscreen-based Visual Discrimination and Reversal Tasks for Mice to Test Cognitive Flexibility', BIO-PROTOCOL, 7, http://dx.doi.org/10.21769/BioProtoc.2583

Journal articles | 2016

Turner KM; Burne THJ, 2016, 'Improvement of attention with amphetamine in low- and high-performing rats', Psychopharmacology, 233, pp. 3383 - 3394, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00213-016-4376-9

Journal articles | 2016

Turner KM; Peak J; Burne THJ, 2016, 'Measuring Attention in Rodents: Comparison of a Modified Signal Detection Task and the 5-Choice Serial Reaction Time Task', Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 9, http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2015.00370

Journal articles | 2015

Cui X; Lefevre E; Turner KM; Coelho CM; Alexander S; Burne THJ; Eyles DW, 2015, 'MK-801-induced behavioural sensitisation alters dopamine release and turnover in rat prefrontal cortex', Psychopharmacology, 232, pp. 509 - 517, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00213-014-3689-9

Journal articles | 2015

Peak JN; Turner KM; Burne THJ, 2015, 'The effect of developmental vitamin D deficiency in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats on decision-making using a rodent gambling task', Physiology and Behavior, 138, pp. 319 - 324, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2014.09.007

Journal articles | 2014

Burne THJ; Alexander S; Turner KM; Eyles DW; McGrath JJ, 2014, 'Developmentally vitamin D-deficient rats show enhanced prepulse inhibition after acute δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol', Behavioural Pharmacology, 25, pp. 236 - 244, http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/FBP.0000000000000041

Journal articles | 2014

Turner KM; Burne THJ, 2014, 'Comprehensive behavioural analysis of long Evans and Sprague-Dawley rats reveals differential effects of housing conditions on tests relevant to neuropsychiatric disorders', PLoS ONE, 9, http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0093411

Journal articles | 2013

Byrne JH; Voogt M; Turner KM; Eyles DW; McGrath JJ; Burne THJ, 2013, 'The Impact of Adult Vitamin D Deficiency on Behaviour and Brain Function in Male Sprague-Dawley Rats', PLoS ONE, 8, http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0071593

Journal articles | 2013

Turner KM; Burne THJ, 2013, 'Interaction of genotype and environment: Effect of strain and housing conditions on cognitive behaviour in rodent models of schizophrenia', Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2013.00097

Journal articles | 2013

Turner KM; Young JW; McGrath JJ; Eyles DW; Burne THJ, 2013, 'Cognitive performance and response inhibition in developmentally vitamin D (DVD)-deficient rats', Behavioural Brain Research, 242, pp. 47 - 53, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2012.12.029

Journal articles | 2012

Formella I; Scott EK; Burne THJ; Harms LR; Liu PY; Turner KM; Cui X; Eyles DW, 2012, 'Transient knockdown of Tyrosine Hydroxylase during development has persistent effects on behaviour in adult Zebrafish (Danio rerio)', PLoS ONE, 7, http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0042482

Journal articles | 2012

Harms LR; Turner KM; Eyles DW; Young JW; McGrath JJ; Burne THJ, 2012, 'Attentional processing in C57BL/6J mice exposed to developmental vitamin D deficiency', PLoS ONE, 7, http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0035896

Journal articles | 2011

Moreira LA; Ye YH; Turner K; Eyles DW; McGraw EA; O'Neill SL, 2011, 'The wMelPop strain of Wolbachia interferes with dopamine levels in Aedes aegypti', Parasites and Vectors, 4, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1756-3305-4-28
Preprints | 2024

Abiero AR; Gladding JM; Iredale JA; Drury HR; Manning EE; Dayas CV; Dhungana A; Ganesan K; Turner K; Becchi S; Kendig MD; Nolan C; Balleine B; Castorina A; Cole L; Clemens KJ; Bradfield LA, 2024, Neuroinflammation in the dorsomedial striatum causes excessive goal-directed action control by disrupting homeostatic astrocyte function, http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/2024.10.24.620154

Preprints | 2022

Watson P; O'Callaghan C; Perkes I; Bradfield L; Turner K, 2022, Making habits measurable beyond what they are not: a focus on associative dual-process models, , http://dx.doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/7m6c8

Conference Papers | 2012

Burne TH; Kesby JP; Turner K; Suzy A; McGrath JJ; Eyles DW, 2012, 'PRENATAL VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY ALTERS DOPAMINE AND GLUTAMATE METABOLISM IN RAT BRAIN', in SCHIZOPHRENIA RESEARCH, ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV, pp. S138 - S138, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0920-9964(12)70444-9

Conference Papers | 2011

Burne TH; Turner K; Alexander S; Eyles DW; McGrath JJ, 2011, 'MODELLING COGNITIVE SYMPTOMS IN THE DVD-DEFICIENT RODENT MODEL OF SCHIZOPHRENIA', in SCHIZOPHRENIA BULLETIN, OXFORD UNIV PRESS, CO, Colorado Springs, pp. 201 - 202, presented at 13th International Congress on Schizophrenia Research (ICSR), CO, Colorado Springs, 02 April 2011 - 06 April 2011, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000287746000568&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1

Conference Papers | 2010

Burne TH; Turner K; McGrath JJ; Eyles DW, 2010, 'ATTENTIONAL PERFORMANCE OF DVD-DEFICIENT RATS IN THE 5-CHOICE CONTINUOUS PERFORMANCE TEST', in SCHIZOPHRENIA RESEARCH, ELSEVIER, ITALY, Florence, pp. 275 - 275, presented at 2nd Conference of the Schizophrenia-International-Research-Society (SIRS), ITALY, Florence, 10 April 2010 - 14 April 2010, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2010.02.442

Conference Papers | 2010

Burne THJ; Turner K; McGrath JJ; Eyles DW, 2010, 'MODELLING COGNITIVE SYMPTOMS IN DEVELOPMENTAL VITAMIN D-DEFICIENT RATS', in AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY, INFORMA HEALTHCARE, pp. A13 - A14, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000282954700032&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1

2024-2028 NHMRC Ideas Grant

2023 BBRF NARSAD Young Investigator Grant

2021-2023 UNSW Safety Net Fellowship

2021 UNSW Science Covid-19 Strategic Support Grant

2017-2021 NHMRC CJ Martin Early Career Fellowship

2019 Goldstar Award, UNSW Faculty of Science

2021: 1st Prize, Postdoc presentation, Stay Connected Neuro
2019: IBNS Travel Award
2018: Charles Slater Travel Award, University of Cambridge

2018: IBRO International Travel Grant
2018: FENS-IBRO/PERC Travel Grant
2017: Guarantors of Brain Travel Grant
2015-2016: QBI Top-up Scholarship, QBI, The University of Queensland
2014: Best Short Talk Prize, QBI Graduate Student Symposium
2014: SfN Chapter Travel Award, Society for Neuroscience
2014: ANS Student Travel Award, Australian Neuroscience Society
2013: Runner-up and People’s Choice Award, 3-Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition, QBI
2013: ANS Student Travel Award, Australian Neuroscience Society
2012: ATSE Young Science Ambassador Award, Australian Academy of Technological Science and Engineering
2012: Istvan Tork Student Oral Prize, Australian Neuroscience Society
2012-2016: Australian Postgraduate Award, Australian Government
2012-2015: Smart Futures PhD Scholarship Award, Queensland Government

For publications see my Google Scholar page

Various activities including Young Science Ambassador for Wonders of Science Program in schools by ATSE; public demonstrations at events such as BRAINFest and university open days; lab tours and demonstrations for visitors from schools (NYSF, Brain Bee Competition) and university events; 2021 UNSW Women in Math and Science Champion.

Media interviews:

Neuroscience of habits: ABC Science

Breaking bad habits: Sunrise, Channel 7

My Research Supervision

Honours - Maddison Fisher

PhD - Mia Langguth (University of Sydney)

Phd/Master - Sophie Welch

My Teaching

2023-present: PSYC4093/4103, Honours elective, Course coordinator
2023-present: PSYC5005, Graduate Diploma Course, Course coordinator
2020-present: NEUR4411, Lecturer

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