The University of Sydney
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Professor Max Bennett

E: max.bennett@bosch.org.au
T: +61 2 9351 0872
F: +61 2 9351 3910
M02 - Mallet Street Campus
The University of Sydney
NSW 2006 Australia

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.

Current national competitive grants

2010

Purinergic P2X7 Receptor as a Target for Antidepressant Drug Discovery
NHMRC Project Grant $547,500 over 3 years

2008

Neuron-microglia signalling mechanisms
ARC Discovery Projects $330,000 over 3 years

Publications

2009

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
Liu, G, Nagarajah, R, Banati, R, Bennett, M. Glutamate induces directed chemotaxis of microglia. European Journal of Neuroscience. 2009; 29:1108-1118
Bennett, M. Synapse formation and regression in the cortex during adolescence and in schizophrenia. The Medical Journal of Australia. 2009; 190:S14-S16

2008

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
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
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
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
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
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
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

Bennett, M. Development of the concept of mind. The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry. 2007; 41:943-56
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
Bennett, M. Synaptic P2X7 receptor regenerative-loop hypothesis for depression. The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry. 2007; 41:563-71
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

2006

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
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
Bennett, M, Hacker, P. Language and cortical function: Conceptual developments. Progress in neurobiology. 2006; 80:20-52
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
Lin, Y, Bennett, M. Schwann cells in rat vascular autonomic nerves activated via purinergic receptors. Neuroreport. 2006; 17:531-5

2005

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
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
Lin, Y, Bennett, M. Varicosity-Schwann cell interactions mediated by ATP in the mouse vas deferens. Journal of neurophysiology. 2005; 93:2787-96
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
Bennett, M, Hacker, P. Emotion and cortical-subcortical function: conceptual developments. Progress in neurobiology. 2005; 75:29-52
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

2004

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
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
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

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
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
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
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
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
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
Bennett, M. Obituary: Sir Bernard Katz (1911-2003). Journal of neurocytology. 2003; 32:431-6
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

2002

Bennett, M, Hacker, P. The motor system in neuroscience: a history and analysis of conceptual developments. Progress in Neurobiology. 2002; 67:1-52
Bennet, M, Gibson, W, Lemon, G. Neuronal cell death, nerve growth factor and neurotrophic models: 50 years on. Autonomic neuroscience : basic & clinical. 2002; 95:1-23
Bennett, M. Single sympathetic varicosities and their receptor clusters: regulation of transmitter release and cluster formation. In: Catecholamine Research: from molecular insights to clinical medicine. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers 2002. p. 47-51.
Henery, R, Farnell, L, Gibson, W, Bennett, M. Potential fields in vascular smooth muscle generated by transmitter release from sympathetic varicosities. Journal Of Theoretical Biology. 2002; 218:531-548
Farnell, L, Gibson, W, Lin, Y, Bennett, M, Kearns, J. Quantal current fields around individual boutons in sympathetic ganglia. Journal Of Theoretical Biology. 2002; 214:135-146

2001

Bennett, M, Hacker, P. Perception and memory in neuroscience: a conceptual analysis. Progress in neurobiology. 2001; 65:499-543
Bennett, M, Barden, J. Ionotropic (P2X) receptor dynamics at single autonomic varicosities. Neuroreport. 2001; 12:A91-7
Lin, Y, Graham, K, Bennett, M. Depression of transmitter release at synapses in the rat superior cervical ganglion: the role of transmitter depletion. Autonomic neuroscience : basic & clinical. 2001; 88:16-24
Macleod, G, Dickens, P, Bennett, M. Formation and function of synapses with respect to Schwann cells at the end of motor nerve terminal branches on mature amphibian (Bufo marinus) muscle. The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience. 2001; 21:2380-92
Bennett, M. Mechanisms of depression of transmitter release at synapses. Neuroreport. 2001; 12:A15-20
Bennett, M, Farnell, L, Gibson, W, Lin, Y, Blair, D. Quantal and non-quantal current and potential fields around individual sympathetic varicosities on release of ATP. Biophysical journal. 2001; 80:1311-28
Blair, D, Bennett, M, King, G, Robson, S. Vesicle-associated proteins and transmitter release from sympathetic ganglionic boutons. Neuroreport. 2001; 63:021903-1-021093-18
Gibson, W, Farnell, L, Bennett, M. A Monte carlo analysis of calcium dynamics and facilitation in nerve terminals. In: Neurocomputing. The Netherlands: Swets & Zeitlinger 2001. p. 369-275.
Bennett, M. The History of the Synapse. United Kingdom: Taylor and Francis, 2001.

2000

Bennett, M. The concept of long term potentiation of transmission at synapses. Progress in Neurobiology. 2000; 60:109-137
Bennett, M. The concept of transmitter receptors: 100 years on. Neuropharmacology. 2000; 39:523-546
Bennett, M, Li, G, Lee, E, Blair, D, Holding, C, Poronnik, P, Cook, D, Barden, J. The distribution of P2X receptor clusters on individual neurons in sympathetic ganglia and their redistribution on agonist activation. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2000; 275:29107-29112
Yoa, S, Barden, J, Bennett, M, Lawrence, A. A co-localisation study of P2X1-6 and tyrosine hydroxylase in the brainstem of the rat. Proceedings of the Australian Neuroscience Society. 2000; Melbourne Vic; 2000
Yunaev, M, Barden, J, Bennett, M. Changes in the distribution of different subtypes of P2X receptor clusters on smooth muscle cells in relation to nerve varicosities in the pregnant rat urinary bladder. Journal of Neurocytology. 2000; 29:99-108
Barden, J, Bennett, M, Yao, S, Finkelstein, D, Lawrence, A. Comparative study on the distribution patterns of P2X1 - P2X6 receptor immunoreactivity in the brainstem of the rat and common marmoset (callithrix jacchus): association with catecholamine cell groups. Journal of Comparative neurology. 2000; 427:485-507
Yao, S, Barden, J, Finkelstein, D, Bennett, M, Lawrence, A. Comparative Study on the Distribution Pattersn of PsX1-P2X6 Receptor Immunoreactivity in the Brainstem of the Rat and the Common Marmoset (Callithrix jacchus): Association with Catecholamine Cell Groups. The Journal of Comparative Neurology. 2000; 427 (4):485-507
Bennett, M. NANC transmission at a varicosity: the individuality of single synapses. Journal of the Autonomic Nervous System. 2000; 81:25-30
Bennett, M, Farnell, L, Gibson, W. The probability of quantal secretion within an array of calcium channels of an active zone. Biophysical Journal. 2000; 78:2222-2240
Bennett, M, Farnell, L, Gibson, W. The probability of quantal secretion near a single calcium channel of an active zone. Biophysical Journal. 2000; 78:2201-2221
Barden, J, Bennett, M. Distribution of P2X purinoceptor clusters on individual rat dorsal root ganglion cells. Neuroscience Letters. 2000; 287 (3):183-186
Lee, E, Barden, J, Bennett, M. Distribution of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels and P2X receptors with synaptic proteins in rat superior cervical ganglion at different ages. Proceedings of the Australian Neuroscience Society. 2000; Melbourne Victoria; 2000
Pulvirenti, T, Yin, J, Chaufour, X, Mclachlan, C, Hambly, B, Bennett, M, Barden, J. P2X (purinergic) receptor redistribution in rabbit aorta following injury to endothelial cells and cholesterol feeding. Journal of Neurocytology. 2000; 29:623-631
Dutton, J, Poronnik, P, Li, G, Holding, C, Worthington, R, Vandenberg, R, Cook, D, Barden, J, Bennett, M. P2X1 receptor membrane redistribution and down-regulation visualized by using receptor-coupled green fluorescent protein chimeras. Neuropharmacology. 2000; 39:2054-2066
Bennett, M, Farnell, L, Gibson, W, Dickens, P, MacLeod, G. Quantal potential fields around individual active zones of amphibian motor-nerve terminals. Biophysical Journal. 2000; 78:1106-1118
Li, G, Blair, D, Holding, C, Lee, E, Poronnik, P, Barden, J, Bennett, M. Redistribution of P2X1 receptors on sympathetic neurons after receptor activation. Proceedings of the Australian Neuroscience Society. 2000; Melbourne Victoria; 2000
Bennett, M, Kearns, J. Statistics of transmitter release at nerve terminals. Progress in Neurobiology. 2000; 60:545-606
Bennett, M. Synaptic transmission at single boutons in sympathetic ganglia. News in Physiological Sciences. 2000; 15:98-101
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