Dr James Fallon has a background in a range of areas relevant to research currently underway at The Bionic Ear Institute. He completed a Bachelor of Science (Physiology, 1997), a Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical and Computer Science, with honours, 1998) and a PhD in Biomedical Engineering (2002) from Monash University. He then went on to investigate a range of phenomena related to the sense of touch at the Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute in Sydney.

In 2004 James joined the Bionic Ear Institute to work as a Research Fellow in the Auditory Neuroscience research program, and has since become the co-ordinator of the National Institutes of Health-funded project on "The Effects of Intracochlear Electrical Stimulation on Neural Survival and Connectivity". His work in this project involves the use of neuroanatomical, electrophysiological, and behavioural techniques to examine the functional changes that occur in the central auditory pathway as a result of cochlear implant use. He is also using his broad range of skills in the Bionic Eye project.

James has authored 17 peer-reviewed scientific papers and invited book chapters, in addition to authoring over 60 conference presentations and reports at national and international conferences, including 6 as an invited speaker. He has also reviewed manuscripts for a number of international scientific journals.

In addition to research activities, James also supervises three PhD candidates, has lectured in the Masters of Clinical Audiology, The University of Melbourne and the Masters of Biomedical Engineering, Monash University, and has been actively involved in the Bio21 Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program.

▪ The bionic ear and brain plasticity

▪ Bionic eye

1. Richardson, R.T., Wise, A.K., Thompson, B.C., Flynn, B.O., Atkinson, P.J., Fretwell, N.J., Fallon, J.B., Wallace, G.G., Shepherd, R.K., Clark, G.M., O'Leary, S.J. (2009) Polypyrrole-coated electrodes for the delivery of charge and neurotrophins to cochlear neurons. Biomaterials. 30, 2614-2624.

2. Fallon, J.B., Irvine, D.R., Shepherd, R.K. (2009) Cochlear implant use following neonatal deafness influences the cochleotopic organization of the primary auditory cortex in cats. J Comp Neurol 512, 101-114.
* This work was also reported in the New Scientist magazine in their news section.

3. McNulty, P.A., Galea, V., Fallon, J.B., Bent, L.R., Macefield, V. (2008) Low-threshold afferent signalling of viscous loads during voluntary movements of the human digits. Neuroreport 19, 1049-54.

4. Heffer, L.F., Fallon, J.B. (2008) A novel stimulus artifact removal technique for high-rate electrical stimulation. Journal of Neuroscience Methods 170, 277-84.

5. Fallon, J.B., Macefield, V.G. (2007) Vibration sensitivity of human muscle spindles and Golgi tendon organs. Muscle and Nerve 36, 21-9.

6. Fallon, J.B., Irvine, D.R. and Shepherd, R.K. 2008. Cochlear implants and brain plasticity. Hearing Research: 238, 110-117.

7. Coco, A, Epp, SB, Fallon, JB, Xu, J, Millard RE & Shepherd, RK (2007). Does cochlear implantation affect residual hair cell and spiral ganglion neurons following a sensorineural hearing loss? Hearing Research 225, 60-70.

8. Coleman, B, Falllon, JB, Gillespie, L, De Silva, M & Shepherd, RK (2007). Auditory Hair Cell Explant Co-Culture Promotes the Differentiation of Stem Cells into Bipolar Neurons. Journal of Experimental Cell Research 313, 232-243.

9. Irvine, DR, Fallon, JB & Kamke, MR (2006). Plasticity in the Adult Central Audtiory System. Acoustics Australia 34, 13-17.

10. Fallon, JB, Bent, LR, MCNulty, PA & Macefield, VG (2005). Evidence for Strong Synaptic Coupling between Single Tactile Afferents from the Sole of the Foot and Motoneurons Supplying Leg Muscles. Journal of Neurophysiology 94, 3795-3804.

See more publications by James Fallon in PubMed