Arousal and Visual Processing in Humans
Official title: Investigating the Effect of Arousal on Visual Processing
Funded at Boston University (Charles River Campus) · NIH-11419617 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant tests how our momentary or ongoing arousal changes the way we see and interpret visual information in healthy adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University (Charles River Campus) NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $228,364 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EY035640-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11419617 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are adults with normal or corrected-to-normal vision who can undergo MRI scanning and complete visual tasks.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals unable to participate in MRI studies or with conditions affecting arousal regulation may not benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will study how different arousal states, from sudden startle responses to mood-related energization, influence visual processing using noninvasive brain imaging and psychophysics. By examining gain changes in the visual system, they aim to link brain activity with how we perceive visuals under varying arousal. The study uses functional neuroimaging and precise visual tasks to understand the neural mechanisms behind these changes. The work could shed light on how everyday fluctuations in arousal affect attention, perception, and cognitive performance.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: A better understanding of how arousal shapes vision could inform approaches to improve learning, attention, and potentially diagnostic assessments related to cognitive function.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work in vision science supports arousal-related changes in neural gain, with ongoing research exploring the link to emotional and physiological arousal.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston University (Charles River Campus)
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ling, Sam — Boston University (Charles River Campus)
- Study coordinator: Ling, Sam
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.