Brain circuit rhythms that support attention and working memory
Oscillatory Recurrent Gated Neural Integrator Circuits (ORGaNICs): a unified framework for neural dynamics and human cognition
They are building computer models of rhythmic brain circuits to explain how attention and short‑term memory work in people and animals.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11284093 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project develops a unified model (called ORGaNICs) that describes rhythmic and recurrent brain circuit activity tied to attention and working memory. The team will fit and test these models using previously published datasets from human behavioral studies and recordings from primate and rodent brains, including electrical recordings and calcium imaging. One aim is to explain how the brain keeps information stable over short delays, and another is to link variability in brain signals to limits in task performance. Results are intended to connect basic brain signals to cognitive problems you might notice, like lapses in attention or memory.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with attention difficulties or short‑term memory problems (for example ADHD, early cognitive decline, or related conditions) would be most directly interested in the findings and in future related studies.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate clinical treatments for unrelated medical issues are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this theoretical and data‑analysis project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could help researchers pinpoint circuit mechanisms behind attention and memory problems and guide new diagnostic tools or treatment strategies.
How similar studies have performed: Related computational and neural‑circuit models have explained many brain signals, but translating these models into clinical tests or therapies is still new and experimental.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- New York University — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Heeger, David J — New York University
- Study coordinator: Heeger, David J
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 below.