Explore-exploit balance as a cross-species index of cognitive flexibility
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-11355847 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Scientists are studying how choosing new options versus sticking with known ones affects thinking and behavior in ways that could help people with mood and psychotic disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | August 16, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $726,312 |
| NIH project number | 1R01MH144278-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11355847 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants would be adults with schizophrenia or mood disorders or healthy volunteers for comparative analyses that align with cognitive task paradigms.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without cognitive impairments similar to those studied may derive less direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project tests how brain circuits control the switch between exploring new options and exploiting known ones, using mouse models and human task parallels. They will use two touchscreen-based cognitive tasks and mathematical models to compare mouse and human decision making on a trial-by-trial basis. The study aims to refine tasks so mouse behavior better mirrors human decision processes and to see how current antidepressant and antipsychotic medications influence these choices. The work connects animal data to potential human cognitive interventions for conditions like schizophrenia and mood disorders.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could inform more effective cognitive-targeted treatments for schizophrenia and mood disorders by clarifying how medications alter decision-making strategies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that dysregulated explore-exploit behavior relates to cognitive deficits and that similar tasks can translate across species, though this exact cross-species linkage is being extended.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Grissom, Nicola — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Grissom, Nicola
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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.