Geometry of brain representations and dynamics in memory and decisions
Official title: P2: Geometry of Neural Representations and Dynamics
Funded at Princeton University · NIH-11385505 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study at Princeton will map how groups of brain cells encode memory and guide decisions in mice, using geometric and modeling approaches.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Princeton University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Princeton, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | August 8, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $295,325 |
| NIH project number | 5U19NS132720-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11385505 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals (or in this case, animal models) involved in memory and decision-making research or patients who might benefit from future translational insights into hippocampal and cortical dynamics.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals not involved in memory or decision-making disorders may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will measure how neural populations in areas like the dorsal hippocampus and prefrontal cortex form low-dimensional geometric representations during an evidence-accumulation decision task in mice. They will compare observed neural trajectories to predictions from existing statistical models to see how these brain regions encode variables like position and evidence. The project aims to build a multi-region, mechanistic circuit model that links neural geometry to working memory and decision processes. This work could help explain how brain activity supports complex behaviors and inform future strategies for understanding memory-related disorders.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could improve our understanding of memory and decision-making in the brain, informing approaches to treat related conditions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have linked neural geometry to behavior, with growing evidence supporting manifold representations in the brain.
Where this research is happening
-
Princeton University
Princeton, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brody, Carlos D — Princeton University
- Study coordinator: Brody, Carlos D
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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.