How alertness and emotion change what you see
Investigating the Effect of Arousal on Visual Processing
Researchers will use brain scans and vision tests to see how different levels of alertness or emotional arousal change how people perceive and process visual information.
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 ID | NIH-11189646 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would come in for sessions where researchers measure your vision while recording brain activity with noninvasive methods like fMRI and behavioral vision tests. They will induce or measure different arousal states (for example, brief startle responses or changes in alertness) and record how visual responses change. The team will combine psychophysical measures with brain imaging and computational models to test whether arousal alters the gain of visual processing. Results aim to link everyday changes in mood or alertness with specific changes in how the visual system represents images.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults who can safely undergo MRI, have normal or corrected-to-normal vision, and are willing to complete behavioral vision tests and brief arousal manipulations would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People with MRI-incompatible implants, severe vision loss, or those unable to tolerate scanning or the experimental procedures may not be eligible or benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help explain and eventually reduce visual problems or lapses in attention that occur during anxiety, drowsiness, or other arousal-related conditions.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown arousal affects perception and brain signals, but combining detailed visual psychophysics with advanced neuroimaging to test gain-control mechanisms is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston University (Charles River Campus) — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ling, Sam — Boston University (Charles River Campus)
- Study coordinator: Ling, Sam
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.