How brain connections guide visual choices in ADHD
Official title: Role of cortical connections to higher-order thalamic nuclei in visual decision-making
Funded at Methodist Hospital Research Institute · NIH-11520034 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research study aims to understand how specific brain pathways help people with ADHD make visual decisions, using non-invasive methods in primates.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Methodist Hospital Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $224,100 |
| NIH project number | 4R00EY034699-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11520034 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with ADHD-related attention and decision-making challenges or researchers seeking to translate these brain circuit findings to ADHD therapies.
✕Less likely to help
People without ADHD or without interest in brain circuitry studies are unlikely to benefit directly.
What this research studies
This project explores how signals flow from the visual cortex to the prefrontal cortex through the pulvinar, a thalamic region, to influence how we see and decide. Researchers will use a non-invasive opening of the blood-brain barrier and optogenetic-like techniques in non-human primates to test how targeted brain circuits affect visual perception and decision making. The work focuses on pinpointing which cortical and thalamic connections drive visually guided choices, contributing to our understanding of attention and decision processes relevant to ADHD. Findings could shed light on brain mechanisms that underlie attention and decision-making challenges seen in ADHD patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could inform new approaches for improving attention and decision-making processes in ADHD.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research in brain circuits has shown that specific pathways influence attention and decision making, suggesting potential for this line of work, though direct translational results are still emerging.
Where this research is happening
-
Methodist Hospital Research Institute
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Andrei, Ariana R — Methodist Hospital Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Andrei, Ariana R
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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.