How brain states change groups of brain cells that guide attention and perception

Discovering brain state dependent dynamics in large scale perceptual ensembles.

NIH-funded research Yale University · NIH-11137053

This project looks at how different brain states change the activity of large groups of brain cells that shape attention and perception, with relevance to autism and attention differences.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionYale University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New Haven, United States)
Project IDNIH-11137053 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This work records activity from large populations of neurons (mostly in animal models) while the animal's arousal and attention change, then applies advanced mathematical and computational models to map how cells interact. The team will go beyond simple pairwise correlations to uncover higher-order interactions and determine whether shared or local connections drive information coding. Results will be linked to attention and sensory processing differences relevant to autism and ADHD. Findings are intended to guide future human-focused studies and potential diagnostic or therapeutic directions.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: This grant primarily supports animal and computational research and does not enroll patients, but people with autism or attention‑deficit disorder who experience sensory or attention differences could be candidates for follow-up human studies informed by these findings.

Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate symptom relief or current clinical treatment are unlikely to benefit directly from this basic science project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal neural activity patterns that explain attention and sensory differences and point toward new diagnostic markers or treatment targets for autism and ADHD.

How similar studies have performed: Previous theoretical and experimental work shows that neuronal correlations shape information coding, but mapping higher-order, brain-state-dependent interactions across large populations is a relatively new and technically challenging area.

Where this research is happening

New Haven, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Attention Deficit DisorderAutistic Disorder
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.