How environmental factors influence social behavior
Official title: Functional mechanisms of environmental control over social behavior
Funded at Rockefeller University · NIH-10907011 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how things in our environment, like smells and sights, can influence how we interact with others, using fruit flies to understand the brain processes behind these social behaviors, which might help us learn more about conditions that affect social skills.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rockefeller University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 23, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $125,000 |
| NIH project number | 5K99GM151471-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10907011 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with neuropsychiatric conditions that affect social behavior, particularly those on the autism spectrum.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have neuropsychiatric conditions or those whose social behaviors are not influenced by environmental factors may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how environmental cues affect social behaviors, particularly focusing on decision-making processes. By studying the simpler nervous system of fruit flies (Drosophila), the research aims to uncover the neural mechanisms that link environmental signals to social interactions. The approach combines behavioral experiments with advanced brain imaging techniques to explore how factors like food odors and visual cues influence mating and copulation behaviors. The findings could provide insights into neuropsychiatric conditions that impair social processing.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance our understanding of social behavior regulation, potentially leading to better treatments for neuropsychiatric disorders like autism.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding social behavior through environmental influences in simpler organisms, suggesting potential for success in this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Rockefeller University
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brand, Philipp — Rockefeller University
- Study coordinator: Brand, Philipp
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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.