How frontal brain circuits support decision-making and flexible thinking
Neocortical microarchitecture of executive function using large-scale intracranial electrophysiology
This project will record activity from hundreds of brain cells in the frontal cortex of people having awake neurosurgical procedures to learn how the brain supports decision-making and executive thinking.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11172685 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you take part during an awake neurosurgical procedure, doctors will place a thin Neuropixels probe in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex to record hundreds of neurons at once. You will be asked to do short thinking tasks that involve selecting features, handling conflicting information, and making decisions while recordings are taken. The team will map how different cortical layers and neural populations respond to those task conditions and analyze the patterns and geometry of the population activity. The aim is to produce a detailed picture of the microcircuit activity that enables flexible thinking in humans.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults already scheduled for awake deep brain or intracranial electrode procedures at the study hospital who can perform brief cognitive tasks during recording.
Not a fit: People who are not undergoing neurosurgery, who cannot tolerate awake procedures, or who cannot perform the tasks will not be eligible and are unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could guide new brain-targeted therapies or stimulation strategies to improve planning, attention, and decision-making in people with Alzheimer's disease and other cognitive disorders.
How similar studies have performed: Previous intracranial recording studies have illuminated human cognitive signals, but using Neuropixels to record hundreds of neurons across cortical layers in people is novel and only recently attempted.
Where this research is happening
Aurora, UNITED STATES
- University of Colorado Denver — Aurora, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kramer, Daniel R — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Kramer, Daniel R
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.