How frontal–thalamus brain circuits make choices when outcomes are uncertain
Fronto-thalamic interactions in value-based decision making under uncertainty
Looks at how connections between the frontal cortex and the thalamus help the brain pick rewards when outcomes are unclear, which could relate to problems seen in schizophrenia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Hosp of Philadelphia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11393213 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers train tree shrews to choose objects that sometimes give rewards and sometimes do not, so the animals must learn value under trial-by-trial uncertainty. They will record and manipulate activity between the medio-dorsal thalamus and frontal cortex to see how those circuits guide value-based choices. The work links these circuit findings to decision-making problems found in schizophrenia and anhedonia to better understand distorted beliefs and poor choices. Findings are intended to point to circuit-level targets that could inform future human treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with schizophrenia or related symptoms such as persistent anhedonia or trouble making decisions when outcomes are uncertain could be most likely to benefit from the eventual translational work.
Not a fit: Individuals whose conditions do not involve decision-making or frontal–thalamic circuit dysfunction may not directly benefit from this basic-science project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reveal specific brain-circuit mechanisms behind poor decision-making in schizophrenia and point to new targets for future treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Prior human and animal studies have linked the frontal cortex and thalamus to perceptual decisions under uncertainty, but applying those findings to value-based choices is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- Children's Hosp of Philadelphia — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mukherjee, Arghya — Children's Hosp of Philadelphia
- Study coordinator: Mukherjee, Arghya
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.