How internal brain states change communication between brain regions
Influence of internal state on communication in distributed neuronal circuits
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · COLUMBIA UNIV NEW YORK MORNINGSIDE · NIH-11141712
Researchers are looking at how changes in attention and expectations change the way different parts of the brain talk to each other, which may relate to autism.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | COLUMBIA UNIV NEW YORK MORNINGSIDE (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (NEW YORK, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11141712 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This project uses mouse experiments to learn how shifts in engagement and decision bias alter communication across brain regions. The International Brain Laboratory team will train mice on a standardized decision task, record neural activity across many brain areas, and use common analysis methods to map information flow. They hypothesize that disengagement reduces the spread of specific neural signals to downstream regions, while biasing choices rotates the directions of signal propagation. Findings aim to clarify brain network changes that could underlie features of autism, though the work is lab-based rather than a clinical trial.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with autism or caregivers interested in foundational research about brain mechanisms of attention and perceptual bias would be the most relevant audience for these findings.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate new treatments or clinical interventions are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this basic, animal-based research in the short term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal basic brain-circuit mechanisms behind attention and perceptual bias and point to new targets or ideas for helping people with autism manage engagement and perception.
How similar studies have performed: Previous consortium-driven mouse decision-making and brain-wide recording efforts have produced standardized datasets and insights into neural coding, but directly linking these network mechanisms to autism is still emerging.
Where this research is happening
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- COLUMBIA UNIV NEW YORK MORNINGSIDE — NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: STEINMETZ, NICHOLAS — COLUMBIA UNIV NEW YORK MORNINGSIDE
- Study coordinator: STEINMETZ, NICHOLAS
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.
Conditions: Autistic Disorder