How our brains categorize new experiences in health and illness
Conte Center: Understanding Latent Cause Inference in Health and Illness
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · PRINCETON UNIVERSITY · NIH-11167606
This work explores how our brains decide if a new situation is familiar or completely new, and how this process might affect mental health conditions like anxiety.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | PRINCETON UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (Princeton, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11167606 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Our brains constantly sort new information, deciding if it fits with what we already know or if it's something entirely new. This sorting process, called latent cause inference, helps us learn and make decisions every day. When this process doesn't work quite right, it might contribute to various mental health challenges. This project uses advanced computer models to understand how people differ in this brain function, how it changes in conditions like anxiety, and which brain areas are involved.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This work is looking for people who experience mental health symptoms, including anxiety, to help understand how their brains process new information.
Not a fit: Patients whose conditions are unrelated to how the brain categorizes new experiences may not directly benefit from this specific line of inquiry.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding this fundamental brain process could lead to new ways to identify and help people with a wide range of mental health conditions.
How similar studies have performed: This project proposes a novel approach by investigating latent cause inference as a new transdiagnostic domain for mental health, building on existing computational psychiatry methods.
Where this research is happening
Princeton, UNITED STATES
- PRINCETON UNIVERSITY — Princeton, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: NIV, YAEL — PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: NIV, YAEL
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: Anxiety Disorders