How our brains pick out what we look for and ignore distractions
Official title: Probing the role of feature dimension maps in visual cognition
Funded at University of California Santa Barbara · NIH-11374945 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how our brains use different features and goals to guide where we look, which could help people with attention or cognitive challenges.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Santa Barbara NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Santa Barbara, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $356,377 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EY035300-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11374945 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with typical development or those interested in attention and cognitive function, particularly in tasks involving visual search and feature processing.
✕Less likely to help
People without interest or ability to participate in brain-imaging or computer-based attention tasks may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project explores how top-down goals and bottom-up features shape where our attention goes in visual scenes. It uses brain imaging to see how different brain areas respond when people search for objects defined by color, motion, or other features. The aim is to map how feature maps in the brain coordinate attention and how this depends on the task. By understanding these processes, we hope to clarify why attention can be flexible and context-dependent.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of attention could lead to improved strategies for managing distractibility and improving focus.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that feature-based attention can be detected in brain activity, supporting the potential usefulness of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sprague, Thomas C — University of California Santa Barbara
- Study coordinator: Sprague, Thomas C
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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.