How social experiences shape brain development and social behavior
Official title: Social experience guides BMA mediated social development
Funded at Rosalind Franklin Univ of Medicine & Sci · NIH-11366067 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how social interactions affect brain circuits and social behavior in people from adolescence to adulthood.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rosalind Franklin Univ of Medicine & Sci NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (North Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | July 25, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $465,301 |
| NIH project number | 1R01MH141161-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11366067 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants include individuals aged 12-20 and adults 21+ with varied social experiences and no contraindications to MRI.
✕Less likely to help
Results may be less directly beneficial for individuals without social interaction challenges or who are not able to participate in brain-imaging studies.
What this research studies
Researchers will explore how social experiences, especially isolation or deprivation, influence the development and function of the amygdala and related brain circuits involved in social behavior. By studying both younger and older adults, the project aims to link social experiences with changes in brain activity and social engagement. The findings could illuminate how early social environments shape mental health and social skills later in life. The work will use human participants to examine brain responses during social tasks and relate them to past social experiences.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding how social experiences affect the brain could lead to interventions that improve social functioning and mental health across adolescence into adulthood.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows brain regions like the amygdala respond to social experiences, supporting the potential relevance of these findings.
Where this research is happening
-
Rosalind Franklin Univ of Medicine & Sci
North Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ferrara, Nicole Christine — Rosalind Franklin Univ of Medicine & Sci
- Study coordinator: Ferrara, Nicole Christine
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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.