How teens' online experiences affect mood and brain responses
Using functional magnetic resonance imaging to understand how positive and negative TDM experiences relate to mental and behavioral health
This project uses brain scans to see how positive and negative social media and digital experiences relate to teens' mood and behavior.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11367890 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would join a study that asks teens about their online and social media experiences and measures how their brains react during social inclusion and exclusion using fMRI. Researchers combine surveys about mood and behavior with computerized social tasks while you have a brain scan. They look for patterns showing when online interactions make teens more sensitive to rejection or more boosted by inclusion. The goal is to link real-life digital experiences with brain responses to better understand adolescent mental health.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Teens roughly aged 12–20 who use social media and are able to undergo MRI scanning are ideal candidates for this project.
Not a fit: Children outside the 12–20 age range, adults, or people who cannot have an MRI (for example due to metal implants or severe claustrophobia) would not benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help identify how specific online experiences affect teen mental health and point toward better guidance or supports for adolescents.
How similar studies have performed: Past studies using fMRI to study social inclusion/exclusion in teens exist but have produced mixed results, so this work builds on but does not repeat a settled finding.
Where this research is happening
Madison, United States
- University of Wisconsin-Madison — Madison, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cascio, Christopher N — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Cascio, Christopher N
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.