How the Brain Combines Senses and Thoughts
Feedforward-feedback integration in the posterior parietal cortex
This project explores how different parts of the brain work together to help us understand our surroundings and make decisions, which could help us better understand conditions like neuropsychiatric disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California-Irvine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Irvine, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11113940 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project looks at how our brain combines what we see and hear with our own thoughts, memories, and attention. We know that a specific brain area, the posterior parietal cortex (PPC), is important for these complex processes like memory and decision-making. When these brain connections don't work correctly, it can contribute to neuropsychiatric disorders. This work aims to uncover the exact ways brain cells in the PPC connect and communicate to integrate sensory information with our internal thoughts. Understanding these basic mechanisms is key to learning how brain circuits control behavior and what goes wrong in certain brain conditions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research does not directly involve patient participation, but future studies building on this knowledge may seek individuals with neuropsychiatric disorders or those interested in brain function.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment or direct clinical intervention will not find direct benefit from this basic science project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could provide fundamental insights into how brain circuits function, which is essential for developing new ways to help people with neuropsychiatric disorders.
How similar studies have performed: While the general concept of brain integration is well-established, this specific approach to understanding synaptic mechanisms of feedforward-feedback integration in the PPC is a novel and foundational area of inquiry.
Where this research is happening
Irvine, United States
- University of California-Irvine — Irvine, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lur, Gyorgy — University of California-Irvine
- Study coordinator: Lur, Gyorgy
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.