How the brain helps people adapt to changing situations
Representational dynamics for flexible learning in complex environments
['FUNDING_R01'] · BROWN UNIVERSITY · NIH-11139566
This project looks at how brief changes in alertness and brain activity help people with anxiety or ADHD change their behavior in different situations.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | BROWN UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (PROVIDENCE, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11139566 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You would have your pupil size and brain waves (EEG/P300) recorded while doing learning tasks that mimic real-life decisions. The team will use computer models and animal experiments to link these signals to how the brain represents information and drives behavior. They will compare patterns in people with anxiety or ADHD to see when arousal helps or makes adapting harder. The goal is to point to biological signals or processes that could become targets for better treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adolescents or adults with a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder or ADHD who are willing to take part in behavioral tasks and noninvasive recordings like EEG and pupil-tracking.
Not a fit: People without anxiety or ADHD, or those unwilling or unable to attend in-person testing or undergo EEG/pupil measurements, are unlikely to gain direct benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal brain signals or arousal-related targets that lead to new ways to help people with anxiety or ADHD adapt their behavior more flexibly.
How similar studies have performed: Animal studies and some human work linking pupil size and P300 to arousal have shown promise, but combining these measures with computational models and representation-focused analyses is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
PROVIDENCE, UNITED STATES
- BROWN UNIVERSITY — PROVIDENCE, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: NASSAR, MATTHEW — BROWN UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: NASSAR, MATTHEW
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, Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder