How the brain keeps track of other people's locations
Neural Mechanisms of Spatial Representations Beyond the Self
Researchers are learning how the brain tracks where other people are and move, to better understand navigation problems seen in Alzheimer's disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University (Charles River Campus) NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11324025 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project looks at how your brain encodes the positions and movements of other people, because trouble navigating and recognizing others is common in Alzheimer's. The team records deep brain rhythms and single-neuron activity in people while they perform navigation and social-tracking tasks, using clinical monitoring or specialized recording methods. They will compare brain signals for your own location versus the location of others to see how these representations differ. Results could reveal what goes wrong in Alzheimer's and point toward new ways to detect or support navigation and social awareness problems.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with navigation or memory problems such as those with or at risk for Alzheimer's, or patients already undergoing clinical brain monitoring who can take part in cognitive tasks.
Not a fit: People without memory or navigation issues, or those who are not eligible for brain monitoring or in-person testing, are unlikely to receive direct benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to better tests and interventions to help people with Alzheimer's navigate and recognize others more safely.
How similar studies have performed: Recording brain oscillations and single neurons has previously revealed place and grid cell signals for self-location, but applying these methods to tracking other people is a newer and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston University (Charles River Campus) — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stangl, Matthias — Boston University (Charles River Campus)
- Study coordinator: Stangl, Matthias
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.