How the brain learns hidden sequences
Implicit serial learning
['FUNDING_R01'] · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · NIH-11296898
This work looks at how the brain learns and uses hidden sequences to guide choices, with the goal of improving understanding of memory and thinking problems seen in Alzheimer's disease and autism.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (NEW YORK, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11296898 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This research uses trained nonhuman primates, detailed behavior tests, and computer models to study how hidden patterns are learned and used to make decisions. Scientists will record single-neuron activity in specific brain areas (dorsolateral and ventromedial prefrontal cortex and dorsal striatum) while animals perform sequence tasks. They will also measure how brain chemicals like acetylcholine and dopamine change during learning. The goal is to link basic brain circuits to the kinds of memory and decision-making problems that show up in Alzheimer’s and autism.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People living with Alzheimer's disease, mild cognitive impairment, or autism spectrum disorder who are interested in research into the brain mechanisms behind learning might find this work relevant to future clinical advances.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatments or those with conditions unrelated to memory, learning, or decision-making are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this preclinical research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could point to new ways to detect or eventually treat memory and decision-making problems in Alzheimer's disease and related conditions.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal and human imaging studies have linked these brain regions to learning and decision-making, but combining behavior, single-cell recordings, and neuromodulator measures in this way is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES — NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: FERRERA, VINCENT P — COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- Study coordinator: FERRERA, VINCENT P
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: Alzheimer disease dementia, Alzheimer syndrome, Alzheimer's Disease, Autistic Disorder