How the Brain Learns to Group Sounds

CRCNS: US-Israeli Research Proposal: Deciphering reorganization of multi-regional activity following category learning

NIH-funded research Stanford University · NIH-11125859

This project explores how brain circuits learn to group sounds into categories, which helps us understand how we make sense of the world around us.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionStanford University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Stanford, United States)
Project IDNIH-11125859 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Our brains constantly learn new things, like how to recognize different types of sounds. This project aims to uncover the hidden ways brain circuits reorganize themselves when we learn to categorize sounds. Researchers will use advanced computational methods to analyze brain activity in mice as they learn to sort sounds. This work will help us understand the fundamental processes of learning, especially how the auditory system processes complex sounds.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: This foundational research does not involve direct patient participation but could inform future treatments for individuals experiencing impaired learning or auditory processing challenges.

Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate clinical interventions or direct treatment for their conditions would not receive direct benefit from this basic science project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a better understanding of learning difficulties and how the brain processes sound, potentially benefiting individuals with auditory processing disorders or those using devices like cochlear implants.

How similar studies have performed: Mechanistic studies of auditory category learning are still developing, making this approach relatively novel in its detailed investigation of multi-regional brain activity in mice.

Where this research is happening

Stanford, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.