How the brain represents and generalizes past experiences
Official title: The geometry of neural representations reflecting abstraction in humans
Funded at Columbia Univ New York Morningside · NIH-11066559 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how our brains learn to spot similarities in things we've experienced before, and it's for healthy people who want to help us understand how motivation and different learning speeds affect this process.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia Univ New York Morningside NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2023 |
| Project end | February 29, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $555,821 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH130068-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11066559 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation are healthy adults interested in cognitive neuroscience and learning processes.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with severe cognitive impairments or neurological disorders may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how the human brain learns to identify shared features from past experiences to simplify complex environments. By using functional MRI (fMRI), healthy participants will engage in a learning task that involves recognizing patterns among various stimuli. The study aims to understand how different learning timescales and motivational states influence the brain's ability to generalize information. This approach combines insights from previous studies in non-human primates with advanced neuroimaging techniques.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance our understanding of cognitive processes, potentially leading to improved treatments for conditions related to abnormal psychology.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research in non-human primates has shown promising results using similar methodologies, suggesting potential for success in human studies.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia Univ New York Morningside
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shohamy, Daphna — Columbia Univ New York Morningside
- Study coordinator: Shohamy, Daphna
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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.