How the brain seeks information and handles uncertainty
Mechanisms of Information Seeking in the Primate Brain
Researchers are uncovering how brain circuits decide to seek information to reduce uncertainty, with relevance for people with autism and mood or anxiety disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11379516 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work looks at brain circuits in primates to understand how the brain predicts outcomes and values information that reduces uncertainty. Scientists study connected regions such as the anterior cingulate cortex, basal ganglia, thalamus, and lateral habenula to see how they compute and pass along information. Experiments use recordings and interventions in macaque brains and comparisons to human data to map the computational steps behind information-seeking. The goal is to trace causal pathways that could explain differences in decision-making seen in autism and affective disorders.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults or adolescents with autism spectrum disorder or affective/anxiety disorders who experience trouble with uncertainty or decision-making are most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: People seeking an immediate clinical treatment or those whose health issues do not involve decision-making or uncertainty are unlikely to get direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could clarify why people with autism or affective disorders struggle with uncertainty and point to new targets for therapies or behavioral supports.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies in macaques and humans have found similar brain signals and algorithms for valuing information, but this project pushes further to test causal pathways and mechanisms.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Monosov, Ilya E. — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Monosov, Ilya E.
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.