How the brain updates beliefs in changing situations
CRCNS: Investigating the Neurocomputational Mechanisms of Belief Updating
['FUNDING_R01'] · BROWN UNIVERSITY · NIH-11322138
This project tests a brain-based model of how people learn about changing situations to better understand unusual beliefs in conditions like psychosis and depression.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | BROWN UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (PROVIDENCE, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11322138 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You'll complete computer-based tasks that change over time while researchers record your choices and brain activity. The team uses a computational idea called contextual inference that separates learning what to expect from figuring out which situation you're in. They will apply this model across different tasks and link model components to brain circuits using neuroimaging and advanced statistical analyses. Learning how belief updating goes wrong may help explain fixed false beliefs in psychosis and negative thinking in depression.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would include adults with symptoms like delusions or persistent negative thinking and healthy volunteers willing to do behavioral tasks and brain scans.
Not a fit: People without psychiatric symptoms or anyone unable to undergo neuroimaging (for example, due to implants or severe claustrophobia) may not directly benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help improve diagnosis or lead to new treatments for disorders involving abnormal belief updating, such as psychosis and depression.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies using computational models and brain imaging have offered insights into belief updating, but this contextual inference approach is newer and aims to link models more directly to neural circuitry.
Where this research is happening
PROVIDENCE, UNITED STATES
- BROWN UNIVERSITY — PROVIDENCE, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: NASSAR, MATTHEW — BROWN UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: NASSAR, MATTHEW
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.