How the brain's medial prefrontal cortex influences decision-making based on context.
Official title: The Role of Medial Prefrontal Cortex in Context-Dependent Valuation and Decision Processes
Funded at Boston University (Charles River Campus) · NIH-11079557 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a part of the brain helps people make choices based on their surroundings, and it’s for anyone interested in understanding how different environments can influence our patience and impulsive decisions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University (Charles River Campus) NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $497,331 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH130374-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11079557 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research would include individuals experiencing decision-making difficulties related to mental health conditions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without any decision-making challenges or those not affected by mental health conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how the medial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) helps individuals make decisions by evaluating the context in which those decisions are made. It aims to understand how different environments can change the perceived value of choices and how this affects patience and impulsivity in decision-making. By using advanced neuroimaging and computational methods, the study seeks to identify specific brain regions involved in these processes, which could lead to better insights into decision-making in mental health conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and treatment of decision-making issues in mental health disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding decision-making processes through neuroimaging, suggesting this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston University (Charles River Campus)
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcguire, Joseph T. — Boston University (Charles River Campus)
- Study coordinator: Mcguire, Joseph T.
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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.