How the front part of the brain helps social understanding
The causal role of the medial prefrontal cortex in human social cognition
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF IOWA · NIH-11251951
This project looks at whether changes or damage to a front brain area called the medial prefrontal cortex affect social thinking in adults, including people with autism.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF IOWA (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (IOWA CITY, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11251951 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You would see researchers combining detailed brain scans, behavioral tests of social thinking, and data from people with focal brain injuries to understand how one brain area contributes to social behavior. They will use multivariate lesion mapping in participants from the Iowa Neurological Patient Registry, give well-established social cognition tests, and collect high-quality neuroimaging to link brain location to performance. The team aims to show whether the medial prefrontal cortex acts as a causal hub for social cognition, which may explain social difficulties in conditions like autism and schizophrenia.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults (21+) able to travel to Iowa City who either have a focal brain lesion enrolled in the Iowa Neurological Patient Registry or are adults with autism willing to complete behavioral testing and MRI.
Not a fit: People under 21, those who cannot undergo MRI or travel to the study site, or those seeking immediate treatment are unlikely to receive direct benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify brain-circuit targets that guide new diagnostics or future therapies for social difficulties, including in autism.
How similar studies have performed: Prior imaging and lesion studies have linked the medial prefrontal cortex to social cognition, but this combined lesion-mapping plus new imaging and behavioral approach to establish causality is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
IOWA CITY, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF IOWA — IOWA CITY, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: KLIEMANN, DORIT — UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
- Study coordinator: KLIEMANN, DORIT
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.
Conditions: Autistic Disorder