How the frontal brain keeps track of the order of things you see
Testing neural mechanisms of sequence monitoring in the frontal cortex across species: integrated fMRI and electrophysiology
Looks at how parts of the frontal brain follow the order of visual events to help people whose routines or thoughts get stuck, such as in OCD.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brown University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Providence, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11251589 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project will use brain scans in people (fMRI) together with direct brain recordings in nonhuman primates to learn how the frontal cortex monitors sequences of visual information. Researchers will focus on nonmotor, nonspatial sequences—the kind of ordered information you track when following stops on a bus route or steps of a task. By comparing activity in lateral and medial prefrontal areas across species, the team aims to pinpoint which brain circuits signal the order of events. The work combines imaging and electrophysiology to link human brain patterns with cellular-level signals seen in animals.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would include adults with problems in tracking sequences (for example people with OCD-related repetitive behaviors) as well as healthy volunteers for brain imaging comparisons.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate treatment or those whose problems are strictly motor or spatial sequencing issues may not get direct benefit from this basic neuroscience project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of how the brain tracks sequences could guide new tests or therapies for conditions where ordering of actions or thoughts is disrupted, like OCD.
How similar studies have performed: Prior human imaging and primate electrophysiology work has implicated prefrontal regions in sequence processing, but the specific monitoring role targeted here is relatively novel and less tested.
Where this research is happening
Providence, United States
- Brown University — Providence, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Desrochers, Theresa Marie — Brown University
- Study coordinator: Desrochers, Theresa Marie
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.