How the primate brain processes sounds and combines information from different senses
Official title: Dynamic circuit motifs underlying multimodal interactions in primate auditory cortex
Funded at Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psych Res · NIH-11126048 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research aims to understand how the brain's auditory system processes sounds and integrates information from different senses, like what we see and hear, to help us focus on important things in our environment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psych Res NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Orangeburg, United States) |
| Project start | September 16, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $652,137 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DC019979-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11126048 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research uses animal models to understand basic brain functions, so there are no direct patient participants for this specific project.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking immediate clinical treatments or direct participation in human trials would not find direct benefit from this basic science project.
What this research studies
Our brains constantly take in information from many senses, like hearing and seeing, and combine them to understand the world around us. This project looks at how different parts of the primate auditory system work together to process sounds and interact with other senses, eye movements, and memory. We want to identify specific brain circuits that either transmit direct information or help to fine-tune our attention and focus. By studying these dynamic brain patterns, we hope to learn how the brain allows us to concentrate on what's important and ignore distractions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could provide a foundational understanding of how the brain processes sensory information and attention, which may eventually lead to new ways to help people with conditions affecting perception, attention, or memory.
How similar studies have gone: There is a growing scientific movement towards studying the brain under more natural conditions, and the techniques used in this project are becoming technically feasible in both human and nonhuman primates.
Where this research is happening
-
Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psych Res
Orangeburg, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: O'connell, Monica Noelle — Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psych Res
- Study coordinator: O'connell, Monica Noelle
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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.