How two brain areas (dorsal anterior cingulate and anterior insula) shape threat avoidance
Dorsal Anterior Cingulate and Anterior Insula computations during threat avoidance in Humans
This project measures how specific brain regions behave when people with and without anxiety try to avoid threats.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11269179 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will record brain activity from the dorsal anterior cingulate and the anterior insula while participants perform tasks that simulate avoiding threats. The work uses advanced human brain imaging and timing-sensitive measures to capture faster and more detailed neural signals than standard fMRI alone. The team will compare responses between people with anxiety disorders and people without anxiety, and link brain activity to symptoms and behavior. Findings aim to clarify the brain mechanisms that underlie persistent worry and high arousal in anxiety.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are adults diagnosed with an anxiety disorder who can travel to Yale for imaging sessions and complete behavioral testing.
Not a fit: People who cannot undergo MRI (for example, due to implanted metal devices or severe claustrophobia), children, or those unable to travel to New Haven are unlikely to participate or benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify specific brain signals that guide threat avoidance and point to new targets for better, more personalized anxiety treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Animal studies and human imaging work have implicated these brain regions in anxiety, but applying higher-resolution human measures to threat-avoidance behavior is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
New Haven, United States
- Yale University — New Haven, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Damisah, Eyiyemisi — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Damisah, Eyiyemisi
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.