How we make tough choices in the brain
Official title: Mechanisms of multi-attribute decision-making
Funded at New York University · NIH-11412722 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project studies how the brain weighs different attributes (like costs and benefits) when people make complex decisions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $627,687 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH134845-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11412722 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants may include adults with typical decision-making patterns who can complete behavioral tasks while undergoing brain measurements.
✕Less likely to help
People without interest or ability to participate in neuroimaging or behavioral tasks may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
Researchers at NYU are exploring how the orbitofrontal cortex helps us weigh multiple attributes during decision making. They will compare different brain and behavior models to see which best explains how people choose between options with varying costs and qualities. The study uses a multi-modal approach to map how information is processed in the brain during multi-attribute choices. Findings could help explain why decision-making is altered in certain psychiatric conditions and guide future approaches to improve it. The work aims to connect brain activity with the computations behind value-based decisions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: A better understanding of how people make complex choices could inform treatments for decision-making problems in psychiatric disorders and improve interventions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in decision neuroscience supports multi-model explanations of how choices are made, with ongoing exploration needed for definitive links to neural processes.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rich, Erin L — New York University
- Study coordinator: Rich, Erin L
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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.