Improving decision-making in people with schizophrenia using brain imaging and real-life experiences
Official title: R21: Promoting Adaptive Decision-Making in Schizophrenia Through Improved Evidence Integration: A Combined Neuroimaging and Experience Sampling Study
Funded at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences · NIH-10989083 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how people with schizophrenia make decisions and what affects those choices, using special brain scans and eye-tracking to help find ways to support better decision-making and improve their everyday lives.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $235,500 |
| NIH project number | 1R21MH135329-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10989083 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia who experience cognitive impairments and difficulties in decision-making.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have a diagnosis of schizophrenia or those whose cognitive functions are not significantly impaired may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how individuals with schizophrenia make decisions and how their cognitive processes affect these choices. By using advanced techniques like functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and eye-tracking, the study aims to understand the neural and behavioral factors that influence decision-making in real-world scenarios. The goal is to identify specific cognitive and attentional processes that can be targeted for interventions, ultimately helping patients make better choices and improve their quality of life.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could empower patients with schizophrenia to make more informed decisions, potentially reducing their functional impairments.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using neuroimaging techniques to understand decision-making processes in various mental health conditions, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
Newark, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zald, David Harold — Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Zald, David Harold
Related research
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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.