Improving tests to understand how brain circuits control attention and cognition
Official title: Optimization of the 5-choice continuous performance test to reveal a parietal-anterior cingulate-claustrum circuit underlying cognitive control and attention
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-11078747 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working to improve a brain test that measures attention and focus, using touchscreens to make it easier for people with mental health conditions to take, while also looking at how the brain works during the test to help find better treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $335,750 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH134175-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11078747 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals with cognitive impairments related to psychiatric disorders.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without cognitive dysfunction or those not diagnosed with psychiatric conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to enhance a specific cognitive test known as the 5-choice continuous performance test (5C-CPT) to better understand the brain circuits involved in cognitive control and attention. By optimizing this test for use with touchscreen technology, researchers hope to create a more effective tool for assessing cognitive function across various psychiatric disorders. The study will involve both animal models and human participants, utilizing advanced imaging techniques like EEG and fMRI to validate the brain circuits engaged during the test. This approach seeks to provide a clearer understanding of cognitive dysfunction and improve treatment strategies for affected patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for cognitive dysfunction in psychiatric patients.
How similar studies have gone: While there have been attempts to study cognitive control and attention, this specific approach using the optimized 5C-CPT is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Young, Jared William — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Young, Jared William
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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.