Neural clues to how we form and unlearn associations
Official title: Project 4: Neural mechanisms underlying latent-cause inference
Funded at Princeton University · NIH-11373050 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project at Princeton looks at how brain signals, especially in the amygdala, help us learn and unlearn associations, and whether orexin signals can influence that process.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Princeton University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Princeton, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | August 12, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $652,945 |
| NIH project number | 5P50MH136296-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11373050 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not a patient-facing study yet; findings may eventually inform treatments for anxiety-related conditions after further development.
✕Less likely to help
Direct benefits to patients are not guaranteed at this stage; results are foundational.
What this research studies
If you or someone you know struggles with relapsing old fears or bad habits, this project aims to understand how the brain decides whether new information should replace or be added to existing memories. Researchers will record brain activity in the central amygdala while exposing subjects to new information about rewards, then test whether blocking or altering orexin signaling changes these decisions. The study uses animal models to explore neural mechanisms, with techniques to manipulate orexin pathways to see causal effects on learning. Findings could inform new approaches to therapies that reduce relapse after exposure-based treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to better strategies for reducing relapse in therapies that rely on unlearning maladaptive associations.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows that amygdala circuits and orexin signaling influence memory and learning, but the specific latent-cause inference mechanism is being explored.
Where this research is happening
-
Princeton University
Princeton, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Witten, Ilana — Princeton University
- Study coordinator: Witten, Ilana
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.