Role of the ventral visual pathway in everyday actions
Official title: The role of the ventral visual pathway processes in activities of daily living
Funded at Carnegie-Mellon University · NIH-11433648 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how brain regions that process what we see help people perform daily tasks like gripping a cup or using utensils, especially after brain injury.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Carnegie-Mellon University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $619,020 |
| NIH project number | 1R01EY039474-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11433648 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with brain lesions affecting object perception and/or action planning who are navigating daily activities and rehabilitation.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without relevant brain lesions or those not experiencing difficulties in daily object-directed actions may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will map how visual perception, object knowledge, and action planning come together in the brain to enable everyday actions. By studying people with brain lesions, they will identify which brain pathways are needed for recognizing objects and coordinating hand movements during tasks such as grasping and using objects. The work aims to link brain damage to real-life independence in daily activities, using advanced brain-behavior mapping and analysis. Findings could inform rehabilitation strategies to improve everyday function after stroke.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of how the brain supports daily actions could lead to targeted therapies that help people regain independence after brain injury or stroke.
How similar studies have gone: Previous lesion-mapping studies have shown that specific brain pathways contribute to object-use and action planning, supporting continued exploration of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Carnegie-Mellon University
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mahon, Bradford Zack — Carnegie-Mellon University
- Study coordinator: Mahon, Bradford Zack
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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.