Slow shifts in brain activity and behavior
Slow time scale fluctuations in neurons and behavior
This project looks at how slow changes in brain activity relate to shifts in attention, arousal, and behavior in people and model systems.
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 ID | NIH-11132592 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will record brain activity at multiple scales—from noninvasive scalp signals like EEG and neurovascular measures to populations of spiking neurons and single-cell recordings—while subjects perform tasks that probe attention and behavior. They will track slow fluctuations that unfold over minutes to hours and study how different brain areas coordinate during these shifts. The team will also use pharmacological manipulation of neuromodulatory systems to see how brain chemicals influence coordination and behavioral state. The goal is to link internal cognitive states to observable variability in performance and behavior.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with attention, arousal, or related brain disorders that cause fluctuating performance, as well as healthy volunteers for noninvasive recordings, would be the most suitable participants.
Not a fit: Patients needing immediate clinical treatment for acute or life-threatening conditions or whose symptoms are unrelated to attention or arousal are unlikely to directly benefit from this basic neuroscience work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could clarify why attention and arousal fluctuate and point toward new targets for treating disorders with variable cognitive performance.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research has linked slow brain rhythms and neuromodulatory systems to attention, but combining scalp-level, neurovascular, and single-neuron recordings across scales with pharmacology is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- Carnegie-Mellon University — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Smith, Matthew a — Carnegie-Mellon University
- Study coordinator: Smith, Matthew a
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 below.