Thalamus hubs that help attention and flexible thinking
Thalamocortical cognitive networks in the healthy human brain
The project uses brain scans and thinking tasks in adults to learn how two thalamus regions help the brain coordinate attention, rule‑switching, and other high‑level thinking, with comparisons to findings in schizophrenia.
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 ID | NIH-11326842 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would come to Princeton for whole‑brain fMRI scans while doing simple cognitive tasks adapted for humans. The team will map how the pulvinar and mediodorsal thalamic nuclei connect with cortical networks that support attention and flexible rule switching. They will compare human network patterns to data from animal models and to related work in schizophrenia to identify where circuits differ. Computational cognitive models will link brain activity patterns to behavior to better explain how these thalamic hubs support thinking.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Healthy adults aged 21 and older who can safely undergo MRI and perform computerized cognitive tasks are the ideal participants, while related center projects may involve people with schizophrenia.
Not a fit: People under 21, anyone unable to have an MRI (for example due to metal implants or severe claustrophobia), or those seeking immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to receive direct benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal specific brain circuits to target for better tests or treatments for attention and cognitive control problems such as those seen in schizophrenia.
How similar studies have performed: Prior fMRI and animal studies support a role for thalamic nuclei in attention and cognition, but combining whole‑brain human imaging with cross‑species tasks and computational modeling is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Princeton, UNITED STATES
- Princeton University — Princeton, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Collins, Anne G.e. — Princeton University
- Study coordinator: Collins, Anne G.e.
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.