Tools to align brain scans and map individual brain activity patterns
Infrastructure for hyperaligning fMRI data and estimating functional topographies
This project builds software and a shared database so researchers studying Alzheimer’s and brain aging can compare detailed brain activity across different people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dartmouth College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hanover, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11101259 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you or a loved one are affected by memory loss or brain aging, this project creates tools that make brain scans from different people comparable. The team will collect detailed fMRI scans from 60 participants during movie watching, story listening, rest, and many functional tasks, plus cognitive and demographic information. They will build a standardized template, turnkey software to 'hyperalign' new scans into that common space, and a platform for sharing hyperaligned data. These resources aim to help researchers spot subtle brain activity patterns linked to aging and Alzheimer’s disease more reliably.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are adults willing and able to travel to Dartmouth for MRI scans and cognitive testing, including older adults or people with memory concerns who can tolerate fMRI procedures.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate clinical treatment or those who cannot undergo MRI (for example due to implanted medical devices or severe claustrophobia) are unlikely to benefit directly from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could speed discovery of brain activity markers tied to Alzheimer’s and brain aging, helping future diagnosis and treatment research.
How similar studies have performed: Hyperalignment techniques have shown promising results in research settings, but creating a standardized, shared database and public tools for clinical neuroscience is a newer and less-tested step.
Where this research is happening
Hanover, United States
- Dartmouth College — Hanover, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Haxby, James V — Dartmouth College
- Study coordinator: Haxby, James V
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.